The Logo Shed - Icon Design Brief

Quick Check List

	What environment will the icons be used in? Are they website graphics or used in a software suite? Do you require different states such as rollover and inactive, can your software create the different states automatically?
	If software, what file formats will it support? In most cases 32bit PNG files produce the best results but some software can't support it. ICO is another option but usually creates another step in production. BMP only supports 1bit (or on/off) transparency meaning curves and diagnonal shapes won't be smooth. Other development environments such as Microsoft Silverlight require files in the XAML vector format.
	What sizes do you require? Knowing the largest and smallest file dimensions from the outset is very important. Typically 16x16 pixel icons will always be designed and created as a seperate image to any larger sizes as they need to be much simpler in design to remain clear. At the other end of the scale, very large icons or those needed for print will need increased levels of detail to remain attractive. Adding a new size at either extreme after the project has started could add to the cost.
	Custom Design or Emulate an existing style? If you are developing a new website, you may want your icons to be completely unique to your brand, on the other hand if you are developing a software package, you may want to closely emulate an existing style to maintain a familiar interface. In both cases there is usually some style development but a completely custom style will often take longer to develop.
	iPhone Icons, Vista & Windows 7 Icons? You may want your icons to be compliant with a specific operating system and include all the different sizes and colour depths for full compatibility. However, depending on how and where your icons are used you may not need to go this far. We can advise on the best places to cut costs and save on unecessary design & development.
	Tell us what you want. Set the mood for your project with as much information about the website or software as you can. If we know your target audience we can also advise on suitable styles. Some companies want a serious, professional look whereas others may require something more light hearted.
	Icon Examples Nothing can explain what you like better than examples of similar icons, a google Image search is often the best place to start. Any examples you provide should also include an explanation of what you do and don't like about them. If possible choose examples of a similar size to those you require, a beautiful 256x256 icon may provide the look you want but if you actually require only 16x16 icons, the same effect will not be possible (although we do our best!)
	Branding Guidelines Being familiar with your brand can help establish suitable palletes and allow us to pick up on design cues unique to your brand identity.