50 Illustrator Tutorials To Create High Quality Icons

• February 6th, 2012
• Illustrator

Of as late I’ve been working on design projects which consists of me constructing icons. My weapon of choice when it comes to creating icons has to be illustrator rather than photoshop hands down every time, even thoe i’m more comfortable using photoshop. Illustrator is always my choice when creating icons, for the simple fact I can create icons which are scalable therefore if nessary the icons can be used in web or print.

Through out the project I did various illustrator tutorials as well as bookmarked several other tutorials, which involved some useful techniques which would help enhance my knowledge in the future when creating icons. I’ve collected 50 of the best illustrator tutorials all into one post for you to enjoy.

Care to share which is your favourate tutorial, or your general thoughts on the post would be more than welcomed in the comments section below.

1. Create a Tasty Burger Icon in Illustrator

In this delicious tutorial It will show you how to create a three-dimensional, scrumptious burger using Adobe Illustrator. Remember that I’m a vegetarian, so you should definitely appreciate the effort!

2. iTune Icon

The challenge of this tutorial is to use various Blending modes and blending techniques to replicate the iTune icon. This tutorial is a good exercise to master your Blend techniques.

3. Create A Briefcase Icon

In this tutorial, It will show you how to create a briefcase icon with rectangles, ellipses, and gradients. This briefcase icon is great for web designs and user interfaces. Moreover, you can easily apply these techniques to other icons, logos, and illustrations.

4. How to make a Calendar icon

In this tutorial you’re going to show you how we made the Calendar Icon from our most popular icon set “Coquette”.

5. How to Create an Hourglass Icon in About an Hour

With simple shapes, gradients, and vector textures, this simple tutorial will show beginning illustrators how to create an hourglass icon. There is a whole lot you can do without the Pen Tool. We’ll be using Illustrator CS4 for this tutorial, but those of you with older version should be able to follow along as well.

6. Make a Mailbox Icon Using Adobe Illustrator

Attention! This icon was not created solely for educational purposes. You can see the working process of real designing! We are going to use various professional techniques to create this icon, and I will give you many useful tips along the way. So, let’s get down to work, experts!

7. Make a detailed printer icon

In this icon design tutorial, we will construct a desktop printer icon that is rich in detail. We will use the industry-standard vector illustration tool: Adobe Illustrator.

8. How to Create a Shiny Bucket Icon

In this tutorial you will learn how to make a realistic vector bucket icon. You will learn to use the 3D Revolve function, how to add realistic light effects and how to draw different objects to form a composition.

9. How to Create an Alarm Clock Icon

With simple shapes and gradients, this easy tutorial will show you how to create an alarm clock icon. We’ll be using Illustrator CS4 for this tutorial, but those of you with older version should be able to follow along as well. Let’s jump into this tutorial, which beginning illustrators will find especially useful!

10. Create a simple coin icon stack

In the following tutorial It will show how to create a very simple coin stack icon. First, you will need a simple circle and some 3D Extrude&Bevel effect to create the starting coin. Next, you will use multiple fills and strokes to improve the look of this first coin and Transform effect to multiply it.

11. Create a Simple Storefront Icon

In this tutorial It will show you how to create a simple storefront icon using some rectangles, Illustrator Effects, and gradients. This icon is great for use in e-commerce sites and the techniques in this tutorial can easily be applied to other icons, illustrations, and logos.

12. How to Make a Vector Military Cap Icon

This tutorial it will show the intermediate-to-advanced Adobe Illustrator artist how to make a realistic military style cap icon using predominately gradients, blends, and the Gradient Mesh Tool. We’ll be using a photo reference to base this illustration on, though utilizing creative judgement throughout the process.

13. Create a Stylized GPS Icon

Location based software and peripherals are very popular these days. So, In this beginner/intermediate Illustrator tutorial, I will show you how to create a stylized GPS icon using simple shapes and gradients. Using these basic techniques, you can easily create other icons, logos, and illustrations.

14. Create a Vector Film Slate Icon

In this tutorial, you’ll show you how to create a vector film slate icon. The tutorial uses some basic shapes, some gradients, and even a blend. Moreover, you can easily customize this tutorial with your own logo or typography.

15. Create a wallet icon

16. Create a Vintage TV Set Icon in Illustrator

I have been living without a TV set for exactly three years and 8 months now. It’s great and I don’t miss a thing. Don’t get me wrong. I loved every awful program, every commercial, every useless newscast, but it was time for me to get on with my life. Like many other people, though, I love vintage appliances and cherish the memories associated with the old TV set we had when I was a kid. To celebrate that I decided to create a fun little icon in Adobe Illustrator.

