We've been working really hard on the new iOS and Android apps at Dropbox (among so may other things).
Here's the icon I've designed for v.2.
The @2x version of this shot is actual pixels pulled from my iPhone and the 1x version is a resized and doctored frankenstein that looks awful. Also, the iPhone wrapper I used can be found here.
You missed a huge opportunity by not trying to squeeze a 3D box shape in a rounded rectangle ;) But seriously, I like it. Way better than the current one!
I like how this icon ties to some of the blue buttons you guys have. I'm usually not a huge fan of softer effects for iOS icons, simply because on a very dark background the bottom shadow might make the icon look a little blurry. Proportion of the Dropbox logo mark is much better than the current version btw.
@Kerem totally, i'm using a technique here that leaves a darkened edge in hopes of alleviating the blurry issue. I experimented with a few different versions including an all-out flat version. The flat version just felt so dull, boring, and lifeless, while the dimension on the soft one made it feel touchable. You can compare the two versions here:
I am mostly in agreement with Louie Mantia's call for app icons that are simple, yet get the point across. I don't really care for protruding icons on my homescreen :(
@Tyler I like a bit of dimensionality. I think it plays well with the platform when totally flat feels out of place. Our stuff is entirely flat on Android because the exact opposite is true.
@Morgan I take it back, just loaded em on my phone and you're right. I actually do enjoy the flat version, but the dimensional screams tap me. Nice job.
Love it! I also love simple icons, but come on. This looks HOT on Retina displays. It seems a waste to use simple icon design when the medium allows for such stunning styles like this.
@Morgan the flat icon is probably too simple. Even those super flat icon apps (Rdio, Clear, Transit) have super-subtle aspects (gradient, top highlight, logo shadow) that help them fit in with the surrounding app icons.
I’d love to see this go in a similar direction to Facebook’s app icon. It’s one of the best flat app icons I’ve seen in a while.
@Mike Facebook went flat? I'll check it out. For sures on the other flat duders. But even then, with say rdio's splashes of colored radial gradients, I don't think it's dimensional enough.
I think practicality and legibility are first and foremost, but I want my icons to stun people. My goal is to make people feel like the other apps on their screen are antiquated.
Obviously, that's ambitious as fuuuuhhh, and I'm not saying I've necessarily achieved that here but I am personally proud of the way this turned out. :)
Maybe I'll hate it in a few weeks and wish it wasn't so touchtastic.
I have to agree with @Evan Dinsmore. I like that flat one a lot, too. I think it's mostly that the logo looks so nice and crisp white, but with the shadow it looks like a very light grey, but it's still great. Big improvement over the one it's replacing.
@Morgan they went flat-ish. I guess I consider all non-glossy single-color app icons “flat”.
In my opinion (which I have many of), Rdio’s doing it wrong, but the app icon’s flatness fits their general aesthetic. Same with Clear.
Facebook’s icon is closest to what app icons should look like on iOS 6 (once again, IMO).
I guess if the Dropbox app has those short puffy bevels (and I’m sure it will, given that that’s your style), the app icon style would make sense. Just doesn’t seem to fit in with the other icons: http://cl.ly/LTCC
67 Responses (page 1 of 3)
Pro
Morgan Allan Knutson
We've been working really hard on the new iOS and Android apps at Dropbox (among so may other things).
Here's the icon I've designed for v.2.
The @2x version of this shot is actual pixels pulled from my iPhone and the 1x version is a resized and doctored frankenstein that looks awful. Also, the iPhone wrapper I used can be found here.
6 months ago
Pro
Marvin Kennis
You missed a huge opportunity by not trying to squeeze a 3D box shape in a rounded rectangle ;) But seriously, I like it. Way better than the current one!
6 months ago
Aside from liking this, 6/29 is my birthday. Double likes!
6 months ago
Pro
Nathan Walker
Thank god you're updating it to this. This is amazing, the current one is terrible.
6 months ago
Pro
lisa romero
hard. worker.
6 months ago
Pro
Matthew Wiard
Really like the presentation, looking good
6 months ago
Pro
Chris Wallace!
Bevels, drop shadows, gradients... CHECK!
