How to Create a Spring-Themed Icon Pack in Adobe Illustrator

In today’s tutorial we’re going to take a look at the process of creating a spring-themed icon pack. We'll follow a step-by-step approach in order to learn how to create each item using some basic geometric shapes and tools that you probably already use on a regular basis.

And before we start, don’t forget you can expand your collection by checking out GraphicRiver, where you can find tons of spring-themed icon packs.

That being said, take a quick sip of your favorite coffee, and let’s jump into it!

1. How to Set Up a New Document

Since I’m hoping that you already have Illustrator up and running in the background, bring it up and let’s set up a New Document (File > New or Control-N) using the following settings:

• Number of Artboards: 1
• Width:800 px
• Height:600 px
• Units:Pixels

And from the Advanced tab:

• Color Mode: RGB
• Raster Effects: Screen (72ppi)
• Preview Mode: Default

2. How to Set Up a Custom Grid

Since we’re going to be creating each icon using a pixel-perfect workflow, we’ll want to set up a nice little grid so that we can have full control over our shapes.

Step 1

Go to the Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid submenu, and adjust the following settings:

• Gridline every: 1 px
• Subdivisions: 1

Quick tip: you can learn more about grids by reading this in-depth piece on how Illustrator’s Grid System works.

Step 2

Once we’ve set up our custom grid, all we need to do in order to make sure our shapes look crisp is enable the Snap to Grid option found under the View menu, which will transform into Snap to Pixel each time you enter Pixel Preview mode.

Now, if you’re new to the whole “pixel-perfect workflow”, I strongly recommend you go through my how to create pixel-perfect artwork tutorial, which will help you widen your technical skills in no time.

3. How to Set Up the Layers

Once we’ve set up our New Document, it would be a good idea to structure our project using a couple of layers, since this way we can maintain a steady workflow by focusing on one icon at a time.

That being said, bring up the Layers panel, and create a total of five layers, which we will rename as follows:

• layer 1: reference grids
• layer 2: flower
• layer 3: butterfly
• layer 4: sun
• layer 5: clover

Quick tip: As you can see, I’ve colored all of my layers using the same green value, and that’s because it’s the easiest one to view when used to highlight your selected shapes (whether they're closed or open paths).

4. How to Create the Reference Grids

TheReference Grids (or Base Grids) are a set of precisely delimited reference surfaces, which allow us to build our icons by focusing on size and consistency.

Usually, the size of the grids determines the size of the actual icons, and they should always be the first decision you make on you start a new project, since you’ll always want to start from the smallest possible size and build on that.

Now, in our case, we’re going to be creating the icon pack using just one size, more exactly 128 x 128 px, which is a fairly large one.

Step 1

Start by locking all but the reference grid layer, and then grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 128 x 128 px orange (#F15A24) square, which will help define the overall size of our icons.

Step 2

Add a smaller 120 x 120 px one (#FFFFFF), which will act as our active drawing area, thus giving us an all-around 4 px padding.

Step 3

Group the two squares composing the reference grid using the Control-G keyboard shortcut, and then create three copies at a distance of 40 px from one another, making sure to align them to the center of the Artboard.

Once you’re done, lock the current layer and move on to the next one where we’ll start working on our first icon.

5. How to Create the Repeating Background

As you’ve probably already noticed, each icon has the same background, which means that we can focus our energy on creating one instance of it, and then use a couple of copies to add it to the remaining icons.

Step 1

Start by creating the larger 120 x 120 px circle, which we will color using #C3E3FC and then center align to the reference grid’s active drawing area.

Step 2

Add the inner section using a smaller 104 x 104 px circle, which we will color using #9DCBEA and then center align to the larger one’s body. Once you’re done, select and group both shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 3

Create three copies (Control-C> Control-F three times) of the shapes that we’ve just grouped, and then distribute them onto the empty reference grids, making sure to position each one onto the remaining layers, making sure to lock them back afterwards.

6. How to Create the Flower Icon

Now that we have the repeating background copies in place, position yourself back onto the second layer, and let’s start working on our first icon.

Step 1

Start working on the flower’s smaller petal by creating a 28 x 28 px square (#E27664), which we will position onto the reference grid’s top-left corner, leaving a 22 px gap from the active drawing area’s edges.

Step 2

Turn the square shape into a petal by setting the Radius of its bottom-left and top-right corners to 16 px from within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties.

Step 3

Give the petal a highlight by creating a copy of it (Control-C) which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then adjust by first changing its color to white (#FFFFFF) and then lowering its Opacity to 30%. Flip the shape's Fill with its Stroke (Shift-X), making sure to set its Weight to 6 px and aligning the Stroke to the Inside afterwards.

Step 4

Give the petal an outline using the Stroke method by creating a copy (Control-C) of its fill shape, which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then adjust by first changing its color to #253C51. Flip the shape’s Fill with its Stroke (Shift-X), and then set its Weightto 8 px, making sure to set its Corner to Round Join.

