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ICONS‎

Big ideas in small spaces

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

01

Simplify storytelling
Connecting icons in a meaningful series allows us to tell wider and more complex stories, always in a succinct and intuitive way. We differentiate icons in a series by using a different accent color with tints and shades for each icon.

Emphasize the relevant element of an icon by applying one accent color—with tints and shades, if necessary.

02

Convey abstract ideas
We can combine icons to make composites, called pictograms, to convey new, complex, or abstract ideas.

Keep icons legible by ensuring adequate color and size contrast.

03

Unify the business
Icons perform a consistent and functional role across our innovative products and services, helping people navigate our business horizontally.

Ensure clarity by choosing an icon that is telegraphic in its representation and purpose.

Icons are telegraphic visual shortcuts that can symbolize people, ideas, objects, places, activities, and themes. They have the ability to transcend linguistic and cultural differences to help us communicate universally.

UNIQUELY MASTERCARD

The icons we created are meant to be simple, ownable, and modern. There’s a distinct language in the way they are constructed, to convey a style that’s uniquely Mastercard.

DID YOU KNOW?

Our brains can identify an image in just 13 milliseconds. This means that images such as icons can be more immediate than language.6

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