GUIDE深度 · Deep dive
Designing a Clear Small Icon
At 16px all detail is lost: use one or two letters or a simple shape, keep 10-15% padding and make it legible on light and dark backgrounds. Do not shrink a full logo or use thin lines.
One focal point.
Padding to avoid cropping.
High contrast; avoid thin lines.
Is it recognizable at 16px?
Does it read on a dark tab bar?
FAQ
Can I use transparency?
Yes, but it may vanish in dark mode; a background helps.
Should it be rounded?
Browsers/OS crop it themselves; padding matters more than rounded corners.