In the era of paying for a subscription for everything even for assets like icons, there was an icon set that was not only my favorite but the preferred by most of the web design and development community: the Silk Icon Set by famfamfam (Mark James).
The Silk Icon Set has been a staple of web design for two decades. Its simple, clean design and extensive collection of icons have made it a favorite among designers and developers worldwide. As this year is the 20th anniversary of its release, I think it is time to recognize one of the most influential icon sets ever made.
From the moment of its release to mid-early 2010s, it felt like every website used the same icons. I remember including them as part of my arsenal to every project we worked on during that time. These icons were so well designed that they can be used today with no problems even after 20 years of being created and before the “smartphone revolution.”
Why The Silk Icon Set Popularity
- Extensive Variety: With icons spanning categories like navigation, file management, communication, and multimedia, the Silk Icon Set covers virtually every need. From the universally recognized envelope for email to custom-designed tools like database symbols, its comprehensiveness is unmatched.
- Simple, clean design: The icons are designed in a simple, clean style that is easy to read and understand.
- Pixel-Perfect Precision: The 16×16-pixel dimensions may seem small, but the artistry lies in their razor-sharp detail, ensuring each icon is legible, even at smaller sizes.
- License Flexibility: Available under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License, this set allowed free use for personal and commercial projects, provided proper attribution is given—making it a cost-effective solution for designers on a budget.
- Timeless Design: The Silk Icon Set’s sleek, modern aesthetic seamlessly integrates with both contemporary and retro-themed projects. You still can use it today even though it has been 20 years since the initial release.
Conclusion
I hope this short post demonstrates the appreciation to Mark James from one of the vivid users of this icon set since it was released. This was one of the pillars of web design in the late 2000s and it should be remembered as it was. Thanks Mark for your fantastic job and for inspiring designers and developers worldwide.
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