4

I am looking for icons that can illustrate Wikidata classes such as:

I could use each class' image property, but the image is usually a very detailed picture so using it as an icon would be a bad idea, it would be unrecognizable.

  • The icons should be recognizable even at small scale, for instance when used as pins on a map.
  • The icons should all be in the same style.
  • It would be wonderful if each icon's filename could include the Wikidata QID or at least the class name, for instance icon-Q16917-hospital.svg. If not included, I will write the mapping myself and make the resulting set available to all.
  • Open license, free to redistribute and modify, if possible no attribution required.
  • Ideally the icon set would be produced by a community whose explicit goal is to cover as many Wikidata classes as possible.

Context: My app shows a map of nearby Wikidata items.

1

3 Answers 3

3

Based on ubahnverleih's tip, and due to the current lack of such an icon set, I created this project:

https://github.com/nicolas-raoul/Icons-for-Wikidata

I re-used the excellent Open-SVG-Map-Icons icon set and so far matched a good portion of the icons to Wikidata classes:

Wikidata icons

Volunteers welcome!

0

The Noun Project is my default for icons:

"The Noun Project is a website that aggregates and catalogs symbols that are created and uploaded by graphic designers around the world. Based in Los Angeles, the project functions both as a resource for people in search of typographic symbols and a design history of the genre." Wikipedia entry

Search for Hospital icons
Search for Park icons
Search for Waterfall icons
Search for Prison icons
Search for School icons

National Park Service Icons:

are open source and very well done.
Map Symbols
PDF
Illustrator
NPS Style for ArcGIS

Maki Icons

Mapbox Open Source Icons

6
  • The icons need to share the same style. Searching for each icon individually is not a good idea, because it gives the results come from stylistically different sets. If you know a single set that has many of the classes (hospital park waterfall prison school), please write an answer.
    – Nicolas Raoul
    Mar 23, 2017 at 4:43
  • you only added that part about the same style after i wasted my time answering your question. once again, your finickiness in getting your question answered 100% to your liking leaves a bad taste in my mouth. you can pick and choose those icons to match them, but that would take your time which clearly is the most valuable thing in the world to you. i know where lots of map icons are. but not motivated in the least to help you out.
    – albert
    Mar 23, 2017 at 14:31
  • actually i will answer, but only because i care about the community.
    – albert
    Mar 23, 2017 at 14:33
  • its not a problem that your requests are so specific. it is a problem that you tend to not think them through when writing your questions and omit certain details that clearly make early responses non valid. next time think your question through a number of times before you ask.
    – albert
    Mar 23, 2017 at 14:37
  • An "icon set" means they share the same style, otherwise they are not an icon set. That's why your answer surprised me, and I thought "well it sounded obvious to me but it looks like I will have to be extra-explicit".
    – Nicolas Raoul
    Mar 23, 2017 at 14:39
0

Wikidata actually has an icon property.

Drawback:

  • As of now only 273 items have it. See them all.
  • Even though a common style seems to exist (black-on-white with rounded shapes and no gradient), it is only used by half of the icons. The other ones either have colors, or gradients, or too many small details.

Merit:

  • Having icons in Wiidata makes them very easy to retrieve as part of any SPARQL request.

All Wikidata icons:

All Wikidata icons

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.