How to design an app icon

How to design an app icon

Creating an app logo icon that looks professional and works across various devices is essential for your app’s success. It’s not just about a beautiful design; there are specific technical requirements that ensure your icon scales well and looks sharp on all platforms, including iOS and Android. Below is a comprehensive guide outlining the key aspects of designing and uploading app icons, from sizes to file formats, for both iOS and Android.

1. File Format and Quality

  • Format: Use PNG for your icons. This format supports transparency, which is essential for adaptive icons (Android) and looks good on all background colors (iOS).
  • Resolution: Ensure the image is high-resolution. For better results, avoid scaling your icon from smaller images.
  • No Compression: Avoid compressing the icon too much, as it can degrade quality. Aim for minimal compression without compromising quality.

2. Icon Dimensions

Icons must be provided at multiple resolutions to accommodate the wide variety of screen sizes on both iOS and Android devices. Below are the recommended icon sizes:

Android Icons (Adaptive Icons)

Android uses adaptive icons, which require two layers: a foreground and a background.

  • Foreground Image:

    • Recommended size: 432x432 px (for high-resolution displays, 4x the standard 108x108 dp size).
    • Ensure the important part of the image fits within the central 108x108 dp viewport (standard device independent pixels).
    • The foreground image should have transparent areas that allow the background to be visible.

  • Background:

    • Can be a solid color or a background image.
    • Ensure the background is 512x512 px to fit different device screens.

For older versions of Android that don’t support adaptive icons, provide a 512x512 px full icon (no separate foreground/background).

iOS Icons

iOS requires icons at various sizes, and the system will automatically scale them for different uses (home screen, App Store, etc.). These are the key sizes for iOS:

  • App Store Icon: 1024x1024 px
  • iPhone/iPad App Icons:
    • 60x60 px @3x: 180x180 px
    • 76x76 px @2x: 152x152 px
    • 83.5x83.5 px @2x: 167x167 px

For other interface elements like notifications and settings, smaller icons like 29x29 px will be required.

3. Icon Margins and Padding

  • No Inner Padding: Your app icon should fill the entire space. Avoid placing important design elements too close to the edges, but don’t add padding inside the image file itself.
  • Safe Area: For iOS, the design should stay within a “safe area” of the icon so that the edges don’t get cut off on rounded corners or other masks.

4. Adaptive Icons (Android)

Android uses adaptive icons to display the icon in different shapes depending on the device (e.g., circular, squircle, or teardrop shapes). Here’s how to design for adaptive icons:

  • Foreground Layer: This is the primary visual part of the icon. Ensure the content fits within a 108x108 dp circle so that no important information gets cut off.
  • Background Layer: A solid color or simple image that will fill in the rest of the icon when cropped into different shapes.

Use Android Studio’s adaptive icon preview tool to visualize how your icon will appear on different devices and launchers.

5. Colors and Contrast

  • High Contrast: Ensure there is a strong contrast between the foreground and the background so the icon is easily visible on all screen types.
  • Avoid Too Many Colors: Keep the color palette simple—avoid gradients or overly complex color schemes. Simple, flat colors usually look better on smaller screens.
  • Transparent Areas: For Android adaptive icons, you can use transparent parts in the foreground image to allow the background color or image to show through. However, avoid overusing transparency, as it may make the icon look unclear or confusing.

6. Scalability and Visibility

  • Sharpness at Small Sizes: Test how your icon looks at smaller sizes. You should ensure that it’s sharp and clear, even at 24x24 px or 48x48 px, as these sizes are often used in notifications or app settings.
  • Avoid Detailed Text: Text should generally be avoided in app icons, as it becomes unreadable at smaller sizes. Instead, focus on symbols or simple imagery that communicates the essence of your app.

7. Consistency with App Brand

  • Consistent with Branding: Your app icon is the first impression users get of your app. Ensure that it’s consistent with your overall branding, including the colors and shapes used in your app.
  • Recognizable and Simple: Keep the icon design simple and memorable. The goal is to create an icon that users will instantly recognize on their home screens.

8. Platform-Specific Guidelines

Always check the official platform guidelines for designing app icons:

9. Naming Conventions for Icon Files

When uploading icons, ensure proper naming conventions to avoid confusion in different environments:

  • Use clear, lowercase names without spaces, e.g., icon_512.png.
  • Ensure consistency in file names across various resolutions (e.g., icon_180x180.png for iOS, icon_512x512.png for Android).

10. Testing the Icon

Before uploading, always test your icon on different devices and screen resolutions to ensure it looks good in different contexts:

  • Use Android Studio’s Device Preview to simulate various screen sizes and launcher shapes.
  • On iOS, test on both iPhones and iPads to ensure consistency across platforms.

Upload your final icon only after confirming that it looks great across all platforms.

Conclusion

Your app icon is a critical part of your app’s identity, and by following these technical and design guidelines, you can ensure that your icon stands out and looks sharp across all devices. Focus on the correct file format, dimensions, and adaptive icon requirements to make a lasting impression with your users.

By adhering to these points, you’ll set yourself up for success, whether it’s on the App Store or Google Play.

If you follow these steps, your app icon will be more than just a beautiful design—it will be technically optimized for performance and visibility on all platforms!

References

IOS: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/icons

Android: https://developer.android.com/distribute/google-play/resources/icon-design-specifications