Did you realize that...
computers weren’t born
with a graphical user
interface?
It happened after
over 30 years
of computers
being in use!

Along with this revolutionary
concept came another
brilliant idea of using icons
in computing.
Yes. “A picture
says more than a thousand
words”.

History of icons

A visual brief on icon history
Through different graphical user interfaces
In different operating systems

irix - bin icon
beos - clock icon
android - camera icon

the

80s

The 80s belong
to the ancestors

They were black and white, as proper “old folks” should be. Flat and already sitting self-confident in their grids (well... most of them). Their “desktop metaphor” has stayed with us up till today! The outline took its toll on icon fashion, ruling for 20 years. Hard to believe, but some of these signs kept the same form from the 1st day of their lives...

1981

Dr David Smith,
a mathematician
and Norm Cox, an artist united the powers of two, seemingly completely unrelated disciplines.

xerox - bin icon
xerox - bin icon
xerox - file icon
xerox - file icon
xerox - calculator icon
  • xerox 8010 star
    A bit-mapped screen dump of a Xerox Star.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • xerox 8010 star
    Xerox Star – ViewPoint desktop. Xerox 6085, 1985
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • xerox 8010 star
    Xerox Star 8010 workstation's screen (1981).
    SOURCE Wikipedia, Author: Digibarn Computer Museum
  • xerox 8010 star

  • xerox 8010 star
    Xerox Star 8010 icons on a desktop.
  • xerox 8010 star
    A bit-mapped screen dump of a Xerox Star.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • xerox 8010 star
    Xerox Star – ViewPoint desktop. Xerox 6085, 1985
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • xerox 8010 star
    Xerox Star 8010 workstation's screen (1981).
    SOURCE Wikipedia, Author: Digibarn Computer Museum
  • xerox 8010 star

  • xerox 8010 star
    Xerox Star 8010 icons on a desktop.
  • xerox 8010 star
    A bit-mapped screen dump of a Xerox Star.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com

Invented by Smith, designed by Cox, it presented a square grid, simple looks, consistent style.

xerox - folder icon
xerox - bin icon

1983

Named after Steve Jobs'
daughter, Lisa was the
first personal computer
with a graphical user
interface aimed at a wide
audience of business
customers.

apple lisa - bin icon
apple lisa - bin icon
apple lisa - computer icon
  • apple lisa - computer icon

  • apple lisa - computer icon
    Desktop with applications in Lisa OS 1.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • apple lisa - computer icon
    Apple LISA II Macintosh-XL, 1983.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • apple lisa - computer icon

  • apple lisa - computer icon
    Desktop with applications in Lisa OS 1.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • apple lisa - computer icon
    Apple LISA II Macintosh-XL, 1983.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • apple lisa - computer icon

  • apple lisa - computer icon
    Desktop with applications in Lisa OS 1.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • apple lisa - computer icon
    Apple LISA II Macintosh-XL, 1983.
    SOURCE Wikipedia

Lisa was a major project during that time and gathered almost one hundred people working on the design.

apple lisa - calculator icon
apple lisa - folder icon
apple lisa - clock icon
apple lisa - bin icon

1984

  • macintosh 1
    Desktop with applications in Mac OS System 1.1.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh 1
    MacOS 1.1, 1984
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • macintosh 1
    File manager in Mac OS System 1.1 (Finder)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh 1

  • macintosh 1
    The original Macintosh, released in January 1984.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • macintosh 1
    Desktop with applications in Mac OS System 1.1.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh 1
    MacOS 1.1, 1984
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • macintosh 1
    File manager in Mac OS System 1.1 (Finder)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh 1

  • macintosh 1
    The original Macintosh, released in January 1984.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • macintosh 1
    Desktop with applications in Mac OS System 1.1.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
macintosh 1 - computer icon
macintosh 1 - file icon
macintosh 1 - bin icon
macintosh 1 - folder icon

Probably the most famous “art + programming marriage” happened in ‘82. For creating icons, Apple hired Susan Kare, a step they should never ever regret.

macintosh 1 - bin icon
macintosh 1 - bin icon

The kids were a lovely bunch of consistent siblings. You can freely say: pixel art in the purest form

1985

Something went a bit off the road when these were being prepared. Is there a grid? Well, yes. But it's hard to see.

