Smashing Community Icon Set: Comment and Win!

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Ready for this? Here’s how it works: you tell us what icons you need, and then we design them together with SoftFacade (which recently created the beautiful Smashing Retro Icon Set) and release them for free. And to make it a bit more interesting, we’ll smash six commenters and forum participants with original nerdy gifts.

To participate, just suggest an idea for a great useful icon set in the comments to this post or in this forum thread. Details are below.

How do I participate?

Participating is very easy: just let us know what icon set you would like us to design (and, if possible, what specific icons the set should contain) in the comments to this post or in this forum thread. The set may contain at most eight icons.

On the 20th of March, we’ll select the most popular ideas and requests and publish a poll in our magazine, inviting our readers to vote on their favorite theme. Once it’s done, the creative minds behind SoftFacade will carefully design the set and submit drafts of its work in progress to the forum, documenting the design process. Hence, you can observe how the set is created and, if there is something you would like to change, communicate with the designers directly. You can keep track of updates on Twitter @smashingmag and @softfacade.

Awards

A total of six commenters and active participants in the forum will be awarded Mac Dock Icon Throw Pillows (see images below). The winners will be picked randomly and announced in the forum and on Twitter after the theme of the icon set has been chosen.

Finally, we’ll release the set as a free download, which you can freely use for personal and commercial use.

Smashing Magazine Is All About Our Readers

At Smashing Magazine, our readers have always been our highest priority. We respect our readers; we listen to them; we are always open to their suggestions; and we always appreciate constructive criticism. This is why we created a number of ways to interact with our readers:

  • We created a friendly Smashing Forum to make it possible for our community to exchange ideas and help each other in problem solving.
  • We are using Twitter to share useful resources and knowledge with, and get feedback from, our readers (e.g. deciding which article should appear next), and we now have almost 20,000 followers.
  • We are preparing the Smashing Book, in which our readers can decide what topics will be included.

And now we would like you to decide what icon set we should design and release next, especially for you. We hope to get great feedback from you, and we would like to thank SoftFacade for its cooperation in this event! Please spread the word, too; we would like the design community to decide what would be most useful and interesting for designers out there!

So, what icon set is it going to be, folks?

(al)

We love high-quality content and we care about little details. We believe that good content and design are crafts worth sharpening. Located in the lovely city of Freiburg, Germany. Mostly Vitaly (vf), Iris (il), Stephan (sp) and Sven (sl).

  1. 301

    The camerapillow is awesome, if you know waht i mean :)

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  2. 302

    I am hoping for a volkswagen golf mark 2 icon set :) No one dared to make it for this kind of car yet…

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  3. 303

    I would love an icon set for my website-portfolio

    -Illustration
    -Photo-manipulation
    -web design
    -Print design

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  4. 304

    A cool Starbucks icon set would be super, addicted to their products :D
    Or a sticker-like icon set would also be a great thing…

    Keep up the good work SM!

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  5. 305

    Those are great, Thanks!

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  6. 306

    Cool desktop 3.0 icons for an Adobe Air applications, like next and back arrows , home icon, minimize and expand icons, something that you can always use when building that Air application

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  7. 307

    A videoblogger icon set should be nice, with a camera, tv, films and others icons similar to those. Thank’s for all and sorry for my bad english ;)

    Regards!

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  8. 308

    Our non-profit youth org would love some icons in the corporate colors:
    bright blue and bright green, with orange and magenta as accent colors.
    Specific icons that would be nice:
    • Site navigation (read more, news item, region, community, about us, get involved, contact, event)
    • Bullet points based on globes (for unordered lists, menu items)
    Thanks!

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  9. 309

    i want a set about hair dressing or beauty salon.

    1. stylist sissors
    2. make up
    3. nails
    4. products
    5. dryer & comb
    6. cuting hair
    7. hair color
    8. fashion

    i want em very stylish, shiny, realistic.

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  10. 310

    How about a tiny set that would fit nicely inline with text? Kind of like the MediaWiki links (seen most commonly on Wikipedia) that tell you if you’re linking to a file, or an outside source, etc.?

