GESP GUIDE

Student Developer Pack Guide

Icons8 - Complete Student Guide

Get 3 months of free access to Icons8’s complete design resource library through the GitHub Student Developer Pack.

Student guide based on official documentation. Not affiliated with Icons8 or GitHub.

What is Icons8?

Icons8 is a comprehensive design resource platform that provides millions of icons, illustrations, photos, and design tools. It’s designed to help designers, developers, and creators access high-quality visual assets for their projects without the hassle of creating everything from scratch.

Key Features

  • Massive Icon Library: Over 180,000 icons in various styles and categories
  • Illustrations: Thousands of illustrations in different art styles
  • Stock Photos: High-quality photos for web and print projects
  • Design Tools: Built-in tools for editing and customizing assets
  • Consistent Styles: Curated collections with unified design languages
  • Multiple Formats: Download in PNG, SVG, PDF, and other formats
  • API Access: Programmatic access to the Icons8 library

What You Get with Student Pack

  • 3 Months Free Access: Full access to all premium features
  • Unlimited Downloads: Download as many assets as you need
  • All Icon Styles: Access to every icon collection and style
  • High-Resolution Assets: Download icons and illustrations in any size
  • Commercial License: Use assets in your commercial projects
  • No Attribution Required: Use assets without crediting Icons8

How to Redeem Icons8

Step 1: Verify Your GitHub Student Pack

  1. Go to GitHub Education
  2. Click “Get Student Benefits”
  3. Verify your student status with a valid .edu email or student ID
  4. Wait for approval (usually 1-7 business days)

Step 2: Access the Icons8 Offer

  1. Once approved, visit your GitHub Student Pack dashboard
  2. Find “Icons8” in the partner offers list
  3. Click “Get access” or “Redeem offer”
  4. You’ll be redirected to Icons8’s student redemption page

Step 3: Activate Your Icons8 Account

  1. Create a new Icons8 account using your student email address
  2. Or log in to your existing Icons8 account
  3. Apply the student discount code during the upgrade process
  4. Verify your email address when prompted
  5. Start accessing premium features immediately

Getting Started with Icons8

Exploring the Library

  1. Search functionality: Use keywords to find specific icons or styles
  2. Browse categories: Explore organized collections by topic
  3. Style collections: Find icons that match your design aesthetic
  4. Recent additions: Discover newly added assets
  5. Popular items: See what other designers are using

Using Icons8 Effectively

Finding the Right Assets

  • Use specific keywords for better search results
  • Filter by style, category, and format
  • Preview icons in different sizes before downloading
  • Check license requirements for your use case

Customization Options

  • Change colors directly in the Icons8 interface
  • Resize icons without quality loss (SVG format)
  • Overlay icons on backgrounds to test appearance
  • Export in multiple formats for different platforms

Organizing Your Assets

  • Create collections for different projects
  • Use the favorites feature to save frequently used icons
  • Download assets in batches for efficiency
  • Keep track of licensing for commercial projects

Best Practices

  • Maintain consistency: Use icons from the same style collection
  • Consider your audience: Choose icons that are universally understood
  • Test scalability: Ensure icons work at different sizes
  • Plan for accessibility: Use sufficient contrast and clear shapes
  • Organize downloads: Keep your asset library well-organized
  • Stay updated: Check for new additions to your favorite collections

Minimal and Clean

  • Ios and Material Design styles
  • Outlined and filled variations
  • Perfect for modern interfaces

Detailed and Expressive

  • Hand-drawn and sketch styles
  • Color-filled and gradient options
  • Great for creative projects

Professional and Corporate

  • Business and office themes
  • Technology and finance icons
  • Suitable for enterprise applications

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Search Results Not Relevant

  • Use more specific keywords
  • Try different variations of your search term
  • Browse categories instead of searching
  • Use filters to narrow down results

Download Problems

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify your account has active premium access
  • Try downloading in a different format
  • Clear browser cache if downloads fail

Licensing Confusion

  • Free accounts require attribution for most assets
  • Premium accounts get commercial licenses
  • Check specific license terms for each asset
  • Contact Icons8 support for clarification

Getting Help

Advanced Features

Design Tools Integration

  • Figma Plugin: Access Icons8 directly from Figma
  • Sketch Plugin: Import icons into Sketch projects
  • Adobe Integration: Use with Photoshop and Illustrator
  • Canva Partnership: Access through Canva’s interface

API and Automation

  • Icons8 API: Programmatic access to the icon library
  • Bulk Operations: Download multiple assets at once
  • Custom Integrations: Build Icons8 into your workflow
  • Automated Updates: Keep your asset library current

Creative Workflows

Web Design Projects

  • Consistent icon families for user interfaces
  • Scalable SVG icons for responsive design
  • Color customization for brand alignment
  • Multiple format exports for different browsers

Mobile App Development

  • Platform-specific icon styles (iOS, Material Design)
  • Multiple resolutions for different screen densities
  • Icon fonts for easy implementation
  • Asset organization for development teams

Print and Digital Marketing

  • High-resolution icons for print materials
  • Illustrations for social media content
  • Brand-consistent visual elements
  • Professional photography for campaigns

Making the Most of Your Free Access

Project Ideas

  • Create a complete icon set for your portfolio website
  • Design a mobile app interface with consistent iconography
  • Build a presentation template with professional icons
  • Develop a brand identity with custom-colored icons

Learning Opportunities

  • Study different icon design styles and trends
  • Practice creating cohesive visual systems
  • Learn about effective icon usage in UX design
  • Experiment with combining icons and illustrations

Make the most of your 3-month free access to Icons8 by exploring different design styles and building a library of assets for your student projects!