The Firefox team recently explored a fan-requested feature: the ability to select a custom app icon. This initiative involved providing a limited selection of icons to observe user engagement.
Initial design concepts were developed, but Gabrielle Lussier, the experiment lead, felt they lacked the characteristic playful and emotional appeal of Firefox. This prompted the team to review fan art submitted for Firefox’s 20th anniversary. An illustration by Dutch artist Ruud Hendriks (@heyheymomodraws), depicting Firefox embracing the Earth, quickly caught their attention.
Gabrielle expressed her admiration for the design, noting its resemblance to the original 2004 logo while presenting a modernized, simplified, and endearing aesthetic.
Users can select this icon by navigating to Settings → General (iOS) / Customize (Android) → App Icon within the Firefox application.
First community-created app icon now available in Firefox
Ruud’s comic series, heyheymomo, is recognized for its delightful and cheerful characters, a style he infused into this design. What began as a spontaneous doodle for enjoyment has now become Firefox’s inaugural community-created app icon.
In an interview, Ruud discusses the inspiration behind the sketch, its creation process, and his feelings about his artwork being featured in a browser he has used for many years.
Could you share some background about yourself and your motivation for participating in last year’s Firefox 20th anniversary fan art challenge?
Interestingly, participation occurred before the challenge was formally announced. One day, seeking drawing inspiration, the artist was drawn to the appealing fox icon in their dock. A quick, spontaneous doodle was created in minutes and shared on social media. The positive reception led to the Mozilla social team discovering it, and a subsequent invitation to submit the artwork for the challenge was accepted.
What is your personal perception of Firefox, whether as a brand, a browser, or a community?
Having used the internet for an extended period, Firefox has consistently been the preferred browser, largely due to its lightweight and straightforward nature. As someone with a visual inclination, the artist admits to being drawn to appealing aesthetics, and the Firefox icon’s visual appeal was a primary motivator for creating the initial drawing.
Momo is just one of the many icons you can select
What was the inspiration behind your “Firefox hugging the Earth” artwork?
The artwork serves as a tribute to the earlier Firefox logo, which initially fostered the artist’s appreciation for the browser. While acknowledging the stylishness of the current logo, the older design holds a special significance. The artist’s personal style, characterized by cute, friendly characters and smiley faces, naturally led to creating a version in that aesthetic.
The artwork appears hand-drawn. Could you describe the tools and techniques employed in its creation?
The initial five-minute doodle was a quick sketch made on an iPad using the Procreate application. Following Mozilla’s interest in transforming it into an official icon, a high-resolution, refined version was subsequently developed using vector art.
What was your reaction upon learning that your artwork would be adopted as an official Firefox app icon?
As a dedicated Firefox user, the artist expressed immense excitement and disbelief that a spontaneous doodle could lead to such an outcome. This experience highlights the internet’s capacity for small, impromptu creations to gain significant traction. The artist feels deeply honored and hopes users will appreciate the icon.
The Significance of a Fan-Made Icon in Product Development
Ruud’s icon exemplifies how authentic, modest ideas can evolve into significant product features. His artwork successfully embodied the team’s objectives: infusing joy, a sense of nostalgia, and a visual identity consistent with Firefox. This initiative underscores a development philosophy that values listening, iterative improvement, and integrating community creativity into the product. Ruud’s contribution demonstrates the capacity of users and artists to influence Firefox in both personal and unforeseen ways.
Ruud Hendriks, a Dutch illustrator, specializes in creating charming and whimsical characters. With a background in children’s toys, apps, and games, his current focus is on his comic series, heyheymomo, which chronicles the adventures of a dog and frog who are best friends.
His creations are characterized by their lighthearted nature, aiming to bring momentary cheer. His comics are available on Instagram @heyheymomodraws, and prints can be found at heyheymomo.com.