Step 5

Start adding details to the petal by creating a smaller 12 x 12 px square (#253C51), which we will turn into an ellipse by setting the Radius of its bottom-left and top-right corners to 12 px from within the Transformpanel’s Rectangle Properties. Once you’re done, position the resulting shape towards the bottom corner of the highlight.

Step 6

Add the smaller ellipse using an 8 x 8 px square (#253C51) with an 8 px Corner Radius set for its bottom-left and top-right corners, which we will align to the petal’s top-left corner. Once you’re done, select and group all of its composing shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 7

Create the top-right petal by selecting the one that we’ve just grouped and then using the Transform Each panel (right click > Transform > Transform Each). Once the panel pops up, we’ll want to move the copy to the right side by a distance of 48 px, making sure to horizontally reflect it using the Reflect X option. Once you’re done, simply press Copy and your second petal should be perfectly positioned.

Step 8

Create the bottom petals by selecting the two that we already have and then applying the same transform process, only this time push them vertically by a distance of 48 px, making sure to reflect them using the Reflect Y option. Once you’re done, select and group all four petals together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 9

Start working on the larger petals by creating a 36 x 52 px ellipse, which we will color using #F28D77 and then center align to the background’s smaller circle.

Step 10

Adjust the ellipse that we’ve just created by left clicking on its top and bottom anchor points with the help of the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) in order to make them pointy.

Step 11

Give the resulting shape an 8 px thick inner highlight (color: white; Opacity: 30%), following the same process that we used for the smaller petal.

Step 12

Add the outline using an 8 px thickStroke (#253C51) with the Corner set to Round Join.

Step 13

Start adding details to the petal by creating a 12 x 12 px ellipse (#253C51), which we will center align to its main body, positioning it at a distance of 24 px from its top anchor point.

Step 14

Adjust the circle by first pinching its top anchor point using the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C), and then pushing it to the top by a distance of just 2 px (right click > Transform > Move > Vertical > -2 px).

Step 15

Add the small insertion using an 8 x 12 px ellipse (#253C51) which we will center align to the petal’s top edge, adjusting it afterwards by pinching its top and bottom anchor points using the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C). Once you’re done, select and group all of the petal’s composing shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 16

Create the bottom petal by selecting the one that we already have, and then using the Transform Each function (right click > Transform> Transform Each) by pushing the copy 52 px down and then horizontally reflecting it.

Step 17

Create the remaining petals using a copy (Control-C > Control-F) of the two that we have, which we will rotate using the Rotate tool (right click > Transform > Rotate > 90º). Once you have them in place, select and group (Control-G) all four petals together, as we did with the smaller ones.

Step 18

Add the flower’s center section using a 30 x 30 px circle (#EAC778) with an 8 px thick outline (#253C51) which we will center align to the larger background.

Step 19

Start adding details to the flower’s center section by creating four 12 x 12 px circles with a 4 px thick Stroke (#253C51), which we will distribute along the larger circle’s anchor points.

Step 20

Finish off the current section, and with it the icon itself, by creating four 4 x 4 px circles (#253C51) which we will distribute to the center of the stroke circles that we’ve just created in the previous step. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all of the section’s composing shapes together, doing the same for the entire icon afterwards.

7. How to Create the Butterfly Icon

Assuming you’ve managed to finish the first icon, lock its layer and then move on up to the next one (that would be the third one), where we will start working on our second icon.

Step 1

Create the upper section of the butterfly’s left wing using a 48 x 48 px square, which we will color using #253C51 and then position towards the active drawing area’s top-left corner, at a distance of 12 px from its outer edges.

Step 2

Adjust the shape that we’ve just created by setting the Radius of its bottom-left corner to 28 px and its top-right one to 48 px from within the Transform panel’s Rectangle Properties.

Step 3

Give the resulting shape an 8 px thick inner highlight (color: white; Opacity: 30%), making sure to align itsStroke to the inside.

Step 4

Create an 8 x 8 px circle (#253C51) which we will position to the top-left corner of the wing, at a distance of 8 px from its top edge, and 6 px from its left one.

Step 5

Next, create a slightly smaller 6 x 6 px circle (#253C51) and position it onto the wing’s bottom-right corner, at a distance of 8 px from its right edge and 6 px from its bottom one.

Step 6

Add the wing’s thicker ring using a 28 x 28 px circle with an 8 px thick Stroke (#253C51), which we will center align to the larger circle that we created two steps ago.

Step 7

Create the thinner ring using a 48 x 48 px circle with a 4 px thickStroke (#253C51), which we will center align to the smaller fill circle.

Step 8

Group the two rings together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut, and then mask them using a copy (Control-C) of the underlying wing, which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then right click > Make Clipping Mask.

