Delicious and Iconic
By Lauren Shelley
The objective of this project was to design twelve distinct icons that align with a cohesive theme and design style of our choosing. My goal was to create something both timeless and unique, incorporating a visual approach not typically associated with iconography. After exploring various options, I decided to merge a retro pixel art aesthetic with one of my favorite themes—food. The result is a collection of icons that reflect both nostalgia and creativity.
Below, I will outline the key processes and steps I took to bring this concept to life.
Displayed above is part of the brainstorming process I undertook to select the final items. During this phase, I sketched out the basic design for each icon to evaluate which items complemented each other and maintained a cohesive flow within the overall set. This helped me refine the selection and ensure consistency in both style and theme.
Next came the pixel design. Since this was a new theme for me, deciding how to approach pixel art was a challenge. There are many techniques and guidelines to follow when creating pixel-based icons. After experimenting with different styles, I found that incorporating more detail and color gave the images a richer and more polished appearance, as shown above.
Finally, below are the completed icons in their final form. I chose a dark brown outline to give each icon a clean, defined look, with light coming from the top left to create a cohesive visual flow. Each icon represents an item typically found at a dinner table in your favorite Mexican restaurant. Which one stands out as your favorite?
