Icons: Does your site need them?

Icons are a great addition to many sites. Whether it be a drop-down arrow or a shopping cart icon, they will add a positive visual language to the overall site experience. The challenge is knowing where and when to use them appropriately.

When you are transitioning from business requirements into wireframes, your visual designer will be able to advise you on the best course of action but there are a couple of helpful rules of thumbs to guide you:

• Always check to see if there is a standard out there for the icon you intend on making. If there are examples, start with that.
• If you need to design a new icon, or icon set, make sure you test them to check if they make sense to your target audience.
• Next, ask what different icon states might be needed? Can the icon be extended by making it into a series? E.g., A folder icon could have various states such as open, closed, capturing new content, etc. If a series is the best way to provide the visual cues, make sure they are all consistent with each other. Inconsistency will show lack of attention and could hurt your brand.
• Most importantly, be sure the icons are designed as an extension of both the brand and your site’s look and feel. The icon should complement the site, and not clutter, or overpower the design
• And lastly, to extend the last point, use icons sparingly. Overuse will dilute their effectiveness.