Building own style.

th_studio

Hello everyone! Hope all of you had a great weekend. I've been thinking about creating my own style so people can recognize my style whenever they look at my icons. Any suggestion for building own style?

laurareen

th_studio 1st of all decide about in what primary style are you going to draw 🙂
the easiest is to go with filled outline: selecting your own color scheme, defining rules for style (corners, strokes solid or not, shadows inside), adding some unique effect (some background color, or sparkles, or some unique shadow) - and you have your own style 🙂
2nd easy is flat: again your own color scheme, rules and effects
much harder with outline and glyph, as they are pure color, very spread, but at the same time most sold.

After you choose your primery style category, i advice to go to various site for inspiration - to look why and how real brands are using icons (example, totally random page with usage of stock filled outline icons - https://www.trustarc.com/products/data-inventory-hub/ or just outline - https://vervoe.com/features/ )
The more complex style you choose, the more unnique it will be 🙂
reference size - 24, 32, 64, 128 and so on. The bigger grid, the more complex icons you can make = more easy to make unique style. I prefer to go with 64 and 128px
time to try to create your style. Start with 15 super generic icons (like search, document, folder, computer and so on) and 15 complex (some organic shapes, some human, some head expression, some complex meaning) - all those icons should have consistent look and feel. (until you are not creating some 24, 32 px generic library)

when you think you are close to your style, close file and open it in few days - make 2nd iteration 🙂
show to us for feedback 🙂

And good luck! 🙂

MonicaMatei

th_studio I've been thinking about creating my own style so people can recognize my style whenever they look at my icons. Any suggestion for building own style?

Such a great question! I am glad you opened this thread, @th_studio !

I am not a designer myself, but I have seen many icons at Iconfinder and learned about the differences between them. Some icons carry a signature style (and with these, I am not referring to the design styles outline, glyph style etc., but to adding a personal touch when creating icons). I think this requires to master icon design. As I understand it, you need to master the broad design style (glyph, outline) and only then you can play around with it and make it more personal.

megaphar600 First, you do something, there are some differences from others. Then you can notice these differences, understand them, and try to use them in all your work.
Eminem loved rap, and that's why he records it. I do not think that Eminem decided to become a musician without having preferences and just decided, why not become a rapper.

This is really well said, @megaphar600!

It seems like a personal style can be developed by playing with the boundaries of an established design style. Here are some examples of sets with a personal touch:

Flat style, but looks unique: https://www.iconfinder.com/iconsets/creative-10

Filled outline style, also looking distinctive: https://www.iconfinder.com/iconsets/transports-color

Glyph style, but with outline elements. The result is a great personal style: https://www.iconfinder.com/iconsets/dessert-7

This is flat style, but drawn with personal style: https://www.iconfinder.com/iconsets/pirate-flat

There is a lot you can do by exploring and pushing the boundaries. At least that is my opinion as a non-designer. 😁

megaphar600

It is impossible to come up with your own style first, and then start working in this style. This is the opposite process. First, you do something, there are some differences from others. Then you can notice these differences, understand them, and try to use them in all your work.
Eminem loved rap, and that's why he records it. I do not think that Eminem decided to become a musician without having preferences and just decided, why not become a rapper.