The Microsoft PowerPoint team was looking to expand on an existing library of illustrated icons, which would be offered as premium content across all Microsoft Office products. As the sole illustrator over the course of an 18 month period, I designed and produced more than 2400 illustrated icons to complete the library, drawn in a predefined solid style as well as a new monoline style that I defined.
My role: Illustration, process definition, production management
Initial style definition: The Noun Project
Microsoft Office design team: Robin Winters, Principal Design Manager; Michelle Mao, art direction; Keri Talbot, art direction; Aimee Leong, project lead and art direction
Initial style definition
The team had already laid the groundwork before I joined the effort. A simple but adaptable bold solid style, as well as design guidelines to build from, was developed by the Noun Project.
My design process
Technical considerations include snapping to a pixel grid, common spaces and angles.
I considered consistency in visual weight, alignment, and orientation for like items.
I researched imagery for real-world representations.
I explored multiple iterations for each concept.
I set up reviews in category sets to assess visual weight and style as compared to the set as a whole.
I performed tests for quality assurance before inclusion in the product.
Through a series of reviews with the team, I defined a light monoline style and reproduced the entire library as a companion set to the solid style icons.
Icons are tested in SmartArt and PowerPoint Designer layouts.
The end result
A complete set of solid style icons in more than 20 categories and a companion set of monoline icons round out the final offering of over 3200 illustrated icons available for premium content.
