Iconography refers to the use of symbols to communicate specific ideas, whether simple or complex concepts. Icons are in many ways, writing on images. When used correctly, they could add functionality to our designs, speeding up user interactions by being immediately recognizable, as the human brain processes icons 60,000 times faster than text.
Because the users read less and less and the regular permanence of a website is only a few seconds, it is a usability point to capture attention as soon as possible, facilitating calls to action or any feedback from the system in a fast way. But, good icons could also add personality and joy to the interface.
Location icon in filled, outlined and two color type.
From left to right: outline, filled, and two-tone style icons.
To create a successful icon set, we need a grid. Grids are essential tools in iconography. It’s a systematic arrangement of lines that helps structure the design elements within a defined space. In iconography, grids are used to provide consistency, alignment, scalability, and balance among the visual elements