Top 10 Adobe Neue Icons and When to Use ThemAdobe Neue Icons are a modern, consistent icon system designed to work across Adobe’s apps and UI surfaces. They emphasize clarity, simplicity, and scalability so icons remain legible at small sizes while feeling cohesive at large sizes. This article walks through the top 10 Adobe Neue icons you’ll encounter, explains their design intent, and gives practical guidance on when and how to use each one in product and interface design.
1. Home
Purpose: Represents the entry point or main screen.
When to use: Place the Home icon in primary navigation to return users to the app’s main dashboard or landing area. It’s ideal for apps with multiple modules where users might need a clear “safe” place to start.
Design notes: Use at prominent sizes in bottom or side navigation. Avoid using Home if the app’s primary context is task-focused and a dashboard isn’t meaningful.
2. Search (Magnifying Glass)
Purpose: Search or find content.
When to use: Use whenever users can locate files, assets, commands, or in-app content. It’s appropriate in headers, toolbars, and search bars.
Design notes: Combine with an input field for discoverability. If search is the app’s central feature (e.g., asset libraries), give it a highlighted placement.
3. Plus / Add
Purpose: Create, add, or compose new items.
When to use: Use for primary “create” actions—new document, new artboard, add asset, create folder. Place it in a floating action area or a primary toolbar.
Design notes: In Adobe contexts, the plus icon often pairs with contextual labels (e.g., “New Project”) to reduce ambiguity. Avoid using for actions that modify existing items.
4. Edit / Pencil
Purpose: Enter edit or modify mode.
When to use: Use when users switch from viewing to editing a resource—editing text, properties, or assets. It’s common in context menus, lists, and detail screens.
Design notes: Distinguish from “create” (plus) and from “settings” (gear). If the UI has multiple edit affordances, combine the icon with text or tooltips.
5. Trash / Delete
Purpose: Remove, delete, or discard items.
When to use: Use for destructive actions such as deleting files, clearing layers, or removing assets. Always pair with confirmations or undo affordances to prevent accidental loss.
Design notes: Use color and microcopy carefully—red or warning tones help clarify the risk, especially for destructive operations.
6. Share / Arrow Out
Purpose: Share content externally or send to another app.
When to use: Use when users can export, send, or collaborate on assets. Common in document viewers, asset panels, and after export workflows.
Design notes: Distinguish between “share” and “export” by pairing the icon with labels where necessary. For collaborative features, consider adding presence indicators or additional contextual options (link share, invite).
7. Layers
Purpose: Represent stacking order, composition, or layer control.
When to use: Use in design and editing apps to toggle layer panels, manage stacking order, or indicate grouped compositions. It’s essential in applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, and XD.
Design notes: Use in panel headers and layer-related controls. Combine with collapse/expand affordances and badges for visibility or lock status.
8. Camera / Capture
Purpose: Take photos, capture screenshots, or import from camera.
When to use: Use for actions that involve capturing visual content—camera import, screen capture, or snapshot tools. It’s appropriate in asset import flows and mobile contexts.
Design notes: Differentiate capture types (photo vs. video) with slight variations or modifiers. Use larger touch targets on mobile.
9. Export / Download
Purpose: Export, download, or save a copy.
When to use: Use for sending files out of the application (exporting PNG/PDF, downloading assets). Place it in file menus, export dialogs, and share panels.
Design notes: Clarify whether this action is local (download) or remote (export/publish) with labels or secondary icons.
10. Settings / Gear
Purpose: Access app or object settings and preferences.
When to use: Use to open configuration panels, preferences, or advanced controls. Place in header toolbars, context menus, or side panels.
Design notes: For object-specific settings, consider using a kebab or ellipsis menu if multiple actions exist; use the gear for global or detailed configuration screens.
Practical Tips for Using Adobe Neue Icons
- Consistency: Use icon sizes and spacing consistently across your UI—Adobe Neue is built to scale, but inconsistent sizing weakens the system.
- Combine with labels: For less-frequent or potentially ambiguous actions (e.g., Share vs. Export), include short labels or tooltips.
- Accessibility: Provide accessible names/aria-labels, and don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning (especially for destructive actions like Delete).
- State and feedback: Use badges, toggles, and color states to show active/inactive, enabled/disabled, or notification counts.
- Contextual variations: Use modifiers or small overlays (lock, check, plus) to create compound meanings without designing new icons.
Example usage scenarios
- Mobile app bottom navigation: Home, Search, Add, Share, Profile (use clear primary icons, larger touch targets).
- Design editor toolbar: Layers, Camera/Capture, Export, Undo (use compact icons with labels on hover).
- Asset library: Search, Filter, Plus (add), Trash (delete) — pair with confirmation modals and inline previews.
Conclusion
Adobe Neue Icons provide a clear, flexible set of building blocks for modern interfaces. Use the Home, Search, Plus, Edit, Trash, Share, Layers, Camera, Export, and Settings icons where their semantics match user expectations, and pair them with labels, confirmations, and accessible names to reduce ambiguity. When used consistently, they improve recognition, reduce cognitive load, and help designers build interfaces that feel cohesive across Adobe’s ecosystem.
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