Graphic design has changed a lot over the years, propelled by technological advancements, shifts in user habits, and the continuously changing needs of industries. One of the most notable trends in graphic design is the evolution of vector icons. From the basic, pixelated forms to advanced, high-definition vector graphics, the history of iconography is a thrilling story of development. This blog post will discuss the history of vector icons in graphic design and how they have influenced the design world, especially on digital media. 

What Are Vector Icons?

Before we explore how vector icons evolved, let's learn about what vector icons are. Vector icons are mathematical representations of concepts or things in digital form. They differ from raster images like JPEGs or PNGs in that vector graphics do not lose quality when scaled infinitely. This makes them ideal for design work that needs flexibility, like websites, applications, and logos.

Vector icons are usually designed with the use of vector-based design tools such as Adobe Illustrator or Figma. Vector icons consist of geometric figures, lines, and curves, which can be resized, edited, or altered to suit the particular design requirements.

The Early Days: Simplicity in Icon Design

The origins of icons go back to the early times of computing. During the 1980s, the development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) came to replace command-line interfaces in personal computing. As the requirement for user-friendly and intuitive design became more pronounced, the creation of icons started. The early icons were very simple, used to depict basic objects or activities on the screen.

Icons were designed using low resolution and limited color schemes because of the technological constraints available at the time. The fact that pixels were used meant the design was blocky, and there was little detail. The problem was one of getting as much information onto an extremely small area of space. These were the days when most of the initial ideas for icons came into being: the trash can to discard files, the floppy disk to save, and the folder to hold files.

Yet, as technology continued to advance, so did the demand for increasingly complex designs. The simple, pixel-based icons gave way to more elegant, vector-based images as software such as Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW simplified it for designers to manipulate lines and shapes. 

The Age of Vector Graphics: 1990s to Early 2000s

Vector graphics became popular in the design community during the 1990s. With the introduction of more powerful computers and graphic design software, designers were able to create scalable images that did not lose their quality irrespective of the resolution. The advent of vector graphics was a turning point for icon design since it enabled designers to play around with more intricate shapes, shading, and styles.

This time, vector icons started to look more professional and polished. Apple and Microsoft were some of the first companies to use vector-based icons in their operating systems, which caused a boom in vector iconography among the tech sector. The icons were more streamlined, detailed, and less tied to the pixel grid that had previously characterized their designs.

One of the most important innovations during this period was the advent of icon sets. These sets were a collection of matching icons that adhered to a consistent visual language. As personal computers and software gained popularity, designers required means of displaying intricate functions and ideas in an efficient manner. Icon sets aided in the simplification of design and made it possible for users to easily identify and interact with on-screen elements.

Flat Design and Simplifying Icons: 2010s

The decade of the 2010s brought new waves to the field of vector icons, the core of which revolved around minimalism and simplicity. Flat design, the crux of which was its aversion to complicated lines, obtrusive color, or excess heavy texture or gradient, swept the landscape. Icons began simplifying with ease of identification and scalability becoming prime concerns.

The flat design style became popular since it worked incredibly well for responsive design. Websites and applications had to look great on screens of every size, ranging from smartphones to desktop screens. With the increasing popularity of mobile devices, vector icons were becoming a vital component in making sure user interfaces (UI) stayed clean, readable, and visually appealing on devices.

It was during this period that big players in the industry, such as Apple and Google, adopted flat design principles further into the mainstream. Apple's iOS 7 update in 2013 was the turning point when it eliminated most of the 3D shading and skeuomorphic features that previously characterized its icons. Instead, it took up a flat, minimalist design, which influenced the entire design world.

Material Design: A New Direction for Vector Icons

Google's Material Design, launched in 2014, further influenced the evolution of vector icons in graphic design. Material Design built on flat design principles and added another level of sophistication, with a focus on depth, layering, and realistic lighting effects. Although Material Design continued to prefer clean, vector-based icons, it added subtle shadows, animations, and repetitive use of color to achieve a more tactile and more intuitive user interface.

Material Design promoted designers to apply vector icons in a manner that prioritized usability and user experience. Material Design gave strict guidelines on how to design icons that would function well in many different contexts and on multiple platforms, so it would be consistent and accessible. Material Design consequently became a large influence on icon design, especially for web and mobile applications.

Vector icons, within the Material Design framework, were further enhanced. Designers were invited to utilize various states for icons (e.g., inactive, active, or selected) to enhance the interactivity of UI components. This made icons not only static images but also an integral part of a dynamic and interactive user experience.

 

The Current Landscape: Customization and Icon Libraries

Vector icons are now the norm in graphic design. Whether designing a website, mobile app, or logo, vector icons are a necessary component of the design process. The need for high-quality, customizable icons has resulted in the proliferation of large icon libraries, both free and paid. Sites such as Iconfair offer designers access to thousands of vector icons, ensuring that finding the ideal icon for any project has never been simpler.

Customization emerged as a major trend in icon designing. As the requirement for one-of-a-kind and bespoke branding grew, most businesses have been turning to bespoke icon sets that match their brand character. The increased popularity of design platforms such as Figma and Sketch has simplified the process for designers to create and edit vector icons in real-time, enabling easier collaboration and quicker turnaround.

Additionally, the need for accessibility has increased with the development of optimized icons for varying audiences. Designers are now paying more attention to developing icons that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and accessible. This involves designing icons with high contrast, making them identifiable in various settings, and offering alternative text for screen readers.

The Future of Vector Icons

Looking to the future of vector icons, we can anticipate even more advancements in design and technology. One thing that will certainly continue is the merging of vector icons with machine learning and artificial intelligence. With AI becoming more embedded in design software, we might see intelligent, context-based icons that adjust to the needs or actions of the user.

Also, the development of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will most probably create new opportunities for vector icon design. As people interact with immersive worlds, icons will have to adapt to stay readable and usable in 3D environments. This will be challenging and thrilling for designers as they seek to find means of retaining clarity and consistency in these new media.

The evolution of motion design is also something to look out for. As more designers test animated vector icons, we may have more dynamic and interactive icons become a common feature in user interfaces. These icons may shift according to user input or system states, creating a more immersive and responsive experience.

Conclusion

The history of vector icons in graphic design has been characterized by a series of technological advances and design fashions that have conditioned how we visually communicate on digital media. From the outset of basic pixelated icons to the minimalist look of current times, vector icons have become a defining feature of contemporary graphic design. They are not only critical to the development of web and apps but also have a very important role in developing usable, accessible, and beautiful interfaces.

We at Iconfair know how crucial high-quality vector icons are to your design ventures. Be it a customized set of icons or searching through a large repository, Iconfair has a vast array of vector icons for you to choose from. Join the revolution in icon design and take your creative endeavors to the next level with vector icons.