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How to Create a Smartwatch Icon

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Welcome back to another Illustrator-based tutorial, in which we’re going to take a close look at the process of creating a smartwatch icon using nothing more than a couple of basic geometric shapes that we’re going to adjust here and there. So, assuming you already have the software up and running, let’s jump straight into it!

Tutorial Details: Smartwatch Icon

  • Program: Adobe Illustrator
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Topics Covered: Compositional Construction, Shape Alignment, Grid Positioning
  • Estimated Completion Time: 25 Minutes

Final Image: Smartwatch Icon

How to Create a Smartwatch Icon

Step 1

As with any new project, we’re going to kick things off by creating a New Document by heading over to File > New (or by using the Control-N keyboard shortcut) which we will adjust as follows:

  • Number of Artboards: 1
  • Width: 64 px
  • Height: 64 px
  • Units: Pixels

And from the Advanced tab:

  • Color Mode: RGB
  • Raster Effects: Screen (72ppi)
  • Preview Mode: Default
Creating the document in Illustrator

Step 2

As soon as we’ve finished setting up our project file, we can start working on the actual icon by creating its background using a 56 x 56 px circle, which we will color using #EDEFF2 and then center align to the larger underlying using the Align panel’s Horizontal and Vertical Align Center options.

Creating the first shape and aligning it to the art board

Step 3

Add the main shape for the device’s body using a 32 x 36 px rounded rectangle with a 6 px Corner Radius, which we will color using #E4EAF7 and then position to the center of the larger circle.

Adding a rectangle to the icon

Step 4

Create the actual screen using a slightly smaller 28 x 32 px rounded rectangle with a 4 px Corner Radius, which we will color using #6D3B3B and then center align to the metal body.

Adding an inner rectangle with rounded corners

Step 5

Start working on the little UI, by adding the run cycle using a 16 x 16 px circle with a 2 px thick Stroke (#FF793E) to the center of the screen.

Creating a circle shape

Step 6

Create the current progress bar using a copy (Control-C) of the shape from the previous step, which we will paste in front (Control-F), and then adjust by first changing its color to #FFDF40 and then removing its top-right quarter, making sure to set the resulting paths Cap to Round. Once you’re done, make sure you select and group the two together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.

Editing the stroke

Step 7

Add the smaller UI detail using a 2 x 2 px circle, which we will color using #FFFFFF and then position onto the screen’s bottom-right section as seen in the reference image.

Adding a small circle

Step 8

Create the subtle reflection using a 24 x 28 px rounded rectangle (#FFFFFF) with a 2 px Corner Radius, which we will center align to the underlying screen, and then adjust by first removing its lower half, and then selecting the resulting shape’s bottom-right anchor point using the Direct Selection Tool (A), and pushing it to the top by a distance of 8 px using the directional arrow keys. Once you’re done, lower the shape’s Opacity to 20%, and then make sure you select and group all of the watch’s composing shapes using the Control-G keyboard shortcut before moving on to the next step.

Creating the reflection

Step 9

Add the side buttons using two 2 x 8 px rectangles (#6D3B3B), which we will adjust by opening up the Transform panel, and then setting the Radius of their right corners to 2 px, positioning the resulting shapes as seen in the reference image.

Transform panel

Step 10

Create the band segments using two 20 x 10 px rectangles, which we will color using #FFFFFF and then position above and below the device’s body.

Creating the watch band

Step 11

Add the subtle shadow to the lower band segment using a 20 x 4 px rectangle, which we will color using #95A7C4 and then center align to the shape’s top edge. Once you’re done, make sure you select and group (Control-G) the two together, doing the same for the entire smartwatch afterwards.

Adding shadow to the band

Step 12

Finish off the icon and with it the project itself, by masking the device, using a copy (Control-C) of the underlying background (Control-F), which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then with both of them selected simply right click > Make Clipping Mask. Take your time, and once you’re done make sure you select and group all of the icon’s composing shapes before finally hitting that save button.

Make clipping mask

Great Job!

I hope you had fun working on the project, and managed to learn something new and useful during the process. That being said, if you have any questions feel free to post them within the comments section, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!

Finished product - smartwatch icon
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