Don’t make users think too hard when using icons. Simple concepts should be displayed in the most straightforward manner possible. Minimalist icons that can convey information in its simplest form, and that represent the most essential characteristics of an action are preferred to complex designs.
If a standard icon for a specific purpose is accepted throughout the industry, it’s best not to reinvent the wheel. For example, the floppy disk icon is the accepted image for saving a document.
Use symbols that are not abstract. Find the simplest use of the concept and use that to represent the necessary action. Be as literal as possible. In some cases, it may not be possible to find a literal representation of an action. In this case, use an icon that logically and clearly represents the action being performed. For example, a magnifying glass is a well-understood icon for “search.”
While there is some room for artistic flair in design, the guiding principle behind creating icons should be driven by the actual use-case. Don’t worry about “delighting” the user; think more about providing a symbol which will help the user be able to accomplish the task they need to perform.
Common places for using icons include:
Vega has a selection of icons that can be used in design.
We also allow you to use FontAwesome icons in your designs. you may continue to do so. If you wish to use a Font Awesome icon in your designs, please select it using the Vega Plugin.