Design Basics

Icons

Icons can be an effective way to communicate with users. DHL icons help illustrate our message, highlight content, and represent functions. In this guide, you will learn more about the clear style and flexible application. You’ll find the icons available for download in our interactive and intuitive icon library.

This guide contains

Essentials

Our icon style is clear, simple and flat, with a mix of sharp and rounded corners. Most of the icons feature a distinguishing “gap”, which adds a unique flair derived from the DHL logo and Deutsche Post Posthorn. Our icons show just the right amount of detail and generally appear in DHL Red. Alternatively, they may also be in white, black, gray tones or our dark green for sustainability topics. We distinguish between pictograms and user interface (UI) icons. Pictograms have a narrative and illustrative purpose, while UI icons serve as functional and interactive elements. Download the icons you need from the separate › icon library.

Contact us!

Not finding the icon you need in the icon library?
Have you created an icon for a project and would like it added to the library?

Please contact the Group Brand Services Team (GBS Team) with your request and they will be happy to assist you: GroupBrandServices@dpdhl.com

Examples

Style

A distinctive feature of our icons is the “gap”, a detail derived from the DHL logo and the Deutsche Post Posthorn. The mix between rounded and sharp corners is another unique feature. All icons – and especially the UI icons – follow a simple design intended to be very functional and recognizable, even in small sizes.

Pictograms

Narrative and illustrative purpose
Flat, bold, and balanced style
Motifs with front or side view or just with a little perspective
Combined rounded and sharp corners
Constructed on a 48 × 48 px grid and with similar basic shapes
A horizontal or vertical 2-px gap adds a distinctive element if the motif allows it

UI icons

Functional and for use in small sizes
Visually similar to pictograms with some unique features
Simple and reduced with fewer rounded corners
Constructed on a 48 × 48 px grid and with similar basic shapes
Outline icons are permitted if required, with a line width of 4px
A horizontal or vertical 2-px gap can add a distinctive element but is not required
When “on” and “off” versions are required, use a line width of 2px in the “off” version

Dos and Don’ts

Combine rounded and sharp corners.

Avoid outlines and don't use an incorrect outline thickness.

Don't use rounded edges only.

Don't include more details than necessary.

Fields of Applications

Color
Icons should appear in DHL Red. Alternatively, they may also be in white, black, or gray tones.

If an icon is used to communicate a sustainability topic or product related to our GoGreen environmental protection program, it can be colored in dark green.

Background color
Icons may be placed on Postyellow, gray, or white backgrounds.

Background shape
Icons may be placed on all kinds of shapes, from squares and circles to no background at all.

Spacing
Ensure that there is a clear visual distance between icons and other elements, such as text.

Size

Icon sizes are flexible. Since they are built on a 48 × 48 px grid, optimal screen sizes are 48 × 48 px, 24 × 24 px or other even multiples of 48 px, such as 96 × 96 px.

Icons in illustrations

Our icons may also be used in illustrations to help tell your story. They may be used individually or together with other icons and in variable sizes and colors, such as DHL Red, Postyellow, grey tones, white, and shades of Postyellow. Illustrations are generally placed on a white background or the Postyellow gradient. Do not alter the shape of an icon.

From informative and simple to emotive and complex

Illustrations

Icons in other contexts

Interface
Use icons to symbolize a function, command, file, device, or in combination with a button.

Product and solution families
We have predefined icons for each of our product and solution families. The product icons should be displayed in DHL Red and the solution icons in 60% black. All product and solution family icons always appear in combination with the corresponding family name.

Products and Solutions

Sustainable products and solutions
For communications involving sustainable products and solutions, existing icons can be colored in dark green.

For example:

A green parcel for P&P Germany’s “Ökopaket”
A green ship for DGF’s “OFR SMF”
A green airplane for DSC’s “DSC/EXP SAF”
A green warehouse for Freight’s “Green Warehouse”
A green truck for DSC’s and Freight’s “Send Green” and “Green Transport”

Sector communication
We use sector icons to illustrate the different industry sectors in which DHL is involved. Use each icon only in combination with its corresponding sector name.