Description
Symbolic UI icons are essential to the GNOME desktop, but the icon theme model, relying on all-encompassing semantic naming and complex fallback logic for lookup, has become a bottleneck. This talk outlines a pivot away from the system-wide theme spec toward a model where icons are treated as modern app assets. Topics the talk covers includes:
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Direct Embedding: Treating icons as local app resources rather than external system dependencies to ensure reliability.
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Descriptive Metadata: Moving from rigid semantic filenames to a system of descriptive keywords and tags for better discoverability.
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GtkSvg & Animation: Leveraging the present capabilities of GtkSvg to move beyond static paths toward interpolated transitions and SVG animation.
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Tooling: Stateful Smart icons require specific tooling. Talk discuses the current status quo and paints a picture of a possible future.
Author(s) Bio
A veteran of the GNOME project since 1999, Jakub is a founding member of the GNOME Design Team with over 25 years of experience in icon design and visual systems. His work has been central to shaping GNOME’s aesthetic identity from its earliest days to the modern HIG, focusing on the intersection of technical constraints and expressive iconography.
| Presentation Type | In Person |
|---|---|
| Pronouns | he/him |
| Photo usage consent | Yes |