Learn the fundamentals of icon design in 1 hour

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"Intro to Icons" is an online course with 30 fast–paced videos by Matt D. Smith. Join the MDS email list and get it FREE.

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Learn the 3 traits that every icon set needs

We’ll walk through a handful of existing apps, examine their icon usage, and cover the three most important traits all icon sets need.

I MUST know those 3 traits
drawing a link icon

Learn to use basic shapes for seemingly complex icons

Rectangles, circles, and lines. That's really all we need to design most interface icons. Let's put simple geometry to work!

I'd like to be able to do that
<!-- this is the code for the link icon -->
<svg id="target" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><title>icon-link</title><path d="M13.768,10.232h0a4,4,0,0,1,0,5.657l-2.828,2.828a4,4,0,0,1-5.657,0h0a4,4,0,0,1,0-5.657" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" /><path d="M10.232,13.768h0a4,4,0,0,1,0-5.657l2.828-2.828a4,4,0,0,1,5.657,0h0a4,4,0,0,1,0,5.657" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" /></svg>

Learn how to export & manipulate SVG code

SVG code can be intimidating, so we’ll demistify the language behind the shapes and learn how powerful it can be when used correctly.

YESVG please

Taught with Illustrator & Sketch

Don't get caught up in specific software. We're learning the fundamentals here! Pick your favorite and get going. Log in to the course app and get started on any device.

Illustrator canvas

Sketch canvas

Learn from MDS

Uhhh... who is that and why is he trying to teach me about icons?

👋 I’m glad you asked. My name is Matt D. Smith and I run my own independent design studio in Athens, GA—and have done so for the last decade. I design lots of websites, apps, and software in general. No matter the project, there’s always SOME type of icon usage.

Pre-built icon sets are great for quick concepts, but sometimes you just need to bang out your own to give your project some personality. If you know the fundamentals, the possibilities are endless. So, come on in. The water feels great! 🏖

Ready to get started?

Join the MDS list and get instant access.

Oh heck yes