Sometimes it's hard to see what they really mean, too... We shouldn’t be too harsh though. Beginnings are often bumpy.

windows 1.0 - bin icon
windows 1.0 - bin icon
  • windows 1.0

  • windows 1.0
    Microsoft Windows 1.0 operating environment
    SOURCE Wikipedia.
  • windows 1.0
    Microsoft Windows 1.0 operating environment
    SOURCE Wikipedia.
  • windows 1.0

  • windows 1.0
    Microsoft Windows 1.0 operating environment
    SOURCE Wikipedia.
  • windows 1.0
    Microsoft Windows 1.0 operating environment
    SOURCE Wikipedia.
  • windows 1.0

  • windows 1.0
    Microsoft Windows 1.0 operating environment
    SOURCE Wikipedia.
  • windows 1.0
    Microsoft Windows 1.0 operating environment
    SOURCE Wikipedia.
windows 1.0 - calculator icon
windows 1.0 - computer icon
windows 1.0 - write icon
windows 1.0 - file icon
windows 1.0 - bin icon

1985

  • atari TOS

  • atari TOS
    Atari 1040STF 16-bit computer (1986)
    SOURCE Wikipedia, ©Bill Bertram, 2006
  • atari TOS
    Atari TOS Version 1.0, 1985.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • atari TOS

  • atari TOS
    Atari 1040STF 16-bit computer (1986)
    SOURCE Wikipedia, ©Bill Bertram, 2006
  • atari TOS
    Atari TOS Version 1.0, 1985.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • atari TOS

  • atari TOS
    Atari 1040STF 16-bit computer (1986)
    SOURCE Wikipedia, ©Bill Bertram, 2006
  • atari TOS
    Atari TOS Version 1.0, 1985.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com

TOS introduces the new trend. What spacious desktops we will have from now on!

atari TOS - bin icon
atari TOS - bin icon
atari TOS - drawer icon

They start to gain some volume. Office drawers jump out of the screen, files multiply and the trash bin swells.

atari TOS - folder icon
atari TOS - file icon

1985

  • amiga workbench

  • amiga workbench
    The Amiga 500 (1987) with monitor, keyboard, mouse and floppy disk drive.
    SOURCE Wikipedia, ©Bill Bertram 2006
  • amiga workbench
    Desktop with applications in Amiga Workbench 1.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • amiga workbench

  • amiga workbench
    The Amiga 500 (1987) with monitor, keyboard, mouse and floppy disk drive.
    SOURCE Wikipedia, ©Bill Bertram 2006
  • amiga workbench
    Desktop with applications in Amiga Workbench 1.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • amiga workbench

  • amiga workbench
    The Amiga 500 (1987) with monitor, keyboard, mouse and floppy disk drive.
    SOURCE Wikipedia, ©Bill Bertram 2006
  • amiga workbench
    Desktop with applications in Amiga Workbench 1.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org

We all know it’s a lot of fun to personalize our devices. But “user freestyle” doesn’t always end up as a coherent design...

amiga workbench - clock icon
amiga workbench - clock icon
amiga workbench - balloon icon
amiga workbench - balloon icon
amiga workbench - bin icon
amiga workbench - floppy disc icon

Ladies and gentlemen, let us present: user customization! Amiga provides an interface with fully editable icons (meaning four colors and few sizes available).

1986

Even in the times when fashion was dictated more by technical abilities, strong individualism occurred. Some tried their own, different way.

  • geos

  • geos
    GEOS for the Commodore 64.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • geos
    Desktop with applications in GEOS 2 for C64
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • geos

  • geos
    GEOS for the Commodore 64.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • geos
    Desktop with applications in GEOS 2 for C64
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • geos

  • geos
    GEOS for the Commodore 64.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • geos
    Desktop with applications in GEOS 2 for C64
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
geos - clock icon
geos - bin icon
geos - bin icon

So, why not color the outline instead?

geos - calculator icon
geos - calculator icon
geos - kernal icon

1988

  • apple gs/os

  • apple gs/os
    GS/OS screenshot, ran under the KEGS emulator.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • apple gs/os
    Desktop with applications in GS/OS 5.0.4. (1991)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • apple gs/os

  • apple gs/os
    GS/OS screenshot, ran under the KEGS emulator.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • apple gs/os
    Desktop with applications in GS/OS 5.0.4. (1991)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • apple gs/os

  • apple gs/os
    GS/OS screenshot, ran under the KEGS emulator.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • apple gs/os
    Desktop with applications in GS/OS 5.0.4. (1991)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org

Still enough to have the eager user playing with “folder painting” for some time.

apple gs/os - file icon
apple gs/os - clock icon
apple gs/os - clock icon
apple gs/os - folder icon
apple gs/os - folder icon

Apple didn’t give a full hand, they only gave one finger. As many as 15 colors available but it was ONLY colors.

apple gs/os - bin icon

1989

NeXTSTEP was founded by Steve Jobs. It was something new... With shaded and highly detailed icons it showed us an entirely new approach to icon design.

