20 tutorials for learning how to create app icons

• February 12th, 2018
• Tutorials

In this post, we have compiled an extensive list of step-by-step Photoshop and Illustrator tutorials to help you create your own app icons that are perfect for use in IOS or Android apps. Whether you are an experienced designer or just starting out, these tutorials will provide you with practical tips on best practices for creating app icons.

Not only will they guide you through the process of producing stunning app icons, but they also serve as an excellent source of inspiration. You will learn how to use various tools and techniques to create unique and eye-catching icons that will make your app stand out from the rest. From simple geometric shapes to intricate designs, this list includes a wide range of tutorials to cater to designers of all levels. So, be sure to check out this comprehensive list of tutorials to take your app icon design skills to the next level.

1. Create an app icon using Photoshop in 20 easy steps

as designers, we know what an app icon is: a small graphical symbol that represents an application program. We also know that a successful icon will attract more consumers to the application itself.

2. How to Create a Gradient Icon Inspired by Instagram in Adobe Illustrator

Rebrand your logo in style with this quick tutorial on creating a gradient icon in Adobe Illustrator CC. We’ll build our icon design from scratch with quick and simple shapes and pair gradients and effects from the Appearance panel to complete our on-trend design.

3. Create a Mobile App Icon in Photoshop

This tutorial is part of a three-part series explaining how to design UI elements for mobile applications in Photoshop. In this part, we will explain how to design an icon for your mobile device’s home screen.

4. Carbon Fibre Style Metallic Icon Design

How to create a metallic carbon fibre 3D icon.

5. How to Create a Sleek iOS App Icon in Photoshop

This is something you need in your design toolkit — the ability to create a great iOS App icon. And this tutorial will help you learn to do just that.

6. How to Create a To-Do List App Icon in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial you’ll create a fun to-do list or organizer application icon with a three‑dimensional effect, ready for desktop or market use. Combine radial gradients, blends, a sense of lighting, and the tiniest bit of perspective for a simply built, but eye catching, icon. This tutorial uses Adobe Illustrator CC 2014, though many of the techniques are applicable to other versions of the program.

7. How to Create a Vector Safari Compass 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.

8. How to create IOS sandwich icon

Tired of your old icons? Follow this creative recipe to cook up a great looking iOS styled sandwich icon. We will use a few of tasty ingredients, like meshes, gradients and blending modes to spice up your design!

9. Create a Beautifully Designed 3D Starfish Icon

With just about everyone using a smart phone, it is important for mobile apps to have beautifully designed icons to represent the brand. In this tutorial, we will show you how to create a beautiful 3D starfish icon using several applications including Photoshop, Cinema 4D, and ZBrush. In the process we will show you how to create 3D objects and then combine them with textures in Photoshop to create an amazing icon.

10. Create a Vector Radio App Icon

This Adobe Illustrator tutorial shall provide the examples of the wood and fabric textures creation technique. Also we shall learn how to render the light play on the objects with the help of Opacity Mask, Bland Tool and Art Brushes. Studying this Adobe Illustrator tutorial step-by-step, you shall become the witnesses and get to know all the secrets of the professional design artworks creation.

11. How To Create A Bad Piggy App Icon

In this tutorial we show you how to create a bad piggy app icon from scratch. Game App Icons have really become an art form onto themselves, and we thought we would show you how to create your own using Pixelmator

12. Draw a Compass Icon With a Long Shadow in Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial, you will learn how to design a nice simple compass icon in Adobe Photoshop, using tools such as the Pen Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool, and Rectangle Tool. You will also learn how to combine basic shapes to create a more complex shape. Finally, you’ll see how to add a long shadow to the icon.

13. Learn How To Make A Camera App Icon In Photoshop

In this tutorial you will learn to make a camera iPhone icon in Photoshop from the scratch and I’ll show you how to use some very simple techniques to achieve a very realistic effect.

14. Create a Battery Core Icon in Photoshop

In this tutorial you will be creating a semi-realistic, sci-fi icon that could be used as a battery or dock icon.

15. How to Create a Vector Snooker App Icon Using SubScribe plugin

Rejoice! You no longer need to know complex geometric construction techniques to create a detailed and precise graphics. All you need is the SubScribe plugin which is free to all DrawScribe, VectorScribe and Phantasm CS v2 customers! It will make all the calculations for you.

16. MODEL AND RENDER THE BANANACAM APP ICON WITH CINEMA 4D

In this tutorial, we will be making a 3D iOS App icon. First, we will model the icon using basic shapes and primitives. Then, we will light it using Light Kit Pro and make custom plastic and glass textures.

17. How to Create an App Icon in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, I’m creating an icon for a message/chat application, I’m using a “postman” bird as starting point. This tutorial gives you a insight in the steps to take from a initial sketch to a vectorized icon that is ready to be used. Resources and articles that are useful are listed at the end in References.

18. An iPad & iPhone Icon Tutorial

If you work in digital design, you already know that establishing a successful web presence means reaching people on Apple mobile devices, and a critical element of that is having an eye-catching Apple iOS icon.

19. 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.

20. How to Create a Mail App Icon

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial it will tell you how to create icons for iOS-applications, it will also talk about the technical requirements that are applied to this kind of products. In the process we will be using unique techniques that will allow you to create light and shade and soft play of colors.