I’m working on a project where I need to create multiple icons quickly in Figma. I’ve been struggling with the workflow and it’s taking me way too long to design each symbol from scratch. What are the best techniques for speeding up icon creation in Figma? I’m looking for practical tips that can help me build consistent icons faster. Are there any specific tools or shortcuts that experienced designers use? I’ve tried using the basic shapes but I feel like I’m missing something important. My current process involves creating each icon individually which is really time consuming. Any advice on how to streamline this would be super helpful. Also wondering if there are any good practices for maintaining consistency across different icons while still working efficiently.
The biggest game changer for my icon workflow? Start with a master grid system. I make a 24x24 pixel frame with guidelines every 2px, then duplicate it for each new icon. Perfect alignment every time. Use outline strokes instead of fills when you can - makes it super easy to adjust stroke weights globally later. I keep a small library of basic shapes (circles, squares, triangles) as components that I just combine and modify instead of starting from scratch. Figma’s boolean operations are insanely powerful here. Union, subtract, and intersect let you build complex shapes from simple ones in seconds. Don’t sleep on the duplicate and transform shortcuts either. Position one element, then duplicate it with precise spacing using shift + arrow keys. Perfect for dotted patterns or any repeated elements.
Components save you massive time. Make every icon a component right away - even ones you think you’ll only use once. Trust me, you’ll need variations later, and swapping instances beats rebuilding from scratch. Set your stroke weight and corner radius early and don’t budge. I use 1.5px strokes with 2px radius for everything - saves hours of cleanup later. Learn the pen tool. It’s way faster than wrestling basic shapes into complex forms. Oh, and auto-layout is perfect for icons with internal spacing. Set it once and everything stays aligned when you resize or tweak components.
Symbol libraries are where you get real speed gains. I’ve built my own icon system - arrows, basic shapes, common elements all saved as nested components. Need a new icon? Just remix what’s already there instead of starting over. Here’s something most people miss: double-click into groups with the selection tool for super quick edits. Game changer for me was working in grayscale first, then adding color at the end through component properties. Keeps you focused on the actual design instead of getting caught up in pretty colors. For consistency, always start with your most complex icon. Get that one right and the simpler ones will naturally match the same weight and style. And seriously, use outline view more - it shows if your stroke weights and spacing actually work without all the visual noise from fills.
Two things completely changed my icon workflow: keyboard shortcuts for boolean operations and learning vector networks. Vector networks are way better than traditional paths - you get complex shapes with fewer anchor points, cleaner geometry, and easier edits down the line. I batch similar work together too. Do all the linear icons first, then the filled versions. Don’t jump around completing one icon at a time. The biggest time saver? Create a base template with your grid, export settings, and naming conventions already set up. Start a new icon by duplicating that template and you’re instantly working in your system. Here’s something most people miss: use the scale tool with shift held down. Your stroke weights stay proportional and you maintain visual consistency across different sizes without fixing anything manually.
if you’re not using plugins yet, u’re missin out! Iconify is a huge resource, tons of free icons! Just customize em to fit your needs, way quicker than startin from scratch. Also try IconScout, great quality. Don’t forget to have a color/style guide ready, it’ll save u so much time!