Showerthought: Is it faster to batch icons or build them as you go?

I spent 3 hours making a full icon set for a client project last week, but then the client asked for two new ones and I had to redo the whole style. Now I'm wondering if it's smarter to build them one at a time per screen instead. What's your approach when you're under a deadline?

3 comments

3 Comments

adamcoleman15d ago

@john_hunt2 is onto something with that style guide. I once spent a whole Saturday batching out 40 icons for a website redesign, felt like a hero, and then the client asked me to "make them all a little more playful." Had to scrap the whole batch and start over because I didn't set any rules upfront. Now I do a mix - batch the core icons after nailing the style guide, but leave the weird edge case ones for when the screen actually needs them. Less pain when they inevitably ask for a pigeon wearing a tiny hat or whatever random thing comes up.

john_hunt22mo ago

Batch them. But make a style guide first. Saves your butt when they inevitably want changes.

graymiller2mo ago

Go screen by screen. Clients change their minds way too often for batching to be worth it.