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Perspective in Flat Icons

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Been studying and working on some ideas, specifically regarding flat icons.  I've been seeing a number of icons that have traditionally been viewed on an angle, with a little perspective...be given the "Flat" treatment.  I'm not sure it always works...  My idea is that along with simplifying the colors and eliminating fine details, shadows, etc..is to rotate or change an angled perspective as well....I mean REALLY flatten it out. 

Here are a few I've worked on.  These are traditionally seen on an angle, seeing the third side and creating depth (plus further defining the icon visuals).  Not sure which of the two Dropbox icons I like best...version B is more in keeping with the changed perspective, but version A is a bit more interesting. 

Love to hear your thoughts
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© 2014 - 2024 glange65
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DaKoder's avatar
:star::star::star::star::star: Overall
:star::star::star::star::star: Vision
:star::star::star::star::star: Originality
:star::star::star::star::star: Technique
:star::star::star::star::star: Impact

Just rewriting my comment as a critique <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt=":)" data-embed-type="emoticon" data-embed-id="391" title=":) (Smile)"/>.

These icons are a different point of view or thought on what "flat" really means. Does "Flat UI" mean flat in color or flat in shape... or both? I've seen both flattened shape and color in Metro UI, and just flat color in Google's UI. And then, just as you said, I've seen icons with flat colors, but still with shadows and such. However, your icons are completely new. They add, I guess, "depth" to the icons, as if, if you turned the icon or put in flat on a table, and looked from the side, it would have a height. For instance, on your WMP icon, the play icon seems lifted off the actual icon, and the orange circle seems like it is pressed in. On your library icon, the two flaps of the folder seem like they have space between them. If you understand what I mean, it's as if your icons are not just squares, but they are rectangular prisms. You made them more realistically 3D looking.

My only suggestion is, add more of that depth in. For instance, maybe move around some of those blocks on Defrag and add shadows that makes it look like on block is in front of another. Or on WinRAR, move around the books, or something like that.

Overall, the look is aesthetically pleasing and looks like it would fit right in with other Flat UI elements. I just love how, when I first saw the icons, I had to take a second look, because of that weird sense of 3D, even thought it isn't 3D. It's flat, but at the same time, it's not flat. Really cool and interesting. 5/5!