Misc Iconography help!

**AustinChief** · 07-16-2013, 08:30 PM

Ok so I know jack all about "best practices" for iconography and I have a feeling most of what I find online will be worthless so I'm instead going to get your opinions and dive right in!

Basically, I have two projects that require custom map icons.

#1 . I have an event(sort of) mapping thing... EventZombie (some of you may remember this project) and it currently uses three colors of the standard Google map markers to designate when/if there are things going on at a particular spot. NOW I need to add a different icon to designate that there is a drink special going on. (not just standard happy hour but a nightly thing like Mexican Mondays with cheap Mexican beers and margaritas) The question is... should I just make a new color for that? OR should I make a whole new icon OR should I go one step further and make them all custom icons...

#2 THIS IS THE HARD ONE. I have a Bar Sales reporting tool for Texas bar owners. It currently maps all the bars in an area and then uses a green up arrow to designate sales increases over a given time period and a red down arrow for down. Duh. Oh and yellow circle for no change. These currently look like dog poo and need to be changed. What I need are icons that not only designate % change but also designate total volume. Yes you can click and a popup gives all this info but its important to be able to see at a glance as well.What I am thinking is maybe just make prettier arrows then put a circle around them and the color of the circle would designate volume. Like these...

but in the circle would be an up or down arrow or yellow horizontal line for no change.

Ok, tell me I'm dumb and give me better ideas please!

07-16-2013, 08:30 PM	Topic Starter
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $2429112	Iconography help! Ok so I know jack all about "best practices" for iconography and I have a feeling most of what I find online will be worthless so I'm instead going to get your opinions and dive right in! Basically, I have two projects that require custom map icons. #1 . I have an event(sort of) mapping thing... EventZombie (some of you may remember this project) and it currently uses three colors of the standard Google map markers to designate when/if there are things going on at a particular spot. NOW I need to add a different icon to designate that there is a drink special going on. (not just standard happy hour but a nightly thing like Mexican Mondays with cheap Mexican beers and margaritas) The question is... should I just make a new color for that? OR should I make a whole new icon OR should I go one step further and make them all custom icons... #2 THIS IS THE HARD ONE. I have a Bar Sales reporting tool for Texas bar owners. It currently maps all the bars in an area and then uses a green up arrow to designate sales increases over a given time period and a red down arrow for down. Duh. Oh and yellow circle for no change. These currently look like dog poo and need to be changed. What I need are icons that not only designate % change but also designate total volume. Yes you can click and a popup gives all this info but its important to be able to see at a glance as well.What I am thinking is maybe just make prettier arrows then put a circle around them and the color of the circle would designate volume. Like these... but in the circle would be an up or down arrow or yellow horizontal line for no change. Ok, tell me I'm dumb and give me better ideas please!
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