The project was to create an 12 icon set for the client. The theme was facial features, to be done in 3 distinct variations. The audience for this icon set is cosmetic product users.

The sketching process was almost too simple. Starting with a basic eye, nose, mouth, and ear was easy, but it took an hour or so before more unique ideas were able manifest themselves in my sketches.

Before sketching, I made a word list to think of ideas. This list included words like gooey, slimy, puffy, hairy, dry, pierced, swollen and many more. This made the actual pencil to paper process have better flow. 

Once in Illustrator, I started forming the icons with basic lines and shapes. I made more sketchy versions at the beginning (reference numbers 1,2, and 3). After peer feedback, I attempted to make the same icons in a different, more simplified style (4,5, and 6).

My first draft of icons were simplified versions of normal, gooey, and hairy facial features. Once presented to the client, the main critique was the oversimplified nature of the icons, they felt too boring. The client wanted more realism, including more complex colors and shadows. I referenced my original sketches and got to work on the more complex icons.

I made a color study for each icon and worked on lights and shadows, playing with shapes as I went.  

The final product was much cleaner, more complex, and more unique than the first iterations of this project. The more realistic nature of the final version helps the set as a whole feel more vibrant.