New icon discussion

[Roccobot]

Icons are not just images that let us launch a program: they're the most important part of the UI, 'cause they're the first element users interact with and relate to, even before downloading the app. Damn, this already sounds like a lecture intro, sorry. I just wanted to explain what encouraged me to design a new one. Long story short, I really love Grabber and I'd really like it to have a new (better) icon.

I tried to make one myself, just to give an example of what I like / find appropriate. I like the 'generic' image approach: my example is a little vague but also more booru-esque: you can get a glimpse of a piece of a shrine if the icon is big enough. I gave it the shape and size used in macOS 12+ since that's the OS I'm more familiar with (honestly I don't know if Windows has standards or guidelines for icons). I added a white frame around the image, which should remind a printed photograph, like in the original icon.

I'm a graphic designer, but I know there are million other designers out there who are better than me, so... again: it's just a suggestion and an invitation to talk about the icon topic 🥺🙏🏻

[Bionus]

This is something I actually considered a few times, but never went to the end f it because I'm no designer 😅

Although I was going more for a symbolic icon, since the app is also present on mobile now. Also because there are more and more non-booru/anime-related sources. Here's a few examples I did based on the "grab" idea, or the hook that shapes into a "G" for "G"rabber:

I'm open to any other suggestions though, this is just something I randomly did.

[Roccobot]

I can try to elaborate this kind of ideas and make a couple proposals, if you wish 🤩

[RinMaru]

This is something I actually considered a few times, but never went to the end f it because I'm no designer 😅

Although I was going more for a symbolic icon, since the app is also present on mobile now. Here's a few examples I did based on the "grab" idea, or the hook that shapes into a "G" for "G"rabber:

the third image looks best

[Bionus]

I'll pin this thread and share it on the Discord to get more input and suggestions 😄

@Roccobot if you have any inspiration based on what I quickly came up with, feel free to do so. I personally like the idea of the hook in a "G" shape because it's quite representative of what Grabber does. Although claw machine also works for that 😅

For realty-inspired images like yours or the current icon, I'm just wondering if that wouldn't be too generic, but that's just my personal opinion and I'll follow the majority. Once a few popular ones come out I'll just make a survey or something 👌

[Roccobot]

Probably something anime-styled would work great, but should be more recognizable as a logotype

[Roccobot]

If I think about anime + the concept of grabbing, the first thing that comes to my mind is actually this (very slightly NSFW).

[Bionus]

@NEO-SPECTRUMAN I merged a few of your comments for clarity in the thread 😄
I like the UFO idea (it's pretty recognizable so good as an icon), but this image as well as the azunyan one wouldn't work because those are not in the public domain.

As for an anime icon, why not but given there are users using Grabber to download non-anime stuff, and more generic sources (reddit, twitter, deviantart, artstation, etc.) being added, I'm not sure whether that could potentially turn them away.

[Roccobot]

LOL I like the idea of the chibi UFO that's about to use the tractor beam to grab something. If Bionus likes it, I'd just simplify it a bit more. Meanwhile I'm trying another thing, let's see how it turns out

[Roccobot]

As for an anime icon, why not but given there are users using Grabber to download non-anime stuff, and more generic sources (reddit, twitter, deviantart, artstation, etc.) being added, I'm not sure whether that could potentially turn them away.

oh, you're right, I always think of it as a booru downloader but it is much more

[Roccobot]

OK, I like the concept but the execution probably sucks LOL

[Bionus]

but kemomimichan is just author's work

Which means it's their intellectual property by default, even when shared online.
While they don't usually care, I don't want to take any risks for the application's official icon, if they ask for it to be changed later 😅

and you can try to get permission to use it as official grabber mascot

That could work.

[Bionus]

OK, I like the concept but the execution probably sucks LOL

I like the idea, the G is even more straightforward than in my initial icon aha. And the box reminds me of Danbooru's logo too 📦
Not sure how well t hat would work on smaller sizes, for Windows icons for example. Not sure what's the reference size for those.

EDIT: 32x32 in my taskbar, 48x48/64x64 on my desktop, still readable:
/ /

[Roccobot]

I like the idea, the G is even more straightforward than in my initial icon aha. And the box reminds me of Danbooru's logo too 📦
Not sure how well t hat would work on smaller sizes, for Windows icons for example. Not sure what's the reference size for those.

Yeah, the box is purposely based on the Danbooru logo :) I actually like how it turned out as a proof of concept, but the style doesn't match neither Windows or Mac. I think I should try to remove the thick lines and to add some details and more gradients. Maybe I could also get rid of the 2 additional boxes and focus on the brown one. Probably, a 'crop' which would make the G even bigger would help with the lower resolutions. Anyway, in my picture consider just the rounded square (the lilac on the background is a piece of my wallpaper), so the actual icon would appear a little bigger than that

[Roccobot]

I'm liking this concept more and more but I think I'm not good enough as an icon designer 😆

[Roccobot]

not single box picker

yea, but the box is Danbooru 🥸

[GideonLovecraft]

OK, I like the concept but the execution probably sucks LOL

Looks much like google

[Roccobot]

OK, I like the concept but the execution probably sucks LOL

Looks much like google

I actually constructed the G starting from two circles, but, then I too realized it was too Google 😬 so I reshaped it in the following iterations. But I see that macOS has its style of illustration, Windows has its own, Android has another, Linux has many. Not only I can't make illustrations in any of those styles (I'm more on the everything flat, thick lines kind of stuff): I also have no idea on how icons for multi-platform software is approached. So yeah, I'd like to propose some ideas here, but probably it would be better if we could find a real icon designer (maybe on Reddit or something?).

[Roccobot]

For now I've customized Grabber on my machine with this icon, it isn't good enough yet but at least it harmonizes well with the other stuff on my Dock

[Roccobot]

While waiting for a better idea, I just made a 'photographic' icon inspired from the original one. I'm using it just to have a more coherent experience on macOS. If anyone else is interested: Grabber.zip.

@Bionus this might be just an intermediate step towards something much more modern/captivating, but if you like the idea I can provide the base image with my regulations to anybody who wants to create Windows or Linux counterparts. I think the app is so amazing it deserves a higher quality icon!