How do you create or select an icon for a feature?

How do you work out what icon type or image you need for a feature?

There's been quite a lot of very small questions here in the form of "What is a good icon for feature X?".

Instead we should be looking for a general guide in creating or brainstorming for an icon, that can be applied in a lot of situations and applications.

This could possibly be done by looking an intermediary step:

Feature / Semantics

1. Terms that represent this feature


2. Icon for that term

E.g.

Level of anger for client

1. heat map



2. Icon for heat map

This question is about step 1, the step you use to create a list, ideas or resource for possible icons that will be applied to the feature.

Answer

I usually use brainstorming techniques to get to the terms/ideas. One example of such a process is:

1. Find a large piece of paper. Draw 3 columns


2. First column: Use free association to produce a list of words that come to mind when you think of the original concept. Set your mind to generating without judging, and set your goal to generate as many words as possible in some limited amount of time. Stop only when your alotted time runs out.


3. Second column: For each word in original column list the antonym. Still no judging!



4. Fold the paper to hide the first column.


5. Take a break. Talk to somebody.


6. Third column: Looking only at the second column list antonyms for every entry

Now you, in a very limited amount of time, have produced long list of words that somehow relate to the original concept. Consider all 3 columns as you choose

Note: this process is even better performed in groups. Each participant individually performes steps 1. and 2. Then everybody give their piece of paper to the next person, who performes step 3. and 4. Pass the papers again before performing step 6. In the end all lists are given to the person needing the term input