Iconography

Iconography is a visual language it is used to represent features, functionality, or content. Icons are usually meant to be simple visual elements that help a user understand a product's features or actions that can be taken.

Part of the process I use to make icons is simplicity with understandability. In other words making an icon or symbol as simple as possible in terms of design complexity, but making sure that it always is understandable to any user.

Icons & symbols to convey Information & Actions

Here are examples of Icons & symbols I interact on a daily basis:

I picked these symbols and icons due to their simple and self-explanatory meaning to me as a user. They are all pretty simple yet effective to convey their specific meaning, whether it's for action or information. Information to a product’s capabilities can be demonstrated through symbolism (ie: bluetooth, or battery). However they can also inform a user of actions that take place on the product, such as how to power on/off, how to operate the product (volume toggle low/higher).

Of course context is also important, for example the “Shuffle symbol” above would not exactly be understood as shuffle if it was to be found on another app. It’s important to let symbols and icons be visual metaphors for what they are meant to do, in the context of the product or app.

Icons & symbols as decoration

Icons I think are also not only for utility and to inform the users, but also serve as agents of aesthetic value.

For example the above icons/symbols could be used within a site or app to further give context to an article or function while also increasing the product's aesthetics.

The saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and this also applies to symbolism and icons as well. It allows for a better user experience, allowing visual understanding even in cases where words are in different languages.