Step 9

Give the wing an 8 px thick outline (#253C51) and then select and group all its composing shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 10

Create the wing’s bottom half by selecting the top one and then using the TransformEach function (right click> Transform > Transform Each) where we will want to vertically move it by a distance of 58 px, making sure to horizontally reflect it using the Reflect Y option. Once you’re done, select and group the two sections together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 11

Create the right wing by selecting the two halves that we’ve just grouped and then using the Transform Each function again, only this time horizontally move the copies by a distance of 60 px, making sure to vertically reflect it using the Reflect X option. Then, once you’re done, select and group both wings together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 12

Grab the Pen Tool (P) and draw the butterfly’s legs and antennas using a 4 px thick Stroke (#253C51) with a Round Cap. Take your time, and once you’re done move on to the next step.

Step 13

Finish off the butterfly, and with it the icon itself, by adding its little head using a 14 x 14 px circle (#253C51) which we will center align to the antennas’ bottom section. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all of the butterfly’s shapes together, doing the same for the entire icon afterwards.

8. How to Create the Sun Icon

Assuming you already know the drill, make sure you’re on the right layer (that would be the fourth one) and then zoom in on the next reference grid and let’s get started.

Step 1

Start by creating a 74 x 74 px square, which we will color using #D8AD56 and then center align to the larger background.

Step 2

Give the shape that we’ve just created a slightly thinner 6 px inner highlight (color: white; Opacity: 30%), making sure to align its Stroke to the inside.

Step 3

Add the 8 px thick outline (#253C51) with a Round Join, selecting and grouping all of the current section’s shapes together afterwards using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Step 4

Create a larger 104 x 104 px square, which we will color using #C99136 and then center align to the larger background.

Step 5

Turn the square into a diamond by adding a new anchor point to the center of each of its edges using the Add Anchor Point Tool (+), removing all the corner ones afterwards using the Delete Anchor Point Tool (-).

Step 6

Give the resulting shape a 6 px thick inner highlight (color: white; Opacity: 30%), making sure to align its Stroke to the inside.

Step 7

Finish off the current section by adding the 8 px thick outline (#253C51), selecting and grouping (Control-G) all its composing shapes together afterwards.

Step 8

Start working on the sun’s circular section by creating a 74 x 74 px circle which we will color using #EAC778 and then center align to the larger background.

Step 9

Give the circle an 8 px thick inner highlight (color:white; Opacity: 40%), making sure to set its Stroke to the inside.

Step 10

As we did with all the other shapes, give the circle an 8 px thick outline (#253C51) using the Stroke method.

Step 11

Finish off the current section, and with it the icon itself, by drawing in a couple of 4 px thick diagonal Stroke lines (#253C51) with a Round Cap. Take your time, and once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all its shapes together, doing the same for the entire icon afterwards.

9. How to Create the Clover Icon

We are now down to our fourth and last icon of the bunch, so without wasting any more time, make sure you’re on the right layer (that would be the fifth one) and let’s finish this. 

Step 1

Start working on the clover’s repeating leaf by creating a 30 x 30 px circle, which we will color using #8FDB95 and then position onto the active drawing area’s top-left corner, at a distance of 8 px from its top edge and 23 px from its left one.

Step 2

Create a second 30 x 30 px circle (#8FDB95), which we will position so that it ends up overlapping the bottom-left section of the first one.

Step 3

Adjust the two circles by selecting their bottom-right intersecting anchor points with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and then removing them by pressing Delete. Unite the resulting paths into a single larger shape by pressingControl-J once, and then drawing in the bottom-right corner using the Pen Tool (P).

Step 4

Give the resulting shape an 8 px thick inner highlight (color: white; Opacity: 30%), making sure to align itsStroke to the inside, and setting its Corner to Round Join.

Step 5

Add the leaf’s outline using an 8 px thick Stroke which we will color using #253C51, making sure to set its Corner to Round Join.

Step 6

Finish off the leaf by drawing the 4 px thick diagonal Stroke lines (#253C51) with a Round Cap, selecting and grouping (Control-G) all its composing shapes together afterwards. Take your time, and once you’re done, move on to the next step.

Step 7

Create the right leaf by selecting the one that we’ve just grouped and then using the Transform Each function (right click > Transform> Transform Each) to push a copy of the left one to the right by a distance of 59 px, making sure to vertically reflect it using the Reflect X option.

Step 8

Create the remaining leaves by selecting the two that we have and then using the Transform Each function again, only this time position the copies to the bottom at a distance of 59 px, horizontally reflecting them using the Reflect Y option.

Step 9

Create the clover’s center section using a 22 x 22 px square, which we will color using #253C51, and then center align to the larger background.

Step 10

Finish off the icon, by removing a 6 x 6 px circle (highlighted with red) from the center of each of the square’s sides using Pathfinder’s Minus Front Shape Mode. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all of the clover’s shapes together, doing the same for the entire icon afterwards.

Hurray! We’re Done!

Great job! It might have been a long journey, but I believe the end result makes it all worthwhile. On that note, I hope that you’ve managed to keep up with each and every step, and most importantly learned something new along the way.