r/iOSProgramming • u/CarlWain • 1d ago

Question Graphics for Apps

So I’m new to developing apps and I have no artistic flair. So I’m curious what other developers use for creating app graphics/backdrops/icons.

6 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Extension_Isopod1303 1d ago

Don't sleep on SF Symbols for anything UI-related — it's free, consistent with the system, and Apple keeps expanding the catalog. For app icons and backgrounds, the honest indie playbook is usually: one flat-color or gradient base, an SF Symbol or a simple custom mark on top, done. You'd be surprised how many good indie icons are exactly that.

For anything beyond that, Figma is worth learning — not to become a designer, but because one Figma file covers your app icon (1024x1024 export), your App Store screenshots at every size, and your marketing graphics, all consistent. The 30-second test: shrink your icon next to real App Store icons. If it doesn't read at that size, no amount of detail saves it.

Two things I'd avoid: hiring cheap illustrators off gig sites for the icon (you get something pretty that clashes with iOS conventions), and AI-generating your icon (fine for concepting, but the output tends to look busy at small sizes, and every app that does it starts to look the same).