We can easily say that among the most important features of minimalistic design are Simple web icons. Additionally, simple icons and other design elements should be used moderately. One of the secrets is minimizing icons use in general. Reduce the amount of simple icons. Use them only where it is essential. Refrain the optional simple web icons. They may serve several functions.
Limited amount of color, reserved shades, clear elements, soft lighting are being used for simple web icons design. Simple icons are created out of elegant and simple elements which really don't distract website visitors from the main navigation and web-site idea.
The following rules for simple icons design can be outlined:
- minimal usage of duplication
- less amount of graphical elements
- maximum intuitive clarity
- clear typography in simple web icons
- less icons
Some important ideas for developing a minimalistic design with simple web icons
Additionally to simple icons themselves light-weight background textures and patterns are important for the design and content perception. The eyes should focus on the web page content or some important blocks but not on the background pattern or image itself. So the background should be of a light simple shade making it secondary compared with the foreground items like simple web icons.
Clear typography is an additional notable feature of the lightweight and clear design. Simple icons names (if there are any) should be precise, meaningful and equivalent to their function. Headings placed on simple web icons need to be of readable font and huge enough for easy reading.
Also for creating a great clean simple icons design you may use enough white or empty space. Extra spaces keep elements individual and for that reason much more readable and easier to work with. In case you use some extra space between simple web icons this don't harm to the design of your site at all.
Speaking about the minimalistic trend in general it's not entirely minimal. Despite its great amount of white space there are still some simple icons, light textures, neat styles and bold fonts. Bear in mind that minimal just isn't exactly the same as simple. From the very begining minimal meant plain typographic not including images and styling. Nowadays there's a great number of various webpages over the Internet. Thats why modern design demands something more than black text on white background. Reducing elements of design to the most important items you can add more zest to your site layout with some unusual coloring, catchy simple icons, half-transparent and light-weight textures and patterns.
Simple is often used like a synonym of smart. While creating the modern web page design you should bear in mind the eternal truth stating that genius lies in simplicity. Simple web icons look fantastic and professional especially for a clean business style design.