NeXTSTEP - writenow
nextstep-interfacebuilder.png
NeXTSTEP - printer
NeXTSTEP - library
NeXTSTEP - edit
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    NeXTSTEP 0.8 desktop
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    user interface controls available under NeXTSTEP
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    Example of a display control panel
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8

  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    Terminal application
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    NeXTSTEP 0.8 desktop
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    user interface controls available under NeXTSTEP
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    Example of a display control panel
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8

  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    Terminal application
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
  • NeXTSTEP 0.8
    NeXTSTEP 0.8 desktop
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, www.toastytech.com
NeXTSTEP - terminal
NeXTSTEP - builddisk

NeXSTEP icons were the first ones to be considered skeuomorphic. It’s obvious that a new era of icon design has begun!

First lessons learned, conclusions drawn. Colors and three simple dimensions put their roots down for good. A constant stream of technical improvements supports the evolution. Basic signs are overgrown with shadows and shades. Files, computers, pencils and trash bins toss and turn at different angles. Icons begin to climb the long stairs,

to the Dream
World of Realism.

90s

the

1990

Microsoft did their homework. We feel the grid, and it’s easy to see the icons come from one production line. Probably thanks to the very same Susan Kare, an icon in the icon design world.

os/2 - clock icon
os/2 - clock icon
os/2 - calculator icon
  • windows 3 and os/2

  • windows 3 and os/2
    Screenshot of the Windows 3.0 workspace.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • windows 3 and os/2
    Desktop with applications in Windows 3.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • windows 3 and os/2

  • windows 3 and os/2
    Screenshot of the Windows 3.0 workspace.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • windows 3 and os/2
    Desktop with applications in Windows 3.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • windows 3 and os/2

  • windows 3 and os/2
    Screenshot of the Windows 3.0 workspace.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • windows 3 and os/2
    Desktop with applications in Windows 3.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org

Started with 16 colors The next versions, both Windows and OS/2, show a slow and steady evolution.

windows 3 - clock icon
windows 3 - clock icon
windows 3 - calculator icon
windows 3 - calculator icon

1991

With shades of grey and delicate accents, they present a less intrusive palette. Thanks to this all, the signs make a coherent package.

  • macintosh system 7
    Desktop with applications in System 7.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh system 7
    Desktop with applications in System 7.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh system 7
    MacOS 7.5.5 control panel folder. (1996)
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • macintosh system 7

  • macintosh system 7
    Desktop with applications in System 7.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh system 7
    Desktop with applications in System 7.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh system 7
    MacOS 7.5.5 control panel folder. (1996)
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • macintosh system 7

  • macintosh system 7
    Desktop with applications in System 7.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • macintosh system 7
    Desktop with applications in System 7.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org

It takes more time for Mac to make the icons show their sides, but over time, they become convinced, and most of them turn isometric.

macintosh system 7 - calculator icon
macintosh system 7 - bin icon
macintosh system 7 - bin icon
macintosh system 7 - write icon
macintosh system 7 - write icon
macintosh system 7 - computer icon
macintosh system 7 - computer icon

1993

geoworks ensemble 2 - bin icon
geoworks ensemble 2 - bin icon
geoworks ensemble 2 - calculator icon
  • geoworks ensemble 2

  • geoworks ensemble 2
    Desktop with applications in GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • geoworks ensemble 2
    First run in GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • geoworks ensemble 2

  • geoworks ensemble 2
    Desktop with applications in GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • geoworks ensemble 2
    First run in GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • geoworks ensemble 2

  • geoworks ensemble 2
    Desktop with applications in GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • geoworks ensemble 2
    First run in GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org

The rest of the shades are matched, too, and the overall effect is vibrant and unique. Shame it’s only some of the icons. Apparently, consistency is still a hard nut to crack.

