Application Icons (HI Guide)

Inside Macintosh: Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines / Part 2 - The Interface Elements: Chapter 8 - Icons / Default and Custom Icons

Application Icons

Because applications are usually used to create documents, the application icon uses a tilted document page to represent the documents the application creates. In this way, a relationship is established. The hand is also part of the default application icon. Figure 8-30 shows the default icon that appears in the Finder if you don't supply a custom icon for your application.

Figure 8-30 Default application icons

Although it's best to be consistent, if you must design an icon different
from the default shape, be sure to use one of the standard application icon elements, either the page or the hand, in your icon. Figure 8-31 shows
two custom application icons that use both the tilted document page and
the hand elements.

Figure 8-31 Custom application icons

You can customize the application icon by adding graphics to it. Use graphics that convey meaning about what your application does. If you can't think
of elements that represent the overall function of your application, it's OK
to use your company identification. However, using your logo is limiting because your company will probably make more than one application in
its lifetime and you will want a distinct icon for each one.

Don't design an application icon that is completely unrelated to the basic shape of the application icon. People won't get the benefit of visual clues
that help them identify your icon as an application. Figure 8-32 shows two examples of application icons that totally violate the guidelines presented here. They don't give the user much information about what they do, although they might be fun to look at.

Figure 8-32 Examples of bad application icons