The task we were given for the IXD workshop was to create an icon based on items and appliances around the home. I set to work taking photos I could use as reference. It was interesting to see the things that were composed of curves and others composed of almost all right angles and straight lines.
From here, I began to sketch out the different objects from the photos into a more simplified version. When I was brainstorming on which object to choose an icon, I began thinking of the different sources of light that exist now with electricity and the others that exist with the use of fire. This was just a quick experimenting stage where I explored the different objects that produce light and how its the action of turning on a switch, striking a match or cracking a glow stick that actually creates the light source.
As I was still unsure which object I was going to choose, I experimented with the shapes in mixed media with black card. Again, trying to simplify the objects as much as possible while still maintaining the original likeness. It was during this stage and after some discussion with my tutor, that I decided that I liked the kettle best. I took my designs to Adobe Illustrator to create them digitally, playing with outlines, solid fills and coloured shapes. I also wanted to try the extractor fan digitally as I liked the straight lines it was composed of, just to try something different than the softer, more rounded kettle design.
The process from here was just a lot of experimentation, playing around with the different aspects of the kettle. I compared the more rounded spout tip to the harsh, pointed edge to see which fit better in this side-by-side and went for the curved tip. I knew I wanted to go for a soft colour palette because if this app was implemented as a part of someone’s morning routine where they set their kettle to boil when they wake up, they could do so from their phone and see the calming relaxed colours when they open the app. As it is also not a complex app model, just to control a kettle remotely, I felt it wouldn’t need to be visually complex either. This simplification was also influenced by my research. Basic shapes are more translatable and more easily recognised. I tried different coloured backgrounds and kettle colours as well as a bordering outline but decided on my final icon based on seeing these different experimental outcomes.
Final Icon
I chose a soft mute yellow, cream as the background and used different shades and tones of pink for the different aspects of the kettle. I decided to make the handle and body the same colour as this reflects how my kettle looks at home as well as visually conveying that they’re connected. Originally, the spout had a gap between it and the main body of the kettle but when I revised my design and discussed it, it seemed to make more sense to have it attached to the body. I came to this decision because the only shape that would have a gap would be the lid which is the only detachable part of the kettle, and this gap would make sense in my design. I decided to leave out the border rather than enclosing the shape.
