From the course: Drawing Vector Graphics: Iconography

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Creating flat icons

Creating flat icons - Illustrator Tutorial

From the course: Drawing Vector Graphics: Iconography

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Creating flat icons

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- [Instructor] In 2000, Steve Jobs introduced a new graphical user interface for Apple's Mac OS, it was called Aqua. The styling of the icons that came with the Aqua environment were described by Jobs as lickable, due to their colorful, highly polished, glossy-like aesthetic. And the one you see in front of you now is the Application icon at that time. It had that kind of glossy, glassy look to it, and it brought forth that famous quote from Steve Jobs. Now this approach to OS icons started a design revolution within the subculture of iconography design, and that produced what I describe as an over-rendered app icons, like the one you see here. This trend lasted for many years, and has now led to a more flat based design aesthetic with simplified detailing. And so this icon went from the glossy, lickable icons of that era, to the current era of icon aesthetics, which is a flat approach. Now, I much more prefer this, I think aesthetically it looks better, but if you notice, look how…

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