Icons

Overview

The goal development of icons for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department goes beyond conventional applications such as way-finding, instead it focuses on a entirely new topic addressing the distinct objective of public education around sustainability. This system of icons functions as an accessible entry point for park-goers, translating complex environmental concepts into simplified, legible visual forms. In doing so, the icons establish a framework for fostering environmental awareness among a broad public audience.

The Spring ’26 WKRM continued the work initiated by the Fall ’25 cohort, engaging in iterative testing and refinement of 10 existing icon designs while also developing additional icons to address identified gaps. This process culminated in a comprehensive set of 23 icons intended for implementation across park signage.

Icon Library

Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI)

Rain Garden

Grow Zone

Rainwater Catchment System

Detention Pond

Retention Pond

Biofiltration

Habitat

Pollinator Habitat

Wildflower Meadows

Snags

Purple Martin/ Chimney Swift Habitat

Pack it in, Pack it out

Natural Systems Work

Erosion and Sediment Control

Soil Management

Maintenance in Progress

Invasive Species Management

Native Seed Establishment

Shaded Fuel Break

Sustainability

Community Agriculture

Solar Power

Water Conservation

Native Plants

Waste Collection

Compost Collection

Additional Assets

Arrow

Exclamation Mark

Modular Shapes

Leaves

Water Droplet

Usage

Context

The icons are intended to call attention to sustainability efforts in Austin parks; they embody a simple and bold visual language which aim to encourage viewers to learn more about the parks.

Signage

Icons will primarily be used on park signage to indicate the content presented on the signs. They are intended to serve as the primary visual element, capturing viewers’ attention as they pass by.

Maps

Icons may also be used on park maps to highlight specific sustainability areas. They can be placed on colored shapes to enhance visibility and ensure they stand out against surrounding imagery.

Merchandise

Additional applications for the icons include park merchandise, such as stickers, pins, shirts, tote bags, and event badges.

Usage Rules

Sign Placement

Placement should be on the upper-left corner of the sign; larger than the sign text and uses the secondary sign color.

Framing

For way-finding purposes, icons can be placed within a square or circular frame.

Grids and Line Weights

Grid

Icons should fit within the outer red box pictured above; the blue lines serve as guides for the icon’s internal details.

Line Weight

Main outlines have a 30 pt line weight, thicker lines are 35 pt, and thinner detail lines are 22 pt.

Fill Treatment

Leaves, hands, and bodies of water should be filled in while water drops, soil, and figures should have no fill.

Research

Research for the icon designs included case studies of Olympic icons, a digital survey conducted with UT Austin students, and two rounds of in-person testing at parks, where public park-goers matched terms to the icons to determine how effectively the icons communicated the intended concepts.

Research Results

Case Study

During our case study of the Mexico 1968 Olympic pictogram icons, we observed that the pictograms use simplified geometric forms, directional lines, and repetition to suggest movement which allowed each icon to remain clear and legible even at smaller scales. This study encouraged us to consider how we could communicate the terms in a more abstract way while still remaining true to their meaning.

Online Survey

An online survey was created using the Fall ’25 icons, asking participants to list the words they associated with each icon. This survey was circulated among UT students for one week, and we received 33 responses. Using these responses, we generated word clouds for each icon to identify the most frequently mentioned words and assess how effectively participants were able to recognize the core concepts represented by each icon.

Park Tests

Each icon was printed and placed on boards, with icon labels printed separately. The boards were then taken to Pease Park. Random park-goers were asked to match the icon names to the icons on the board to gauge how well the graphics communicated the sustainability terms. Each test result was recorded, and some participants were asked to elaborate on why they made certain pairings to determine which design choices worked and which did not.

We performed this test on two separate days, receiving 10 participants during the first round and 20 participants during the second round. We were able to gather feedback from a wide variety of park-goers, from elementary school children to working adults, with a range of professions and hobbies, including UX design and botany. The second round of testing validated many of our design choices and made clear the details that still needed refinement.

