App Icon Wars • Hacker News Board

Re: App Icon Wars

#11

Post by bobwaycott » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 4:07 PM UTC

geon wrote: post #9

These are horrible icons. scaled down to the actual size they would be displayed at, they lose all clarity and shape. An icon needs to have a very simple and clear basic shape. Tiny details can be added on top of that, like texture on a paper, but must only be a compliment to the main shape.

If the purpose of the icon was to actually use them for apps, I would agree. However, I don't think the designer intended them as anything other than a tribute to Star Wars in app-icon format. On that account, they're a pretty awesome tribute and pulled off really well within such a constraint.

Re: App Icon Wars

#12

Post by gurkendoktor » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 4:10 PM UTC

geon wrote: post #9

These are horrible icons. scaled down to the actual size they would be displayed at, they lose all clarity and shape. An icon needs to have a very simple and clear basic shape. Tiny details can be added on top of that, like texture on a paper, but must only be a compliment to the main shape.

It's not about being an icon anymore, it's just about having a standardized context to design in, like writing Haikus. At least that's the best I can say about this art form after looking at Dribbble's "popular" timeline a lot.

The other popular Photoshop pastime seems to be designing weather widget mockups.

Re: App Icon Wars

#13

Post by Raphael » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 4:40 PM UTC

These would be more viable as icons without the backgrounds.

Re: App Icon Wars

#14

Post by yock » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 4:42 PM UTC

vibrunazo wrote: post #4

nathanbarry wrote: post #2

Try scrolling to see a really nice CSS3 transition.

I don't see it on chrome 21. Either it's too subtle, or it's not working, or I'm too dumb.

On Chrome 21 + Linux I see the images tilt backwards and fade off into the background as I scroll down. Obviously intended to emulate the scrolling prologue at the start of each Star Wars movie.

Re: App Icon Wars

#15

Post by matznerd » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 5:46 PM UTC

I thought this was going to be a site that compared app icons against each other...

Re: App Icon Wars

#16

Post by biot » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 6:38 PM UTC

HN really jumped the shark with this one.

Re: App Icon Wars

#17

Post by geon » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:05 PM UTC

bobwaycott wrote: post #11

geon wrote: post #9

These are horrible icons. scaled down to the actual size they would be displayed at, they lose all clarity and shape. An icon needs to have a very simple and clear basic shape. Tiny details can be added on top of that, like texture on a paper, but must only be a compliment to the main shape.

If the purpose of the icon was to actually use them for apps, I would agree. However, I don't think the designer intended them as anything other than a tribute to Star Wars in app-icon format. On that account, they're a pretty awesome tribute and pulled off really well within such a constraint.

> pulled off really well within such a constraint.

That's the thing. They didn't follow the app icon constraint. The only constraint are that they are square with rounded corners.

I get that it's an art form in it's own, but calling them "icons" is just stupid.