17. Quick Tip: How to Create a Clean Style Folder Icon

In the following tutorial you will learn to create a clean folder icon. By using some simple shapes and the Appearance Panel, you will see just how easy it is to make a great looking icon.

18. Windows 7 icon with Illustrator 

In this tutorial we will use Adobe Illustrator CS4 to create the music icon of the Windows 7 style.

19. Create a Stylized First Aid Icon in Illustrator

In this tutorial you’ll use a combination of craft and Illustrator’s 3D tools to create a first aid icon. You can use the techniques you learn in this tutorial to create realistic rounded box icons of your choice. This works well for complex icons at large sizes and scales down nicely.

20. Create a Safe Icon in Adobe Illustrator

In the following tutorial you will learn to create a safe icon. We’ll use a variety of Adobe Illustrator tools and techniques to create this icon. Learn how to make a place to stash your vector gold. It’s all about the details you put into this design to give it a bit of shine.

21. How to Create a Juicy RSS Feed Icon

Let’s learn how to make a unique RSS feed icon. This tutorial requires a familiarity with Adobe Illustrator’s basic tools as we’ll use the gradient mesh tool and make light use of Illustrators mapping feature.

22. Translucent IM Style Illustrator Icon Tutorial

The shiny and glossy image of ‘Web 2.0’ is right at home when it comes to icons. Follow this Adobe Illustrator tutorial to create a scalable vector Instant Messaging style icon with the impression of a glossy and semi-translucent surface.

23. Make a Handy 3D Vector Calendar Icon

Learn to make a handy calendar icon to use on your blog, website, or print projects. We’ll use Illustrators Path and 3D tools to create this design. Also, a simple page curl effect will be demonstrated as well. Let’s jump into this tutorial.

24. Create a Cute Panda Bear Face Icon

Lately, I have been working on some children illustrations, creating some über cute creatures. In the following easy tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a cute panda bear face icon all from ellipses (well, actually there is one rectangle for the background). The great part about this tutorial, is that you can easily apply the techniques to other icons, illustrations, logos, or other projects.

25. How to Make an Opulent Chair Icon

In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a chair icon using gradient mesh, the pathfinder tool and the appearance panel. Don’t let this tut deceive you, with a bit of imagination you can create an entire collection of soft furnishing icons in minutes with a few easy tricks.

26. Design a Stylish Wallet Icon in Illustrator

In this simple tutorial I’ll show you how to create the wallet icon from my Women’s Icons using Adobe Illustrator CS4.

27. How to Turn Glasses into a Great Geek Icon

28. Beginner Illustrator Tutorial – Create a Vector RSS Icon

The best way to learn the ropes of a new application is to get stuck in with a working project. This Adobe Illustrator tutorial covers the simple steps involved in creating a vector RSS icon and includes a range of handy techniques that can be put into practice in future creations.

29. Craft a Delicious Chinese Food Icon 

This tutorial you will demonstrate how to craft a delicious Chinese food icon set. This tutorial requires a generous command of Adobe Illustrator’s tools. Let’s dig into this yummy icon design tutorial, which includes numerous vector illustration techniques.

30. How to Create a Transparent Battery Icon

In this tutorial, we’ll create a detailed icon of a battery similar to the one used for the iPhone touch. The battery “fuel” color can be changed as well as the “fuel” level, allowing the icon to be used to create a battery or power meter for applications, or simply as a graphic in any type of design.

31. Create a Vector Lock Icon Design 

In the following tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a lock icon with some effects, opacity masks, gradients, and simple shapes in Illustrator. Many of these techniques can be applied easily to other icon designs.

32. How to Make an Icy Cocktail

Do you desire to drink an icy refreshing cocktail on a sunny day? I know I am, so in this Illustrator tutorial, I will explain how I draw a refreshing cocktail drink in Adobe illustrator. Hope you will find this useful and inspiring to make other kinds of drinks or cocktails.

33. Reflections Done Right – Creating a Money Roll Icon

Cash-in when you follow this tutorial for creating accurate and logical reflections. I’ll cover how to use shading and masking to create an illustration that’s worth the look.

34. How to create icon 

Basic Icon Tutorial which combines a simple idea and approach to creating an icon that is really simple to use and fun to do. You will need some experience on using Adobe Illustrator for this tutorial. So Let’s get started on our tutorial.

