Why Speed Matters in Icon Design
Design moves fast. Deadlines aren’t getting any looser, and projects don’t wait on slow workflows. When you can spin up clean, brand consistent icons in under 10 minutes, you cut down on back and forth and get assets out the door quicker. That’s more time for the fun stuff like refining UI or testing ideas.
Endlessly digging through icon libraries? Total time drain. You might find something close to what you need, but it usually means compromising on style, size, or detail. Worse, mismatched icons weaken your visual identity. When you design your own icons in Figma, they’re on brand from the start and you stay in full control.
Custom icons also read better in context. If your product has a unique look or UI, generic sets often fall flat. Taking a few extra minutes to build your own helps every click and tap feel intentional. And once you get the hang of it, those minutes shrink fast.
Setting Up Your Figma Workspace
Start by creating a new file in Figma. Keep things simple stick to a canvas size of 24×24 or 32×32 pixels. These dimensions are standard for interface icons and will save you time later when exporting or scaling for different screens.
Next, turn on the pixel grid (View > Pixel Grid) and enable snapping. This means every stroke, shape, and corner you draw locks cleanly to the grid essential for crisp icons that don’t blur at smaller sizes. Lazy alignment = fuzzy exports. Precision here pays off.
Finally, when you look at existing icon sets, treat them as inspiration, not templates. Use them to study how others tackle balance, negative space, and shape hierarchy. But don’t copy paste. Your icons should match your brand and user needs, not just mimic what’s popular. Learn from them, then build your own visual language.
Set your foundation right, and the rest of the process flows smoother.
Icon Design Core Basics
Start simple. The most effective icons rely on core geometric shapes rectangles, circles, and straight lines. You’re not painting a masterpiece; you’re building functional visuals that need to be clear at a glance. Let shapes do the heavy lifting.
Next, use Boolean operations (Union, Subtract, Intersect, Exclude) to merge or carve out forms quickly. Instead of stacking a bunch of tiny pieces, combine them into one clean, editable shape. It’s faster, and more importantly, cleaner for exports.
Keep your stroke widths consistent usually 1px or 2px depending on the size. This makes your icons scalable across different screen sizes without getting fuzzy or uneven. Thin lines that are too light or inconsistent can ruin an entire icon set when viewed at app scale. Stay sharp, stay consistent.
Design a Simple Icon Step by Step
Creating a functional icon doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this section, we’ll walk through how to design a clean, minimalist “Calendar” button icon using basic Figma tools. The whole process should take just a few minutes.
Step by Step: Build a “Calendar” Icon
Start with a blank canvas and follow these simple steps:
Draw the Base Shape
Select the Rectangle tool (R)
Create a square canvas: 24×24 px works great for most interfaces
This forms the base of your calendar icon
Add the Header Bar
Draw a smaller rectangle across the top portion (around 4 5 px tall)
Align it flush with the upper edge
This represents the calendar’s monthly header
Add the L Shaped Corners
Use the Line tool or Pen tool to draw two small, L shaped marks in the top corners
Make sure they’re evenly spaced and aligned
Keep stroke width consistent (usually 2 px) for visual cohesion
Final Touch: Convert to Component
Once you’re happy with the basic shape:
Select all elements
Right click and choose “Create Component”
Name it something clear, like icon/calendar for easy library organization
Optional: Add to Your Design Library
If you plan to reuse the icon:
Drag the new component to your team library
Mark it as ready for developer handoff or batch export
Small steps like these keep your design process fast and reusable.
Exporting Icons Like a Pro
Clean exports separate amateurs from pros. Start by exporting every icon as a vector SVG. This keeps your icons crisp at any size and plays nice with any developer’s workflow. Don’t flatten to PNG unless you absolutely have to SVG is your best friend.
Next, get serious about sizing. Stick to consistent units multiples of 8 or 16 pixels. This keeps your icons aligned across layouts and avoids those pesky spacing issues when devs drop them into grids or UI elements. A 24×24 or 32×32 base is standard, but the key is to stick with a system.
And finally: label your files like someone else will need them. Because they will. Use clear, lowercase names with dashes, not spaces. Skip vague filenames like “iconfinalv2.svg”. Instead, go with something like “calendar outline 24.svg”. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.
Icons aren’t just designs they’re assets. Export like it matters.
Optimize with Figma Tricks
Clean icons don’t happen by accident they come from using the right tools at the right time. Start by ditching groups. Use the “Union” tool instead. It merges shapes into a single, editable form, which keeps your layers tidy and avoids weird overlaps when you scale or export.
Next: speed up your workflow with icon grids. Think of them as visual constraints that force alignment and balance. Set up a 24×24 or 32×32 grid, then create several icons in one go. It’s easier to check consistency when everything sits side by side.
Finally, convert icons into components. This isn’t just a Figma best practice it’s how you stay sane when working on product sets. Components make updates easy and reuse instant. Change one instance, and every duplicate updates automatically.
Fast, efficient, reusable. That’s how pros build icon systems.
Next Steps to Level Up
Once you’ve got a few solid icons under your belt, it’s time to think bigger: icon packs. These can be for your own product UI, client projects, or even to sell on marketplaces. A tight set of 20 50 icons with a clear theme social, navigation, finance, anything is much more valuable than random one offs. Just remember: consistency is everything.
Before publishing or sharing, run your icon set by other designers. Check for alignment on sizing, stroke width, and visual style. Even small mismatches can make a set feel amateur. Feedback helps tighten your system and build your confidence.
Want a fast way to get started or refine your process? This no fluff guide can help: custom icons with Figma.
Keep It Simple, Make It Fast
Icon design doesn’t have to be ornate to be effective. In fact, detail overload usually slows you down and muddies the message. The rule is simple: fewer details mean faster edits and smoother scalability. A lean icon is easier to maintain, easier to export, and plays nicer across screen sizes.
The best icons share a few traits: clean lines, visual balance, and intuitive design. They’re not trying to do too much. Everything in the frame has a job. The result? Icons that feel intentional, not accidental. Whether it’s a dashboard icon or a mobile button, clarity is king.
You don’t need to be an illustrator with a Wacom tablet to make icons that work. Real results come from developing a quick, consistent rhythm in Figma. Practice fast sketches. Break complex ideas down into three or four basic shapes. Use alignment tools to polish layout. With each rep, you’ll get faster and your icons will get sharper.
Lead Software Strategist
