ICON
SOLUTIONS
Color Icon System
A colorful evolution of an
icon system
PROJECT OVERVIEW
When a global technology company set out to expand their icon library, they turned to Allovus to bring their monochromatic icons to life with color. Having previously collaborated on a set of 70 colored icons, our team was already familiar with the design system and its nuances. This time, however, the goal was even bigger: to create 102 brand-new colored icons while ensuring they seamlessly fit within the broader ecosystem used across a wide range of digital products.
The mission? Translating clean, monochromatic designs into fully realized, multi-sized colorful icons, all while maintaining visual consistency, accessibility, and the flexibility required for an extensive product ecosystem.
Duration
Oct 2024 – Jan 2025
Project
Illustration
Tools
Figma
Microsoft Teams
Roles
Icon Designer
Project Manager
Budget
$60,000
OUR PROCESS
The Challenge: Building on an established system
- Expanding icon sizes: Not all requested icons had existing monochromatic counterparts in every size, leading to an expansion request to create full-color versions across six sizes: 16x, 20x, 24x, 28x, 32x, and 48x.
- Filling gaps in the icon system: As we worked through the designs, it became clear that some essential elements were missing. The client requested 14 additional icons to complete the system, such as designing a core Book icon to complement the existing Book Database icon.
With these updates, our team shifted gears, tackling a broader and more complex icon set than originally anticipated.
THE SOLUTION: A REFINED, SCALABLE ICON SYSTEM
After several rounds of iteration, the client approved the 104 unique icon designs, which translated into a total of 410 individual full-color icons across multiple sizes. But we weren’t done yet. With a final week left in our schedule, we went the extra mile, using the time to:
- Fill in missing size gaps by creating 26 additional colorful icons (including all 4 missing 24x icons and 22 missing 32x icons)
- Provide monochromatic proposals for all new designs to ensure consistency across the icon system
- Deliver a final count of 436 colorful icons, fully integrated into the client’s Figma design system for easy deployment
BUILDING A VISUAL LANGUAGE THAT LASTS
This project wasn’t just about creating icons – it was about crafting a scalable, future-proof design system. By building on the client’s icon style, refining color application, and expanding the visual language, we helped create a more cohesive, usable, and visually striking experience across the client’s products.
Key outcomes
- 104 unique icon designs developed with a thoughtful color application strategy
- 410+ individual colorful icons, seamlessly integrating into the existing set
- 26 additional icons created beyond scope, filling essential gaps
- Final assets delivered in Figma, prepped for immediate use in the client’s save-out process
- A more scalable and cohesive icon system, built for the future
