Animated Profile Icon Considerations
When users see a profile icon, quite often their first instinct is to click on it. This is because the profile icon usually contains important information that the user wants or needs to see. By making the profile icon animated, you are more likely to grab the user’s attention and get them engage, log in or interact in another fashion.
Design considerations when creating a profile icon should be minimal and appeal to everyone. Quite often, a simple person outline (also known as an Avatar) is all that is needed. The important thing to remember when designing a profile icon, is to make it so that the user can see it and easily understand what it represents without having to think too hard about it.
Designing an Animated Profile Icon
Designing a profile icon is first started in Adobe Illustrator for the SVG process and then imported into an animation software, such as Adobe After Effects for motion. Popular formats include, SVG, PNG, GIF, Lottie or HD Video.