Smashing Community Icon Set: Comment and Win!
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.
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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)







arbuz
March 19th, 2009 1:56 pmThe camerapillow is awesome, if you know waht i mean :)
golfmk2.be
March 19th, 2009 2:06 pmI am hoping for a volkswagen golf mark 2 icon set :) No one dared to make it for this kind of car yet…
frank achon
March 19th, 2009 2:07 pmI would love an icon set for my website-portfolio
-Illustration
-Photo-manipulation
-web design
-Print design
jochenvde
March 19th, 2009 2:08 pmA 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!
oGereye
March 19th, 2009 2:24 pmThose are great, Thanks!
Almog
March 19th, 2009 2:56 pmCool 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
Iván
March 19th, 2009 3:13 pmA 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!
Rip Robinson
March 19th, 2009 3:25 pmOur 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!
Abel
March 19th, 2009 4:00 pmi 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.
Kane
March 19th, 2009 4:13 pmHow 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 )
Jason King
March 19th, 2009 4:34 pmI 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.
Jeroen
March 19th, 2009 5:09 pmA set of icons for socialmedia would be great.
Good Linked In and Twitter icons are too rare at the moment for example…
Vasilis
March 19th, 2009 5:18 pmHow 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.
fesh
March 19th, 2009 6:18 pmI like to see a set of icons that can be use in medical websites
John
March 19th, 2009 6:19 pmI’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!
Crackstar
March 19th, 2009 9:42 pma 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.
Ricardo
March 20th, 2009 12:22 amI 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.
Willem
March 20th, 2009 12:31 amA kitchen utensils icon set
Biffy
March 20th, 2009 1:16 amSomething 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.
Nadun
March 20th, 2009 1:25 amAny cool icon set will be much appreciate
Thanxs.
Skaka
March 20th, 2009 2:44 amWE NEED A MY COMPUTER ICON, AND VIEW DESKTOP ICON AND BETTER LOOKING HDD ICONS.
morphcore
March 20th, 2009 2:51 amsome 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)
gabs
March 20th, 2009 2:59 amsome business icons, software solutions related.
asmodeus
March 20th, 2009 3:13 amOkay, maybe I’ll get those pillows :)
Pulsar
March 20th, 2009 3:26 amDefinitely 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!
Boaa
March 20th, 2009 3:41 amMake som anti-gravity icons to use when you feel extra cool. And if you have the time, make a coffee collection set.
Arun J
March 20th, 2009 3:46 amI’d like to see icons for the different streams of visual arts:
# Graphic Design
# Photography
# Typography
# Illustration
# Animation
etc
Thanks!
Bleyder
March 20th, 2009 3:58 amA collection of music icons (songs, concerts, photos, lyrics, etc.)
Güz
March 20th, 2009 4:52 amA Maori Tattoo’s set will be amazing! I see great possibilities…
James G
March 20th, 2009 4:56 amI could really do with a subtle shopping basket icon to go on a #d2d2d2 background.
le Block
March 20th, 2009 5:46 amI’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….
Martin
March 20th, 2009 5:55 amI 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…
Spy
March 20th, 2009 6:05 amAn “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).
mmtumba
March 20th, 2009 6:37 amIcons…
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?
Max
March 20th, 2009 7:16 amHello,
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… ;)
Jeff
March 20th, 2009 8:39 amI 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
Ashtree
March 20th, 2009 8:43 amHow 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!
Bill Funkhauser
March 20th, 2009 9:46 amWould love some 2.0 icons for an Agency – etc.. Goverment – Local..
Icons – Press Releases – City Hall – Public Safety – Recreation & Parks – :))))))))
Thanks !
Srikanth AD
March 20th, 2009 9:57 amHi,
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!
Kelly
March 20th, 2009 11:57 amI 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.
Roc
March 20th, 2009 12:13 pmI 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 :))))
Sean Hudson
March 20th, 2009 12:14 pmI 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?
Gregg
March 20th, 2009 12:41 pmaww baby these are fantastic
Max
March 20th, 2009 1:04 pmI would love to see camping / hiking / canoeing / … icon sets. Including: backpacks, compass, map and so on. Basically, any kind of camping gear.
Xevo
March 20th, 2009 1:36 pmMaybe 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. :)
Maciej Gowin
March 20th, 2009 2:54 pmHello,
I would Like to see some wedding icon set or photographic set.
orbi
March 21st, 2009 6:14 amI 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 :)
Nathan
March 21st, 2009 12:25 pmAdobe Icon set,
Photoshop
Flash
Illustrator
Dreamworks
After Effects
Premiere
Something classy and sleek :)
David
March 21st, 2009 12:26 pmCharity 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
David
March 21st, 2009 12:27 pmCute 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
eddie
March 21st, 2009 4:07 pmcool icons for CMS would be lovely.
Drew McManus
March 23rd, 2009 8:39 amCultural and performing arts icons:
# orchestra
# opera
# ballet
# theater
etc.
Fábio DRS
March 23rd, 2009 9:06 amAstonishing!
Lucky 11 Studios
March 23rd, 2009 11:22 amA new Safari icon. Jeez I hate that icon.
…or maybe new icons for the Microsoft suite. Those letter icons SUCK!
Monika
March 27th, 2009 12:04 pmWell 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!
Daniel
April 4th, 2009 10:34 pmI’d like some more twitter icons and other social networks
Sulcalibur
July 27th, 2009 7:37 amJust 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.
Harpal Singh
September 16th, 2010 7:09 amI’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.