Conventional software is changing and becoming more advanced as new online services arise and is being coined with the phrase, "Software As A Service".

With industry Giants like Google and Microsoft, creating online software and wizards and many other businesses joining in this endeavor, interface design is more meaningful with the use of icons.

Years ago, the standards of icons and interfaces were created and helped to guide us through certain tasks, such as printing or saving your word processing document or spreadsheet. These standards were key in teaching younger and older generation to navigate around certain interfaces just as importantly as the standard placement of navigation.

Organizations like Planet Icon and Icon Galore who create and provide a large variety of icons, some of which you can download for free have offered the web developer, business owner and graphics designer the opportunity to create meaningful, compelling interfaces for their software or website. IconPlanet.com is dedicated to offer world class XP icons at an affordable price and provides more valuable information on icon characteristics. They also provide FREE tips and downloads of icons.

Icons are available in the previous standardized look and feel and in more smoothed, aqua or "gel-like" appearances that have been popularized in the last several years. Icons are organized by themes or by industry to help you make your selection during design.

A note of warning though. Don't fall into the trap of becoming overly creative and start creating icons for common tasks that will disorient your visitor! Let me ask you; Would you instinctively know to load your document to the web by clicking an icon that has the appearance of a book, rather than the standard download arrow pointing downwards? Probably not. Best to pay attention to these things before going wild with design.

Get started today with changing your design interface to become more meaningful and download your free icons from PlanetIcons.com

About the Author

Sean Morelli is a web design consultant and of RPG Designs, LLC and Kansas City based Web Development firm at http://www.rpgdesigns.net.