Something’s Rotten in the State of macOS Icon Design

This is an iconic observation: If you put the Apple icons in reverse it looks like the portfolio of someone getting really really good at icon design This isn’t, however, just the story of Apple’s Creator Studio icons. It’s the unfolding story of icon design across the entire macOS platform. For example, take a look at some of Apple’s other apps like iMovie: Or Remote Desktop: Apple sets the standard (and the rules) for how icons look on the Mac. Wherever they go, so goes the ecosystem — and they’re taking the entire ecosystem along down with them. It’s fast becoming the case that if you put any Mac app’s icons in reverse, it looks like the portfolio of someone getting really, really good at icon design. Even Microsoft — not exactly a bastion of design — starts to look pretty decent with their icons the further back you go. For example, with OneNote, the app icon’s progression looks like it went something like this: “I made this with AI” “I tried to make the AI one, but by hand…