6 months ago
Yay!
6 months ago
Pro
Kerem Suer
I like how this icon ties to some of the blue buttons you guys have. I'm usually not a huge fan of softer effects for iOS icons, simply because on a very dark background the bottom shadow might make the icon look a little blurry. Proportion of the Dropbox logo mark is much better than the current version btw.
6 months ago
Pro
Blaze Pollard
I love the subtle inner shadow/highlight.
6 months ago
Can't wait for a notification to update!
6 months ago
Pro
Morgan Allan Knutson
Glad you all like it.
@Kerem totally, i'm using a technique here that leaves a darkened edge in hopes of alleviating the blurry issue. I experimented with a few different versions including an all-out flat version. The flat version just felt so dull, boring, and lifeless, while the dimension on the soft one made it feel touchable. You can compare the two versions here:
Flat
Dimension
6 months ago
Pro
Kerem Suer
@Morgan your links are not working for me :(
6 months ago
Pro
Tyler Galpin
I am mostly in agreement with Louie Mantia's call for app icons that are simple, yet get the point across. I don't really care for protruding icons on my homescreen :(
6 months ago
@Kerem Suer This is amazing!! I want this right now!! I wish it was the original icon!
6 months ago
Pro
Morgan Allan Knutson
@Kerem they're not loading? they should have directive text on them that says "Add to your homescreen" -
6 months ago
Pro
Morgan Allan Knutson
@Tyler I like a bit of dimensionality. I think it plays well with the platform when totally flat feels out of place. Our stuff is entirely flat on Android because the exact opposite is true.
No need to be sad, brooj :(
6 months ago
Pro
Kerem Suer
@Morgan I take it back, just loaded em on my phone and you're right. I actually do enjoy the flat version, but the dimensional screams tap me. Nice job.
6 months ago
Pro
Haziq Mir
This is perfect. Just how app icons should be. Can't wait for the app :)
6 months ago
Pro
Devon Henderson
Love it! I also love simple icons, but come on. This looks HOT on Retina displays. It seems a waste to use simple icon design when the medium allows for such stunning styles like this.
6 months ago
Pro
Mike Meyer
@Morgan the flat icon is probably too simple. Even those super flat icon apps (Rdio, Clear, Transit) have super-subtle aspects (gradient, top highlight, logo shadow) that help them fit in with the surrounding app icons.
I’d love to see this go in a similar direction to Facebook’s app icon. It’s one of the best flat app icons I’ve seen in a while.
5 months ago
Pro
Evan Dinsmore
@Morgan Allan Knutson I actually *love* that flat one. A lot. It looks so classy.
At the very least maybe try it without the shadow/highlight on the logo?
5 months ago
Pro
Morgan Allan Knutson
@Mike Facebook went flat? I'll check it out. For sures on the other flat duders. But even then, with say rdio's splashes of colored radial gradients, I don't think it's dimensional enough.
I think practicality and legibility are first and foremost, but I want my icons to stun people. My goal is to make people feel like the other apps on their screen are antiquated.
Obviously, that's ambitious as fuuuuhhh, and I'm not saying I've necessarily achieved that here but I am personally proud of the way this turned out. :)
Maybe I'll hate it in a few weeks and wish it wasn't so touchtastic.
5 months ago
I have to agree with @Evan Dinsmore. I like that flat one a lot, too. I think it's mostly that the logo looks so nice and crisp white, but with the shadow it looks like a very light grey, but it's still great. Big improvement over the one it's replacing.
5 months ago
Pro
Mike Meyer
@Morgan they went flat-ish. I guess I consider all non-glossy single-color app icons “flat”.
In my opinion (which I have many of), Rdio’s doing it wrong, but the app icon’s flatness fits their general aesthetic. Same with Clear.
Facebook’s icon is closest to what app icons should look like on iOS 6 (once again, IMO).
I guess if the Dropbox app has those short puffy bevels (and I’m sure it will, given that that’s your style), the app icon style would make sense. Just doesn’t seem to fit in with the other icons: http://cl.ly/LTCC
N E WAYS. Tea time.
5 months ago