The icons or baby faces used as part of user interface have now turned into a major aspect of product branding. With powerful computers, enhanced graphics capabilities, advanced tools for illustration, and professionals to advocate rich user experience, icon design has become more important and complex than ever before! Windows Vista has raised the standard of quality icons even higher. An interface design project forced the author to think about ’style’ in icon design.

What are the possible ways to overcome problems related to style of icons?

1. Create sample icons which are representative of the complexity and overall range of icons required for the project. These icons should be best rendered and acceptable in terms of desired quality and style.
2. Define style guidelines (all attributes shown above as applicable) based on sample icon designs.
3. Sensitize the entire design team to understand the style sensitive attributes of icon design. Help them notice and feel each attribute of the style.
4. Select the designers whose style of designing/rendering is naturally similar.
5. Lead designer(s) to sketch and compose all icons before they get rendered.
6. Lead designer to monitor and guide the rendering (This is similar to the model of key animators and in-between artists followed in animation field).
7. Review the stylistic aspects as per the guidelines.
8. Ask users / designers / developers to identify the misfit icons in terms of style.
   Proper definition of style attributes can be helpful in evaluating the consistency of style.
9. Refine

Beware of Style in Icon Design