Sunday, February 20, 2011

Simple Web Icons Characteristics

We can easily claim that among the principal features of minimalistic design are Simple web icons. Do not forget that simple icons along with other design elements should be used moderately. One of the keys is minimizing icons use in general. Reduce the amount of simple icons. Use them only where it is absolutely necessary. Optional simple web icons are to be refrained from repetition or eluded.

Simple web icons design consists of limited amount of color, reserved shades, clear elements, soft lighting. Simple icons are developed out of elegant and simple elements which really don't distract web page visitors from the main navigation and site idea.

The following rules for simple icons design can be outlined:

  • minimal usage of duplication
  • less amount of graphical elements
  • maximum intuitive clarity
  • clear typography in simple web icons
  • less icons

Minimalistic design with simple web icons

Additionally to simple icons themselves light-weight background textures and patterns are necessary for the design and content perception. The background pattern or images should not catch all the attention of your visitors. The eyes should focus on the website content or some main blocks. So the background should be of a light simple shade making it secondary compared with the foreground items like simple web icons.

One more prominent feature of the lightweight and clear design is definitely clear typography. Simple icons names (if there are any) should be precise, meaningful and equivalent to their function. Headings placed on simple web icons need to be of readable font and large enough for easy reading.

Also for developing a great clean simple icons design you can use enough white or empty space. Extra spaces keep elements more readable. For that reason it is more effortless to work with them. Some extra space between simple web icons will do your design no harm at all.

Generally the minimalistic trend is not entirely minimal. In spite of its large amount of white space there are still some simple icons, light textures, neat styles and bold fonts. Minimal isn't exactly the same as simple. Initially minimal meant plain typographic excluding images and styling. But present day design demands something more than black text on white background to make the web site distinguish among thousands of other plain websites. Reducing design elements to the most important items you can add much more zest to your website layout with some uncommon coloring, catchy simple icons, half-transparent and light-weight textures and patterns.

Simple is often used like a synonym of smart. Simple web icons look fantastic and professional especially for a clean business style design.

No comments:

Post a Comment