20 tips for icons to include in your posters and presentations.

Icons are visual symbols that tell a story. They’re simple yet effective for communicating ideas and adding interest to print and digital materials. For UK businesses, icons are an undervalued tool in posters, presentations, and other assets.

Whatever purpose they serve, icons can make your marketing materials more memorable, accessible, and attractive overall. We’ll delve into examples of icons, the different types of iconography, and when to include them – from labels and graphs to infographics.

Design eye-catching icons for your posters and presentations with Adobe Express.

What are the different types of icons?

Icons are incredibly effective for speeding up decision-making and navigation, or enhancing visual appeal in your design. Whether it’s a navigation icon on a website, or social media icons on a poster, they can add some personality and align with your brand identity.

Some examples of icons include:

• Infographics. These graphic symbols represent an idea, concept, or piece of information. They typically simplify complex data and make an infographic more engaging without detracting from the overall message.
• Picture icons. A picture icon is a small, visual representation of a file, application or a function. It can help users quickly identify and interact with the item on a computer or device.
• Charts and graphs. Icon charts and graphs are a set of icons with the same shape (like a square or circle) used to represent quantitative data. These icons are aligned in a certain way to highlight data and include various colours for extra variables.
• Labels. These icons are paired with labels, or text, to paint a complete picture. Icon labels are often used as navigational or menu items on a digital interface, such as a home button.
• Logos. Icons can help create unique branding for a business logo. These work well for your brand kit, as well as company websites and social media.

Tips for icons for posters and presentations.

When to use icons on posters.

Posters are already visually appealing, but icons can add personality, charm, and direction. For example, adding an eye-catching donation icon to a charity day poster, or making a health and safety poster more accessible with icons.

Here are 10 examples of when to use icons in your posters:

• Boxes and speech bubbles. Highlights important information in an engaging way.
• Eye-catching infographics. Adds visual flair and draws the eye to crucial details.
• Simple picture icons. Breaks up text, adds visual appeal, and avoids overcrowding.
• Themed icons for messaging. Such as nature icons for an environmental poster.
• Emphasise a call to action. Like a phone icon for ‘call now’ or an envelope for ‘email us’.
• Illustrate steps to take. Use a sequence of icons to guide audiences through a process.
• Highlight benefits. Use icons to symbolise benefits, like a piggy bank for ‘cost savings’.
• Showcase product features. Such as a cloud icon for ‘storage’ or gear icon for ‘settings’.
• Indicate a location or direction. Such as map pins or an arrow.
• Target specific audiences. Like musical notes for an upcoming music festival.

When to use icons in presentations.

Presentations are often rich with visual elements – and icons can provide even more context and depth. Icons can be especially handy to represent goals and metrics in your social media strategy presentation, helping to turn a bland pitch deck into standout slides.

Here are 10 more good examples of icons to use in your presentation:

• Labels for extra information. Adds context to informational slides.
• Colourful charts and graphs. Displays relevant data or stats that are easy to follow.
• Relevant picture icons. Represents key points and steps, particularly in text-heavy slides.
• Reinforce key concepts. Such as a lightbulb icon for ‘innovation’ or a target icon for ‘goals’.
• Track progress with timelines. Mark important dates or events in a customised calendar.
• Simplify complex information. Use icons to represent complex data or concepts.
• Categorise information. Group similar ideas and findings into a word bubble icon.
• Signify key statistics. Like a magnifying glass icon to hone in on crucial information.
• Illustrate processes. Use icons to represent each step of a process for a product or service.
• Highlight key takeaways. Such as a star icon for ‘award-winning’ for a product feature.

Using icons: Things to remember.

Icons are a fun and easy way to engage your audience and get your message across in a clean and minimal manner.

Here are some tips to remember when designing your posters and presentations:

• Avoid icon overcrowding.
• Size your icons accordingly.
• Use icons to help separate large sections of text.
• Avoid low-quality or unclear graphics.
• Use labels and text boxes to avoid information overload.
• Use consistent designs and styles throughout.
• Avoid overly complex or detailed icons that are hard to discern.
• Choose clear, easy-to-see colours that don’t clash with the background.
• Use icons that align with your brand voice, colours, and overall identity.

More examples of icons for posters and presentations.

How can Adobe Express help you make your own icons and design assets?

Icons can be a great addition to your brand kit. Pair them with logos and other assets, and you’ll achieve consistent branding right off the bat. Harness the power of icons and other tools with Adobe Express.

1. Browse our huge template library.

Find the perfect poster that represents your brand in our template library. Choose the design and add your own icons and other visual elements for a smooth, professional finish.

2. Add icons to slides with the AI Presentation Maker.

Create an expert presentation with the AI Presentation Maker tool. Import ready-made slides and incorporate icons and other eye-catching design elements for a presentation you can be proud of.

3. Resize your icons and assets in seconds.

Resize and reframe your icons with the image resize tool. Say goodbye to redesigning your icons – simply upload and watch the tool crop and rescale for a number of social channels.

4. Experiment with icons in your logo design.

Use flashy icons to create cutting-edge logos with the handy logo generator tool. Describe what you want your logo to look like, pick an icon, and watch the tool generate a unique logo in seconds.

5. Upload your icons to a brand library.

Store your icons and other graphic elements in a brand library and keep your business on brand. Create a home for your logos, colours, and fonts for easy sharing and collaboration.

Add icons to AI-generated templates with the help of Adobe Express.

Kickstart your creative design process with Adobe Express’ AI Template Generator. Easy, expert, and effective, this tool uses advanced technology to create various professional templates. Whether you need a poster, flyer, presentation or business card, enter a prompt describing your dream template and the tool will generate a range of options.

Customise your chosen template with fonts, stickers, icons, and other AI-powered tools like Generate Text Effect for some professional flair.

Designed to be commercially safe, the AI Template Generator will craft bespoke materials that you can easily share via print or online.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

Can I create my own icons and graphics on Adobe Express?

Yes, you can easily create your own icons and graphics on Adobe Express. Our logo maker tool includes free images, icons, and design assets you can add. Alternatively, you can start from scratch and bring your own vision to life in minutes.

What are the five most common icons?

Five common icons include the recycle symbol, the peace sign, the heart, the at (@) sign, and the wheelchair symbol. However, other universally understood icons include the home sign, search sign, edit sign, mail/message sign, folder sign, and user profile icon.

How many icons should I add to my poster?

The number of icons you include in your poster depends on the size of the poster and its intent. It’s generally a good idea to have a ratio of:

• 20-25% text
• 40-45% icons and graphics
• 30-40% empty space.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features, including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.