5 Ways to Create a Settings Icon

Learn to use an array of Illustrator features through this exercise

More in the iconography series:
• Foundations of Iconography
• 7 Principles of Icon Design
• Icon Grids & Keylines Demystified
• Pixel-Snapping in Icon Design
• 3 Classic Icon Families

The gear has become a ubiquitous symbol for settings in our digital applications.

Left to right, top to bottom: Google Calendar, Lyft, Dribbble, Facebook, ClassPass, Seamless, Telegram, Reddit, Duolingo, Dropbox, Instagram, Headspace, PayPal, Transit, WeChat

There are many interesting ways you can create this icon. We’ll walk though 5 of them in Adobe Illustrator, to pick up techniques you can take forward to any vector drawing.

(Keyboard shortcuts are shown in parentheses.)

Method 1: Rounded Star

This simple method is effective for a gear with pointed teeth.

Select the Star Tool and click anywhere on your canvas.