    (This is my 2nd suggest, first was #6… don’t want to be accused of stuffing the ballot. :P )

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  11. 311

    I work mainly with nonprofits and have been hoping someone would design a set of icons around their need to encourage people to take action. Specifically icons for use on their websites such as:

    - make a donation
    - volunteer
    - become a friend/member
    - sign our petition
    - contact us
    - our events
    - follow us (rss feed)

    They would need to be fairly generic, suitable for use by many different kinds of nonprofits that do many different kinds of work.

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  12. 312

    A set of icons for socialmedia would be great.
    Good Linked In and Twitter icons are too rare at the moment for example…

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  13. 313

    How about a DJ / Nightclub / Music icon set? Possibly in vector so they’re scalable for print too?
    - Headphones
    - Records
    - Turntables
    - Speakers
    - Microphones
    - Crowds
    - Dancing people
    etc. etc.

    0
  14. 314

    I like to see a set of icons that can be use in medical websites

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  15. 315

    I’d love to see some funky development icons, something I could use on my dock and in my company intranet and wiki. Either vanilla flavoured to cover the type of development – or more precise to the application we actually use. So very hard to find anything out there for these types of applications!

    - Java Developement (Idea IntelliJ)
    - SQL (MSSQL Server)
    - UML (Visual Paradigm)
    - Profiler (YourKit Java Profiler)
    - Reporting (iReport)
    - XML Editing

    Cheers!

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  16. 316

    a fitness related icon set, i can’t even find a decent set on stock websites (something along the lines of an icon for cardio, diet, weight training, weight tracking, calories) etc.

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  17. 317

    I was about to say this or those icons… I have a better idea. A complete Gnome iconset. Why? Because it has TONS of icons that can be used in TONS of places (and also Linux). A complete Gnome iconset in SVG format would also mean that we could continue the job since we would have access to the sources (imagine more colors, and then more icons if needed) plus would also mean that translating to other formats would be not only possible but easy too.

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  18. 318

    A kitchen utensils icon set

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  19. 319

    Something I found lacking in most available icons sets is a “map” icon.
    I’ve recently been working on a social networking site with Maps but couldn’t find ay decent map icons.
    With location-based sites/services becoming common, it’s always nice to have some icons related to them.

    0
  20. 320

    Any cool icon set will be much appreciate
    Thanxs.

    0
  21. 321

    WE NEED A MY COMPUTER ICON, AND VIEW DESKTOP ICON AND BETTER LOOKING HDD ICONS.

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  22. 322

    some good looking media icons for design portfolio purposes would be very nice. something like:

    - icon for print projects
    - icon for animations/movies/motiondesign
    - icon for illustrations
    - icon for photography
    - icon for music/audio
    - icon for design projects (layouts, websites, GUI)

    0
  23. 323

    some business icons, software solutions related.

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  24. 324

    Okay, maybe I’ll get those pillows :)

    0
  25. 325

    Definitely some business related icons such as:
    - Archives
    - Old versions / Draft versions
    - Document library
    - Consulting
    - Business contact / networking
    - Communication tools
    - Statistics
    - Advertising
    - Administrative docs
    - Billing

    I’ve been scrutinizing the internet for those and they simply isn’t any choice (just some boring stuff there…), most of them aren’t even available!
    Please, please, please, make a business set!

    0
  26. 326

    Make som anti-gravity icons to use when you feel extra cool. And if you have the time, make a coffee collection set.

    0
  27. 327

    I’d like to see icons for the different streams of visual arts:
    # Graphic Design
    # Photography
    # Typography
    # Illustration
    # Animation
    etc

    Thanks!

    0
  28. 328

    A collection of music icons (songs, concerts, photos, lyrics, etc.)

    0
  29. 329

    A Maori Tattoo’s set will be amazing! I see great possibilities…

    0
  30. 330

    I could really do with a subtle shopping basket icon to go on a #d2d2d2 background.

