For Kinteras content management system, one task, was to update the look of the "New" icon. The new icon creates new records. Sounds pretty easy right? Two months after undertaking that task, the icon was still not updated. Why? Personalities determine much of what happens. The software development industry is relatively young, rapidly evolving, and surprisingly little is automated. It is full of communication issues, organizational issues, customs, values, fashions, and myths.

Why do this?

Obviously, not every possible combination in this grid produces a useful icon. Although, you will be able to easily compare the icons to make sure they're a consistent set of icons, and not a hodge-podge of icons from say, windows and mac operating systems. Using this grid format and naming convention, will allow you to keep all the icons organized in one file, rather than possibly hundreds of icons scattered about your application.