Women’s Day Icons
A beautiful set of elegant, detailed icons created them for all my female readers.
UPDATE: March 11th, 2010.
I understand these icons have offended some people. I apologize.
I just created some objects that are typically associated with women and released the set on International Women’s Day. In no way was I trying to identify women with beauty accessories, ignoring and belittling their achievements and their struggle for equality.
It was definitely and unfortunate choice of release date for an icon set that would have probably been accepted warmly had I marketed it differently.
My sincere apologies to women again.
I still think women are beautiful and deserve a beautiful icon set:
The icons are available as transparent PNGs at 256 and 128 pixels and they are free for personal use. The set includes: lipstick (2 colors), a vanity mirror, a bottle of perfume, a bracelet, an aquamarine pendant, a fountain pen, a notepad, a pocket calendar, a wallet, a handbag and a silk scarf.
These are just pretty pictures with no message attached, please don’t be put off by their frivolous content.
I promise I’ll be more careful in the future when releasing designs with a potentially controversial content.
Great icons Andrea, these would be brilliant for a woman themed website.
WoW!! These are amazing; thanks a lot! Good thing I’m following you on Twitter ^_^
Well done! These great icons were featured on http://guipulp.com/
Thanks so much Andrea – what a beautiful set
Purses? Lipstick? You’ve come a long way, women’s rights movement.
It looks like you may have misunderstood International Women’s Day and all that it celebrates. How about some icons that celebrate and recognise the achievements of women, instead of some patriarchal symbols of ‘what women like’…like some blue stockings perhaps…?
Very nice icons.
Love the “detail work” you did on them.
These icons are really pretty and your work is great but I don’t see what they have to do with womens’ day and what’s a “woman themed” website anyway?
Sorta misses the point of international women’s day if you think lipstick, jewellery and perfume are what women are all about. I absolutely hate what they represent.
I’m sorry if I sent the wrong message with these icons. I had no intention of offending women or belittling their achievements. As much as I understand International Women’s Day these are just a bunch of icons with no political message attached. I just thought women might like them so I set out to represent some of the objects they carry around. That’s all.
I think these are pretty cool!! very useful for a “girly” themed website!
Well done and keep up the good work!!
:)
I was quite taken aback when I saw these icons designed for *international women’s day*. @Neil and @Bonnie already said everything that needs to be said…I’m shocked about this ignorance.
Again I’m sorry for being insensitive. While I obviously didn’t mean to send the wrong message I certainly should have been more sensitive to this issue.
I have updated the post and corrected the title card.
I hope this public apology, here and on Twitter, makes up for my mistake.
Nice womens icon. TQ. :)
Andrea, your icons are awesome as always… :)
I think it’s ridiculous if women get offended about these icons. The strongest and most independent women I know love lipstick, purses a.s.o. because they can afford it from their well-paid jobs and love to look beautiful.
You might be right, none of my female friends complained either, but it was inconsiderate of me to associate these mundane objects with a holiday that means much more.
Now I know that before something goes public you have to consider all possible outcomes.
I found them cute so transfered the pack to quite a lot of girls/women contacts. None of them found them offending (even regarding the women’s day), all of them found them cute…
I think sometimes women are a little overly sensitive when it comes to these types of things. Yes we struggle for equality but let’s be realistic folks. These were obviously not meant to offend. It’s not like they were pictures of women barefoot and pregnant.
Guess timing was a little off but to be honest I didn’t even know there was such a thing as Women’s Day. Is there a Man’s Day as well? Would men be offended at a similar set of icons. Not to mention that fact @Andrea has taken the time to not only recognize the day but to create free icons for anyone to use.
This is one woman that is NOT OFFENDED and IS THANKFUL for sites like this.
Very beautiful icons. Thanks for share.
Andrea, you’re a wonderful illustrator! I don’t understand why people were offended.
One of my favorite things about being a woman is that I can express my femininity. Some people are haters, I guess! Keep on the good work! Forza!
Amazing icons! Thank you for thinking about us women! :)
I’m sorry you have to apologize for them…there’s really no reason to.
I think these icons are wonderful. They are sorely needed because not many icons are based on real, everyday objects, in my opinion. I am sorry that some folks see these as a negative and I personally appreciate your work. They’re beautiful!
They are definitely nicely done- Thanks for your contribution to the ladies :-); although I can see why some offense would be taken by ladies…We can’t deny that women are in fact the main consumers of beauty products. Let’s not be hasty to criticize, and start brainstorming some other objects that the ladies enjoy :-)
I like the texture on the notebook, as well as the perfume, and lipstick(very slick! :-) ). Nicely done!
Although they are well created, I chuckled sadly when I saw their label.
These should be labeled “Fashion and Makeup Icons” instead.
;)
These icons represent a small subset from the myriad physical items generally associated with women. They are not a political statement.
I’m curious: are the same people who are offended by these icons offended by Amira Yulaki Khvenchuk’s icons of women’s fashions (purses & shoes) or is it OK because she’s female?
Bonnie asked for some icons “that celebrate and recognise the achievements of women”. A great idea, but it doesn’t mean these icons are in opposition of that recognition.
I’m just an art critic who loves icons, I’d love to see icons that specifically “celebrate and recognise the achievements of women” (Bonnie’s phrase). I really like seeing more of the world in icons from different people’s viewpoints.
Andrea, I think there is no need for you to apologize. These are beautifully done and it was very generous of you to put them out there for people to download. As a business owner, I find that the bigger you get, then you have to realize that you cannot please everyone. Yes, I agree, we do have to be careful what we post and present to the public, but come on, I think we know when something is done intentionally to be offensive vs. when it is done to just share with the world the beautiful work that you do. Andrea, keep up the good work. I’m looking forward to following you and learning more!
Thanks a lot for the beautiful icons. They are what is still associated with women – and this shall remain so. Women have many sides. I do not feel offended – even though women’s day was invented to show that women are more than lipsticks. But with which synonym do women want to see those symbols? And I think we still want to stick with beauty.
Andrea,
I have been following your posts for a while now and I absolutely love the way you create icons with ease. I have also noticed that you always replied back when there was a constructive feedback, no matter how rude it sounded. I think you are able to get there because of this attitude. Just wanted to mention this.
Will continue to see your posts. :-)
Thanks Shalu. I’ll be sure to post new icons soon.
You have a cool name by the way.
Thx for the cool icons and screw anyone who is offended by them. very generous of you!
Thanks so much. Great work.