While everybody followed the basic trends, Geoworks shows a slight breakaway from the outline fashion. Images proudly shine with indigo edges.

geoworks ensemble 2 - clock icon
geoworks ensemble 2 - write icon
geoworks ensemble 2 - write icon
geoworks ensemble 2 - write icon

1997

beos - clock icon
beos - clock icon

Apparently, it’s enough to slightly differ the angle and close each of them in a cube. And Voila! Original style despite the technical bonds.

beos - folder icon
beos - bin icon
beos - clock icon

Keeping the mainstream core idea, BeOS icons represent a somewhat different look.

  • beos
    BeOS 5.0 Personal Edition (2000)
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • beos
    Desktop with applications in BeOS R5.0.1 PE. (2000)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • beos
    Settings menu in BeOS R5.0.1 PE (Preferences) (2000)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • beos

  • beos
    BeOS 5.0 Personal Edition (2000)
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • beos
    Desktop with applications in BeOS R5.0.1 PE. (2000)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • beos
    Settings menu in BeOS R5.0.1 PE (Preferences) (2000)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • beos

  • beos
    BeOS 5.0 Personal Edition (2000)
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • beos
    Desktop with applications in BeOS R5.0.1 PE. (2000)
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
beos - write icon
beos - bin icon
beos - clock icon

1998

irix - calculator icon
irix - write icon
irix - write icon
  • irix

  • irix
    First run in IRIX 5.3 (1994) with thanks to Ian Young.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • irix
    Settings menu in IRIX 5.3 (1994) with thanks to Ian Young.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • irix

  • irix
    First run in IRIX 5.3 (1994) with thanks to Ian Young.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • irix
    Settings menu in IRIX 5.3 (1994) with thanks to Ian Young.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • irix

  • irix
    First run in IRIX 5.3 (1994) with thanks to Ian Young.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • irix
    Settings menu in IRIX 5.3 (1994) with thanks to Ian Young.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org

While struggling to make them float, IRIX forgot to get rid of the dots... BUT despite the rash, they have a very important feature: They are vectors.

The icons rise into the air. Everybody pushes it to the limit to add the illusion of space.

irix - bin icon
irix - bin icon
irix - folder icon
irix - folder icon

1999

rhapsody - disc icon
rhapsody - folder icon
rhapsody - write icon
rhapsody - write icon
  • rhapsody

  • rhapsody
    Desktop with applications in Rhapsody DR2.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • rhapsody
    Rhapsody Developer Release 2.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • rhapsody

  • rhapsody
    Desktop with applications in Rhapsody DR2.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • rhapsody
    Rhapsody Developer Release 2.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • rhapsody

  • rhapsody
    Desktop with applications in Rhapsody DR2.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • rhapsody
    Rhapsody Developer Release 2.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com

The new invention of
a transparency mask
mixed with isometry and perspective provides an icon salad of a hundred tastes.

A change is brewing... Something just pushes out of them, but can’t really get past the steely border of the outline.

rhapsody - folder icon
rhapsody - folder icon
rhapsody - bin icon

1999

  • amiga os 3.5
    AmigaOS 3.5.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • amiga os 3.5

  • amiga os 3.5
    AmigaOS 3.5.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • amiga os 3.5

  • amiga os 3.5
    AmigaOS 3.5.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • amiga os 3.5

  • amiga os 3.5
    AmigaOS 3.5.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • amiga os 3.5

It’s hard to be an icon in times of the revolution...

amiga os 3.5 - disc icon
amiga os 3.5 - folder icon

The new century is soon to arrive, and they seem to shiver and be a bit shudder, dropping pixel-crumbs all around.

amiga os 3.5 - drawer icon
amiga os 3.5 - bin icon
amiga os 3.5 - bin icon
amiga os 3.5 - disc icon
amiga os 3.5 - folder icon

New millennium
realistic boom

and a “literal” craze reaches its peak. Finally, they made it! It all looks like real! What’s more - it’s hyper polished, spick-and-span and tip top. Shiny, blinky, glossy. Transparent, multi-layered, multi-shaded. Blurred and softened. It’s all “bigger, better, and MORE”.

2000s

the

2001

“Photo-illustrative icon style” smashes the idea of an icon being just a symbol. Aliasing is passé, so the edges can freely blur.

