Mastering App Icon and Splash Screen Design for Expo Projects

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Setting Up an App Icon and Splash Screen
3. Creating an iOS App Icon
   • 3.1 Using a Company Logo
   • 3.2 Customizing the Icon Size
4. Creating an Android App Icon
   • 4.1 Adaptive Icons
   • 4.2 Overlaying Icons for Flexibility
5. Designing a Splash Screen
   • 5.1 Importance of Splash Screens
   • 5.2 Incorporating UI Skeleton
6. Exporting and Integrating Icons and Splash Screens
   • 6.1 Exporting Assets from Figma
   • 6.2 Integration in the App
7. Customization Options
   • 7.1 Override Global Configurations
   • 7.2 Platform-Specific Icons and Splash Screens
8. Conclusion

Setting Up an App Icon and Splash Screen

The app icon and splash screen play crucial roles in creating a visually appealing and immersive experience for users. In this tutorial, we will learn how to set up an app icon and splash screen for our app on both iOS and Android platforms. We will use Figma, a design app, to create the necessary assets and then integrate them into our app code.

1. Introduction

The app icon and splash screen are the first visual elements users encounter when launching an app. A well-designed app icon helps in branding and recognition, while the splash screen provides a seamless transition into the app by displaying a loading sequence and giving users a glimpse of the user interface.

2. Setting Up an App Icon and Splash Screen

Before we dive into the design process, let's understand the significance of app icons and splash screens. App icons serve as a representation of your app on the home screen of a device, while splash screens create a smooth loading experience by displaying a static image or a dynamic transition before the app fully loads.

3. Creating an iOS App Icon

3.1 Using a Company Logo

Many developers choose to use their company's logo as their app icon. To make this process easier, we can utilize pre-made templates in Figma. These templates include concentric circles to help align and resize the logo correctly. The widest circle represents the maximum size, while the smallest circle represents the minimum size for circular icons.

3.2 Customizing the Icon Size

If your logo is not circular, it should fit within the range defined by the two circles in the template. In Figma, you can select the template, customize the colors and dimensions, and create a unique app icon that aligns with your branding.

4. Creating an Android App Icon

Android app icons are adaptive, meaning they can be presented in different shapes and contexts. To ensure maximum flexibility, we can overlay two separate icons that overlay each other. This approach guarantees that the logo always fits within the middle of the icon.

4.1 Adaptive Icons

Unlike iOS icons, Android icons can be circular, square, or different shapes. By following the adaptive icon design guidelines, we can create icons that seamlessly adapt to various launcher styles and themes.

4.2 Overlaying Icons for Flexibility

To create an adaptive icon, we can copy the previously designed circles into a frame in Figma. By scaling the circles down proportionally, we can align them to create a visually appealing and customizable Android app icon.

5. Designing a Splash Screen

The splash screen serves as the loading sequence of our app, providing users with their first impression. To enhance this experience, we can go beyond displaying the app icon or logo and instead showcase a skeletal outline of the user interface.

5.1 Importance of Splash Screens

By showing a preview of the UI, the splash screen tricks users into perceiving a faster loading time. It is crucial to optimize the design and content of the splash screen to create a frictionless start, engaging users and setting the tone for their app experience.

5.2 Incorporating UI Skeleton

To create a visually appealing splash screen, we can take a screenshot of our app and trace over the key elements. By removing the background and adding basic lines and borders that represent the top and bottom bars, we can create a simple yet effective skeleton preview.

6. Exporting and Integrating Icons and Splash Screens

Once we have designed the app icon and splash screens in Figma, we need to export them and integrate them into our app code.

6.1 Exporting Assets from Figma

Figma allows us to export the designed assets, including the app icon and splash screens, to various formats. We can choose to export them as PNG, JPG, SVG, or any other supported file format.

6.2 Integration in the App

To integrate the newly designed icons and splash screens into our app, we need to modify the app's configuration files. In the app.json file, we can specify the paths to the exported assets and set the desired background color.

7. Customization Options

Both iOS and Android platforms provide customization options for icons and splash screens. By overriding the global configurations, we can define platform-specific icons and splash screens, giving our app a unique look and feel on different devices.

7.1 Override Global Configurations

By defining platform-specific configurations within the app's code, we can diverge from the global app icon and splash screen settings. This allows us to create distinct experiences for each platform while maintaining a consistent overall design.

7.2 Platform-Specific Icons and Splash Screens

In addition to overriding global settings, we can define separate icons and splash screens specifically for iOS or Android. This level of customization ensures that our app's visual identity aligns with the platform's design language and guidelines.

8. Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored the process of setting up an app icon and splash screen for both iOS and Android platforms. By using Figma, we created visually appealing and customized icons and splash screens that enhance the user experience. We also learned how to export and integrate these assets into our app code, giving our app a professional and polished look right from the start.

Now that you have the knowledge and tools, go ahead and create stunning app icons and engaging splash screens that leave a lasting impression on your users.

Highlights

• Learn how to set up an app icon and splash screen for iOS and Android
• Use Figma to create visually appealing and customized icons and splash screens
• Optimize the loading experience by showcasing UI skeleton in the splash screen
• Export and integrate icons and splash screens into your app code
• Customize icons and splash screens for different platforms
• Create a unique and immersive user experience with well-designed app icons and splash screens

FAQs

Q: Can I use my company's logo as the app icon? A: Yes, many developers choose to use their company's logo as the app icon. Figma provides templates with concentric circles to help align and resize the logo correctly.

Q: How can I create an adaptive icon for Android? A: To create an adaptive icon, you can overlay two icons within a frame in Figma. The overlaying technique ensures that the logo always fits in the middle of the icon.

Q: What is the purpose of a splash screen? A: The splash screen serves as the loading sequence of the app and provides users with their first impression. By showcasing a preview of the user interface, it tricks users into perceiving a faster loading time.

Q: Can I customize icons and splash screens for different platforms? A: Yes, both iOS and Android platforms offer customization options for icons and splash screens. By overriding global configurations and defining platform-specific settings, you can create a unique visual identity for your app.

Q: How do I integrate the designed icons and splash screens into my app? A: After designing the icons and splash screens in Figma, you can export them and specify their paths in the app's configuration files. This allows your app to use the newly created assets.