---
name: Icon Design
description: Recognizable, consistent iconography.
---
# Icon Design

Icons accelerate recognition when they're consistent and unambiguous. Inconsistent icons are worse than text — they make the user pause on every one.

## Rules
- **One visual language per set.** Same stroke weight, corner radius, fill vs line, and grid. Mixing a 1px outline icon with a filled 2px one looks broken.
- **Draw on the same grid.** Optical alignment matters more than mathematical: a circle and square of equal bounding box look different sizes; nudge to match perceived weight.
- **Test recognizability cold.** Show the icon with no label. If a stranger can't guess the meaning, it needs a label or a different metaphor.
- **Prefer universal metaphors.** A magnifier for search, a trash for delete. Novel metaphors confuse; familiarity wins.