The icons you see on this page are my final submissions for the various disciplines and role expectations an icon designer is expected to deals with. I have included the final comps and component breakdown as well as explanations on the processes and reasoning’s behind their creation.
Creation of an existing icon into a new style
My approach was to design an icon with a more updated scanner style, carrying over elements from the XP icon including green and purple detail elements. I started with “Icon Guideline” perspective. I then added paths for each element, filled with gradients that were extracted, via eye-drop tool, from XP icon. Added edges and details. Followed lighting, perspective and shadow guidelines. (2 hours|40 minutes)
Vectorization of existing icon
This was my first attempt at making a Vista-style vector in Illustrator. Vector-based icons allow for non-degradation scalability with a minimal file footprint; perfect for web and mobile distribution, the most common format being SVG (Scale Vector Graphics). (1 hour|45 minutes)
Icon concepting and ideation
The ideation of the “Streaming Music” icon were based on my approach by taking the most basic, internationally recognized symbols for music (the note) and Microsoft (window icon) and mash-up th elements to form an easily recognizable symbol in a Vista icon format.
I first focused on the Windows icon as it reminded me of a waving flag, or a sort of streaming flag if you will. I then looked at the variety of icons for musical notes and choose the “eight note” musical graphic as its very own “flag” reminded me of something streaming along in the wind, like audio waves.
Taking the “windows” and “music streaming” mentality one step further, I decided to incorporate an equalizer element into the icon similar to the dashed Windows icon. (circa Windows 3.1/NT)
This icon is designed with the thoughts of incorporating the subtle animated graphic (whether streaming wave or equalizer (up/down, left/right), if there comes a need for an animated graphic down the road. (1 hour)
Client: Microsoft | Filter:Talent
Software: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Circa: 2010
