The document provides tips for designing app store icons, including using elements from the app, making the icon aesthetically pleasing, using a similar style to the app, using complementary colors, keeping the target audience in mind, and following app store design guidelines. It then discusses designing an icon for a skateboarding game called "CHAD" by providing initial icon ideas, feedback on two concepts, an action plan for improvements, considering the app's rating on the app store, and outlining the final design process.

1. APP STORE ICON DESIGN TIPS

2. DESIGNING YOUR ICON
Use elements from your app. Having some common elements from your app in your
icon will help portray what your app is all about, and shows directly what your app is.
Make the icon aesthetically pleasing. A good looking, well designed icon will always
get viewed more, and interests the viewer.
Use a similar style as your app. For example, its a bit strange if your app was made in a
clean, illustrated style but your icon is a cartoon or bitmap style. Doing this is less confusing
for the consumer.
Use complimentary colours. Reference the colour wheel theory when choosing a colour
palette for your design, this can help portray your app in a certain way, e.g. Orange and Blue
work well in a Sci-Fi style app.
Keep your audience in mind. A younger audience would probably scroll strait past a
simple, more mature design if they were looking for a kids game/app. Tailor your icon
based on your target audience.
Use the App Store/Google Play icon design guidelines.

3. AUDIENCE TYPE
I think the audience for my game
would have a home screen that
looks similar to this.
I have chosen apps that I think a
casual gamer would have, from
social networking apps to a few
casual games such as Candy Crush.
Instagram - This person likes going out with friends and posting his photos to
Instagram.
YouTube - As a younger audience this person also enjoys watching videos in
their spare time.
Candy Crush - As a casual gamer, this person enjoys playing this in his spare
time around school or college.
Canabalt - Much like Candy Crush, this person will play this game in his spare
time.
VSCOcam - For editing his photos he posts on Instagram.
Twitter - This person likes to stay in touch with friends and news from the
outside world.
Vine - This is a kind of miscellaneous app for this person, but they sometimes
enjoy browsing the funny videos on this app.
Jetpack Joyride - Another casual game in the endless runner genre.
Snapchat - This person enjoys interacting with friends via photos.
Shazam - To find songs they enjoy from the radio.
Soundcloud - To find the songs they have found on Shazam.
Supreme - Misc.

4. INITIAL IDEAS FOR GAME/APP
Gameplay/
Screenshot
Character/
Action
Abstract/
Iconic
Title as
Text
Symbolic/
Thematic
Language as
Image

5. ABSTRACT/ICONIC LOGO
FEEDBACK

6. CHARACTER ACTION LOGO
FEEDBACK

7. ACTION PLAN FOR
IMPROVEMENTS
- Crop the image slightly wider to show more of the
skateboard.
- Make CHAD pop out from the background, maybe
using a drop shadow.
- Use more colourful background using more
colours from the game.
- Keep basic layout with above changes and small
tweaks, e.g. colours/contrast.

8. CHAD APP STORE RATING
DRUGS No reference to drugs.
IMITABLE BEHAVIOUR
Jumping over walls and cars whilst on a
skateboard.
LANGUAGE No swearing but aggressive sounding shouts.
NUDITY No reference to nudity.
SEX No reference to sex.
THREAT
Frightening sequences and situations where CHAD
is in danger, e.g. Cars coming toward CHAD.
VIOLENCE
Mild violence when CHAD crashes and ‘blows
up’ in blue explosion.

9. CHAD APP STORE RATING
9+
12+
Applications in this category may contain mild or infrequent occurrences of
cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence, and infrequent or mild mature, suggestive, or
horror-themed content which may not be suitable for children under the age of 9.
Applications in this category may also contain infrequent mild language, frequent
or intense cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence and mild or infrequent mature or
suggestive themes, and simulated gambling which may not be suitable for children
under the age of 12.
I believe CHAD falls somewhere in between
these two categories, maybe edging toward
the 9+ category.

10. FINAL DESIGN PROCESS
First I chose to
work on the
background, using
different and more
relevant colours.
I then dropped in
the redesigned
character on top
of the background.
I proceeded to add
a drop shadow, so
that the character
‘popped out’ from
the background.
I then chose to use
greyscale and the
guidelines to
compose the icon.
Last, I cut out the
corners of the
image for a final
mock up of what it
would look like in
the app store.

11. I like the overall design of this icon, but I
think it could be better in some ways, like
the style of the game. To keep the icon
true to the game, I had to keep it looking
8/16 Bit, which becomes really simple and
possibly a bit boring, but I think it works,
as it displays the themes and style of our
game well.
CHAD App
Store Icon