35. How To Create An Academy Icon From Simple Shapes

In this tutorial you will learn how to construct a cool academy icon by putting together simple shapes in Illustrator and then applying layer effects on them in Photoshop. I’m using a German versions of both Illustrator and Photoshop, so some screenshots are in German. You should be able to understand it fine though, as I provide detailed instructions and numerous sample images.

36. Design A Coffee Mug Icon 

I’ve recently decided to dive head first into the world of vector art using Adobe Illustrator. It’s not that I’ve never used it before, or don’t know the basics; it’s just, usually my first instinct is to open up Photoshop. However, there are so many projects that Illustrator is so much better suited for. The most obvious advantage in using Illustator is the ability to create scalable, vector objects.

37. How to Create a Gearbox Settings Icon Using Simple Shapes 

Much can be done in Illustrator without relying on the Pen tool, as demonstrated by the recent hourglass tutorial. Utilizing only simple, predefined shapes, as well as tools like the Pathfinder and transformations, entire illustrations can be created from scratch. In this tutorial, we’ll create an icon suitable for portraying options, settings, preferences, etc., similar to OS X’s system preferences icon.

38. How to Create a Vector Safari Compass icon in Illustrator

The Safari browser from Apple has a great little icon that works well in small formats while also displaying quite a lot of intricate details when viewed in large format. Navigate through this Adobe Illustrator tutorial to draw up your own vector Safari inspired compass in Adobe Illustrator.

39. Make 3D Yet Flat Looking Shopping Basket Icons 

Shopping for a new icon? Look no further. Learn how to create a custom shopping basket icon for your next web design project. We’ll combine 3D qualities with a flat look. You’ll need a firm understanding of Adobe Illustrators tools to complete this tutorial.

40. Drawing A Pencil Icon 

Nowadays we can see icons everywhere, from a game console to web applications. Icons are getting more and more popular and play an important role, maybe the most important role in user interfaces. However, the resources about icon design are not that popular which is why when we have done our first steps in icon design, it was really hard to find a good starting point.

41. Design a Vector Audio Speaker Icon In Illustrator 

In this intermediate tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a vector speaker icon. When you break down the elements you’ll find it fairly easy. We’ll be using some ellipses with gradients, the Grid Tool, and the Mesh Tool to create this icon design.

42. How to make a CD icon using Illustrator in 5 minutes  

In this tutorial, you will create a vector icon of CD using Adobe Illustrator CS3. This can be done in only 5 minutes. Here we use Illustrator rather than Photoshop as we want to make a vector icon. This CD icon can be incorporated into club flyers or postcards promoting a band or show.

43. How to Create a Magic Wand Icon 

In this Illustrator tutorial, I will show you how to create a magic wand icon. This tutorial will utilize gradient feathering and some simple shapes. These techniques are easily translated to other icons, illustrations, and logos.

44. How To Create A Slick IPod Icon Using Illustrator

A great little illustrator tutorial form Creative Nerds, which shows you how to create an iPod icon using illustrator. The perfect tutorials for beginners learning their way around illustrator simply because the whole iPod is created using only basic default illustrator shapes. I hope you enjoy the tutorial and feel to leave a comment to let us know how you got on creating the iPod icons.

45. How to Create a Vector Smiley Icon 

Have you ever wanted to make your own set of emoticons? Using the basic techniques brought about on this tutorial, you can easily create your own set of emoticons.

46. How To Create Bell Using Illustrator 

This tutorial guides you through the process of drawing Christmas bells in Illustrator. Use them for decorating your web-site’s header or desktop. Let’s get started.

47. Design Float Circle Icon (AI Tutorial) 

In this tutorial you will create a Designer float icon using adobe Illustrator that will match with the awesome fasticon set.

48. How To Create An Espresso Machine Icon Inside Adobe Illustrator

Thousands of people can’t imagine their mornings without a cup of coffee. Espresso machines are the best friends of hardly working creative’s around the world. In this Illustrator tutorial I will guide you through the process of creating an espresso maker icon using simple illustration techniques.

49. Creating a Comment Icon in Illustrator 

You are going to create a simple comment icon that can be use on a website or CMS. We’ll use some simple illustrator techniques to achieve the effect.

50. How To Create a Cubist Icon Style Logo Design 

Follow this logo design process walkthrough to see the making of a cubist style logo design made up of lots of detailed vector facets. Not only will we be creating the actual design in Adobe Illustrator, but I’ll also be describing the whole logo design process in this tutorial, from the initial sketches right through to finishing off the final design.