  • mac os x

  • mac os x
    Desktop with applications in Mac OS X Public Beta.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • mac os x
    Screenshot of Mac OS X v10.0
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • mac os x

  • mac os x
    Desktop with applications in Mac OS X Public Beta.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • mac os x
    Screenshot of Mac OS X v10.0
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • mac os x

  • mac os x
    Desktop with applications in Mac OS X Public Beta.
    Courtesy of Marcin Wichary, www.guidebookgallery.org
  • mac os x
    Screenshot of Mac OS X v10.0
    SOURCE Wikipedia

The pictures grow huge, have alpha channels and 8-bit transparency masks. What a splendor!

mac os x - bin full icon
mac os x - bin full icon
mac os x - applications icon
mac os x - applications icon
mac os x - disc globe icon
mac os x - disc globe icon
mac os x - finder icon

2001

Not so literally, but still striking. Here it seems that icons hit the Effects Jackpot.

windows xp - add/remove programs icon
windows xp - search icon
windows xp - search icon
  • windows xp

  • windows xp
    First run in Windows XP.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • windows xp
    Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 installed.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • windows xp

  • windows xp
    First run in Windows XP.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • windows xp
    Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 installed.
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • windows xp

  • windows xp
    First run in Windows XP.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • windows xp
    Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 installed.
    SOURCE Wikipedia

Each of them created as a vector gets its beauty days in Photoshop later. Dressed up and with heavy make-up, they hit the desktop runway, spinning in all directions.

windows xp - bin icon
windows xp - bin icon
windows xp - disc icon
windows xp - my computer icon
windows xp - my computer icon

2007

windows vista - bin icon
windows vista - bin icon
  • windows vista

  • windows vista
    Windows Vista Ultimate using the Windows Aero theme, 2007
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • windows vista
    Windows Vista control panel.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • windows vista

  • windows vista
    Windows Vista Ultimate using the Windows Aero theme, 2007
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • windows vista
    Windows Vista control panel.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • windows vista

  • windows vista
    Windows Vista Ultimate using the Windows Aero theme, 2007
    SOURCE Wikipedia
  • windows vista
    Windows Vista control panel.
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com

Probably the most important representative of the “Icon Rococo Style”. Reached an enormous size and deserves a “Detail Master” degree.

windows vista - note icon
windows vista - computer icon
windows vista - computer icon

We’re now so proud to have a whole collection of glittering pieces on our glossy screens.

windows vista - folder icon
windows vista - folder icon

2007

ios - mail icon
ios - mail icon
ios - note icon
  • ios
    iPhone OS 3.0
  • ios

  • ios
    iPhone OS 3.0
  • ios

  • ios
    iPhone OS 3.0
  • ios

  • ios
    iPhone OS 3.0
  • ios

ios - camera icon

Once we got the bug, it spread easily through our global village.

The whole world strives to reproduce... the world. Apple with its IOS allows us to carry the semi-realistic little pictures with us everywhere we go.

ios - clock icon
ios - clock icon

2008

android - clock icon
android - clock icon

Google rushed to summon a couple of friends (including, among many others, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung).

An Open Handset Alliance was born with Android as the main operating system. Since then, we have all lived our mobile lives with the life-mimicking icons.

android - calendar icon
android - calendar icon
  • android
    Android v. 2.2 (Froyo)
  • android

  • android
    Android v. 2.2 (Froyo)
  • android

  • android
    Android v. 2.2 (Froyo)
  • android

  • android
    Android v. 2.2 (Froyo)
  • android

android - phone icon
android - phone icon
android - camera icon

After the deadly race, the exhausted Icons seemed to come to their senses. They start a journey back in time to discover their roots and their real meaning. They slowly undress out of their costumes and reveal their natural shapes. The realistic era is over. Once again in the history

it appears that
less is more.

the

2010s

2010

Microsoft made a revolutionary move releasing Windows Phone 7. Out of the blue, the icons became flat. They also went white and received a uniform background.

windows phone 7 - message icon
windows phone 7 - message icon
windows phone 7 - mail icon
windows phone 7 - mail icon

A serious makeover that opened the gates to new design paths.

  • windows phone 7
    Windows Phone 7 OS
  • windows phone 7

  • windows phone 7
    Windows Phone 7 OS
  • windows phone 7

  • windows phone 7
    Windows Phone 7 OS
  • windows phone 7

  • windows phone 7
    Windows Phone 7 OS
  • windows phone 7

windows phone 7 - phone icon
windows phone 7 - phone icon
windows phone 7 - settings icon

2013

Mobile apps fuelled the icon design industry. Despite the technical abilities, “flatenization” seems to take over.