    0
  31. 331

    I’d like to see an iconcollection of common services of a media/web agency

    printdesign, branding, marketing, webstuff (like SEM/SEO, Anylsis, Usability, Design, Coding), consultancy a.s.o.

    Number 189. and 324 are good opinions too.

    Thanks for your nice site….

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  32. 332

    I would not at all mind some icons for the safety feature application I’m working on.
    – Password generator
    – Code locked door
    – Wallet
    – Credit cards
    – Unlock backdoor
    – Change password
    – Emergency situation
    – Data management

    I’ve got some ideas but not the skills…

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  33. 333

    An “All-you-need-in-web-set” with all icons you usually need for webdevelopement would be nice. Everyone uses famfamfam-Icons – which look reallly great – but I get used of it – to used (I hope you understand what I mean).

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  34. 334

    Icons…

    There are 200k+ web 2.0 icons out there – I don´t need more.

    Actually, I do not need any icons, as I have done (or copied influence elsewhere 2k times before…) all I need.

    What DO I need?

    Nice conseptual ideas, with which I can add my own touch (and make my own money).

    What DO you need then U morron (me)?

    Well, stuff like:

    http://dryicons.com/free-icons/preview/balloonica-icons-set/

    where I can do my own adjustments, because the base idea is good – basicly Icon containers!?!

    An icon set without the ability to personalize is like a gf without her own opinion.

    Deliver the framework, and your icons will form their own life – I would buy that!

    PS delivers base shapes copied widely (and the symbols we are used to – http://www.useit.com/), so PLZ do not help me with this!

    Actually, forget it, either 1 GOOD concept, or a stock libarary of 200+ “home pictograms”, 200+ “search pictograms” and so forth…

    Is this post bogus?

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  35. 335

    Hello,

    As mentioned before, a set of content edititing icons could be very interesting. Icons will be used for both sides, back office and front office for editing content, comments, forms, forums, etc.

    Why this set of Icons? Because smashing magazine has the ability to convert these borring icons into something very amazing and original that all people would be integrate in their own website and web apps.

    How many icons do we need?

    - 1 new article (or object icon)
    - 1 edit article (or object icon)
    - 1 cancel icon
    - 1 apply icon
    - 1 save icon
    - 1 home icon
    - 1 users icon
    - 1 folder icon
    - 1 preview icon
    - 1 upload icon
    - 1 download icon
    - 1 reset icon
    - 1 help icon
    - 1 delete icon
    - 1 config icon

    Several people could be interested by such icons but it’s just a suggestion… ;)

    0
  36. 336

    I need a set of golf icons for a golf instruction section on a website I’m working on.

    So stuff like:
    • Driving
    • Putting
    • Short Game
    • Irons/wedges
    • Bunkers
    • Golfing Fundamentals (like grip)
    • Rules & Etiquette
    • Hybrids

    0
  37. 337

    How about some Zen style icons?

    Something with some bamboo, a Buddha, a rock in sand or stacked rocks, a koi fish, a lotus…etc. Thanks for another awesome contest!

    0
  38. 338

    Bill Funkhauser

    March 20th, 2009 9:46 am

    Would love some 2.0 icons for an Agency – etc.. Goverment – Local..

    Icons – Press Releases – City Hall – Public Safety – Recreation & Parks – :))))))))

    Thanks !

    0
  39. 339

    Hi,
    It would be great if you people can design an icon set for ‘social mood indicators’ like Happy, Tired! etc which include logos of popular web resources like Twitter, Facebook and so on.

    These icons can be used for representing the current mood of a person on a specific social networking site.
    (Ex: ‘Tired’ on Twitter, ‘On the move’ for Facebook, ‘Busy with work’ for Myspace etc)
    I hope you got my point!

    0
  40. 340

    I would love some general purpose icons that would work well for iphone/mobile formatted websites, probably mostly themed around different types of content.

    rss, photos, news, email, im, music, video, and social media(facebook, twitter, flickr, del.icio.us, etc)

    so they would be very touch interface friendly.

