The earliest writing system was pictographic, which proved to be quite convenient. Pictograms are simple and concise, requiring no explanation, as their meaning is intuitively clear to people.
It was impossible to simply abandon such a convenient tool for transmitting information, so in today’s digital world, we have icons. They are used on websites to indicate various types of information.
Despite their small size, icons on a website perform numerous functions, including:
- saving screen space
- speeding up website usage
- simplifying site navigation
- highlighting and visually separating sections
- simplifying information perception
The selection of icons depends on the website’s specifics, style, and design. Understanding the different types of icons and how to use them effectively makes it easy to choose the right ones.
Types of icons include:
- Line Icons - composed of lines or outlines, these are elegant and minimalist, making them ideal for navigation or marking informational sections on a site.
- Illustrative Icons - these add colour and draw users’ attention. The key rule is that they should match the site’s style.
- 3D Icons - these can add originality to a site, especially compared to trendy minimalist icons. However, it’s important to use them cautiously to avoid overloading the design and distracting users from primary actions.
- Simple Icons - basic geometric shapes and numbers help maintain a clean look and prevent users from being distracted from the main content.
For a harmonious look on a website, icons should ideally:
- Be associated or complemented with text.
Icons should clearly represent their meaning for better user understanding. Since icons perform a visual function, sometimes it’s worth supplementing them with text explanations. - Maintain a consistent style.
It’s best to ensure all images follow the site’s overall style to keep the visuals attractive and harmonious. - Be vector-based.
Vector icons do not lose quality when resized, and it’s easy to change their colour and other parameters, as well as effectively use animations. - Prefer transparent backgrounds.
A transparent background enhances readability, whereas a coloured one can create «visual noise» and complicate understanding.
When choosing icons, remember that they should be appropriate, understandable, and easy to remember. A single poorly designed icon can negatively impact user interaction with the entire site. Conversely, skilfully used icons can make your site more appealing and functional.