  • apps web

  • apps web
    Windows 8 Service Pack 1 screen shots
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • apps web
    Comarch Smart Finances by Modulus
  • apps web

  • apps web
    Windows 8 Service Pack 1 screen shots
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • apps web
    Comarch Smart Finances by Modulus
  • apps web

  • apps web
    Windows 8 Service Pack 1 screen shots
    Courtesy of Nathan Lineback, http://toastytech.com
  • apps web
    Comarch Smart Finances by Modulus
apps web - clock icon
apps web - bin icon

Gradients and shadows are still lingering, but they have a rather shy nature in these plain circumstances.

apps web - document icon
apps web - folder icon
office-supplies-and-equipment calculator
futuramo
technology floppy-disk (save)
communication envelope-open-empty (message open)
time, mouse-and-cursors hourglass

A timeless system

After over 30 years of experimentation, learning from the mistakes of others’ and our own, experienced on the battlefield of creating icons, there came a brilliant system. Combining science and art, FUTURAMO Icons provide an esthetic design, incredible consistency for ALL the signs, along with almost unlimited flexibility. What is crafted you adjust, no more room for mistakes. As simple as three clicks.

time, mouse-and-cursors hourglass

2015

  • 16-styles

  • 16-styles

  • 16-styles

  • 16-styles

  • 16-styles

  • 16-styles

  • 16-styles

  • 16-styles

office-supplies-and-equipment calculator
office-supplies-and-equipment calculator
technology computer
technology computer
files document-text
files document-text
time clock
time clock
files document-text-pencil-diagonal
files document-text-pencil-diagonal

Universality. Files and calendars, smileys and animals. For each sign, you’ll find millions of possibilities. FUTURAMO Icons are just fantastically adjustable. Colors, styles, formats, sizes. Whatever is needed.

files document-text-pencil-diagonal
files document-text-pencil-diagonal
office-supplies-and-equipment drawer-with-files
office-supplies-and-equipment drawer-with-files
people user-star
people user-star
  • icon system

  • icon system

  • icon system

  • icon system

  • icon system

  • icon system

  • icon system

  • icon system

  • icon system

communication speech-bubble-text
communication speech-bubble-text

Easy to use. Click or tap and they will all follow. It takes seconds. The system is clear and intuitive, a pure pleasure to use it.

communication envelope-open-empty
communication envelope-open-empty
technology floppy-disk
technology floppy-disk
interface-and-formatting, science color-picker
interface-and-formatting, science color-picker
arrows arrows-cross-right-02
arrows arrows-cross-right-02
business-and-finance shopping-cart-with-goods
business-and-finance shopping-cart-with-goods
medicine-and-health, science laboratory-test-tube-fumes
medicine-and-health, science laboratory-test-tube-fumes
sound-and-music bell-ringing-03
sound-and-music bell-ringing-03
interface-and-formatting shield-with-check-mark
interface-and-formatting shield-with-check-mark
objects-and-equipment cup
objects-and-equipment cup
communication, toys-and-games kite
communication, toys-and-games kite
warnings-and-alerts bomb
warnings-and-alerts bomb
toys-and-games teddy-bear-smiling
toys-and-games teddy-bear-smiling
communication phone-receiver-call
communication phone-receiver-call
transportation, sport-and-fitness bicycle
transportation, sport-and-fitness bicycle
signs-and-symbols award-badge
signs-and-symbols award-badge

Thousands of signs. Since 2007, the icon base has been continuously growing and doesn’t plan to stop. Because we follow our strict principles, the new arrivals always match the previous ones!

communication transmitter-03
communication transmitter-03
interface-and-formatting, halloween magic-wand
interface-and-formatting, halloween magic-wand
objects-and-equipment, furniture washing-machine
objects-and-equipment, furniture washing-machine
animals bug
animals bug
animals mouse-02
animals mouse-02
food-and-drink cheese
food-and-drink cheese
emotions-and-feelings emoticon-bangs-grin
emotions-and-feelings emoticon-bangs-grin
  • awards

  • awards

  • awards

  • awards

  • awards

  • awards

  • awards

  • awards

Aesthetics. It’s not only about tech stuff. They are simply pretty! Matching any project you pick. Go on and give them a try :-)

FUTURAMO