    0
  41. 341

    I haven’t found a good “open map” icon (for links that open a location in google/yahoo/mapquest) that would be nice.
    How about a “random” icon where there is a finger on a world globe that’s spinning :))))

    0
  42. 342

    I need very specific icons for use in a Map based Travel-Tourism website. We filter map results in 6 clickable category buttons: All Types, Scenic, Accommodations, Restaurants, Bars, and Business (General types of business).
    We also need a “?” icon for roll-over help balloons.

    Thats only 7… Pllleeeaaaaaasse?

    0
  43. 343

    aww baby these are fantastic

    0
  44. 344

    I would love to see camping / hiking / canoeing / … icon sets. Including: backpacks, compass, map and so on. Basically, any kind of camping gear.

    0
  45. 345

    Maybe something like a community icon set, based off a japanese style, and for example the user icons, harajuku/cosplay kids or just anime figures. The home icon with a japanese styled roof and instead of stars, something like rice balls with happy (kawaii) faces?

    Well, I know you’ll guys can come up with something good, so I leave the rest to you. :)

    0
  46. 346

    Hello,
    I would Like to see some wedding icon set or photographic set.

    0
  47. 347

    I LOVE the SoftFacade styling
    If i were able to create swanky icons like that i would make some I need over and over again and can never find them in a set together. this means i have to buy a couple of sets in istock or not get the consistency i would love. If I’m in this position so are others.

    The following set would help me with UI schema diagrams, explanations of concepts to other people, explanations of concepts in my portfolio…. i would use them until they became dog-eared!!
    One – eMail
    Two – An office/ Building to represent …. an office or building :)
    Three – A Cloud (Internet/ Ethernet/ Network cloud) Ive never seen a nice one of these
    Four – A mobile Phone (Im getting excited just at the thought of the set … yes that could be viewed as sad but it works for me :) )
    Five – A Desktop PC
    Six – A Laptop
    Seven – A Server
    Eight – And most importantly!!! A user, oh yes, a user the centre attention :)

    0
  48. 348

    Adobe Icon set,

    Photoshop
    Flash
    Illustrator
    Dreamworks
    After Effects
    Premiere

    Something classy and sleek :)

    0
  49. 349

    Charity Icon set please – (generic for any charity)…
    1. Make a Donation
    2. Funds Raised (so far) Thermometer
    3. Volunteer
    4. How You Can Help
    5. About Us
    6. Share Your Story (contact us)
    7. Recent News
    8. Our People

    Thank-you

    0
  50. 350

    Cute Kitten-Puppy (together) Icon set please
    1. Curious
    2. Sniffing
    3. Sleeping
    4. Hiding
    5. Guarding
    6. Eating
    7. Wet (getting a bath)
    8. Playing!

    thank-you

    0
  51. 351

    cool icons for CMS would be lovely.

    0
  52. 352

    Cultural and performing arts icons:

    # orchestra
    # opera
    # ballet
    # theater
    etc.

    0
  53. 353

    Astonishing!

    0
  54. 354

    Lucky 11 Studios

    March 23rd, 2009 11:22 am

    A new Safari icon. Jeez I hate that icon.

    …or maybe new icons for the Microsoft suite. Those letter icons SUCK!

    0
  55. 355

    Well I think you guys should design icons for ad/design agencies. Like icons with leaflets, business cards, billboards, corporate gifts – everything an agency would possibly need to present their offer on the website. I tried to find them for a long time but no luck. There’s been almost everything to this day – twitter icons, rss icons, law icons, web icons, car icons – but nothing for agencies. And since it has a lot to do with web desing – it would be awesome thing to download!

    0
  56. 356

    I’d like some more twitter icons and other social networks

    0
  57. 357

    Just curious, did you have to clear copyright with Apple on this? I’m assuming you came to some deal since the only ‘official’ ones you have are Apple.

    0
  58. 358

    I’ve few clients who provide video shooting services with choppers shooting a wide aerial view. I’m not good in illustrations but I always wanted to create these ideas – aerial view from a helicopter, man hanging on side of helicopter with his camera, aerial view of earth, aerial view of horses racing or anything on those lines.

    0

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