User Testing Plan

Test Objectives:

The main goal of these tests is evaluating how users understand and interpret various park sign icon designs. We are aiming to test how well users recognize terms represented by each unique icon. Furthermore, we want to see if users are able to correlate the icons to their corresponding terms. Through these tests we, as designers, are looking to gain a better understanding of what concepts users associate with each icon and whether or not these concepts align with the topics we have aimed to represent through our designs.

Testing Plan:

The icons are meant to create a primary touchpoint of recognition for the user and motivate further inquiry into the signage and stories. For our testing plan, we hope to gather feedback on user perception, accuracy to concept and visual coherence with respect to context and purpose. This will be pursued through testing for multiple group sizes, with a varying time spent on each test to attain the necessary feedback about the icons.

Observation Guidelines:

Establish roles among the team to–communicate & establish the scenario, observe the user, take notes, photograph the testing session, follow-up with questions and organize data post session (each person may take up multiple roles)

Revise terms and clarify concepts prior to testing
Establish context and be ready to offer clarity for good feedback
Prepare a set of questions, and discuss tone and approach prior to testing with public
Pay close attention to user feedback, beyond words and writings
Take a clean set of notes that can be revised and organized better post testing session

Test I: Icons Taken Outside

Goal: To shift the context of icons from the indoor workspace to the outside, in order to measure required scale, visibility and effectiveness of icon design.

Participants: Test for the team, all members.

Location: Outdoors, preferably in a park.

Procedure:

Print out existing icons (individually) on 8.5 x 11 sheets and pin them up on a board/sign form
Take these icons outside of WKRM, preferably to a park area or more plant density
Place icons in visible areas and take a step back to see how they interact with the environment
Take note of the appearance and attractiveness of these signs from afar, as well as how these icons stand against different backdrops to evaluate.

Test II: Word Association

Goal: To grasp the comprehension of the user towards the visuals of the icons and message being communicated thereof, documenting initial impressions.

Participants: Small scale; about 1-3 people per test. Ask people we know (family, roommates, etc.), or ask strangers passing by on campus to participate for about 5 minutes.

Location: Indoors or wherever participants are able to meet or are found.

Procedure (In-Person):

Print out existing logos, each on individual 8.5 x 11 sheets in black and white and without text on them.
Hold up paper with icons one at a time to gather participants’ first impression of each icon.
Ask what word concepts the participants associate with each icon; record their responses.
If there is time, ask participants to elaborate on their responses. Ask questions to determine what particular aspects of the icons are misinterpreted or understood.

Procedure (Online):

Create a Google Form survey asking participants to list the first word they think of or what words they associate with each icon, mentioning the icons will be used in parks.
Put a photo of each icon with a word box for participants to include their answers.
Share survey amongst local community to gather responses.
Create word clouds of recieved responses to see what words are mentioned the most in responses.

Test III: Matching Game

Goal: To receive feedback on the correlation of icon design to terms, and the perception of icons in a park-like setting to meet its purpose.

Participants: Medium scale; about 2-3 people per test. Recruit random strangers or acquaintances to meet at a predetermined date and time for 45 minutes to an hour.

Location: Outdoors at a local park/ indoors with the logo set up and park context

Procedure:

Print out existing logos, each on individual 8.5 x 11 sheets in black and white and without text on them.
Print out icon terms separately. Pin up all logos on a board.
Meet at the park with participants and set up boards with icons as well as the printed icon terms.
Set the stage; get people to “imagine they’re walking through a park, and the icons are on signs throughout the park”.
Give users the icon terms and ask them to match the terms with what they think is the correlating icon; have them pin the terms to the icons on the board. Record their responses.
Once done sorting, ask users to elaborate on why they paired the certain terms and icons together. Record their responses.
Ask what word concepts the participants associate with each icon; record their responses.
Record additional feedback and suggestions during a further discussion about the icons.

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