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Iconography
Icons can enhance navigation and comprehension by quickly drawing attention to important messages or actions that audiences should take. Used correctly, icons can both communicate actions without using text, and connect visually to SFU’s brand.
There is no fixed set of custom icons for SFU. Rather, we recommend using the below criteria when selecting or creating icons for your application.
Simple shapes
Thick lines
Straight-edged corners
Single colour
Colour guidelines are outlined in our Brand Guidelines.
Resources
Using icons that meet the style described above helps unify icon usage across SFU, enhancing the brand. Icons that meet the above criteria can be designed from scratch or sourced from online resources:
- Google’s Material Design Project is a free resource that contains downloadable icons that meet our criteria and support the best practices of user interface design
- Another option is Font Awesome (license fees apply)
Do:
- Use simple shapes familiar to your users
- Maintain consistency
- Test your icon. Consider adding a text label if its meaning is not understood within five seconds
- Consider using an icon when space is limited
Don’t:
- Flood your page or screen with icons
- Use icons when a single word is more effective
- Attempt to represent complex concepts as an icon
- Mix different styles of icons
Contact us
Not sure if the icons you’d like to use are on brand? Email sfu-brand@sfu.ca for a consultation or review.