Understanding an icon’s use case

When submitting a custom icon request in BioRender, one of the most important fields to complete is the Use Case section. This tells our Science Illustrators how you plan to use the icon—helping us tailor the icon’s level of detail, accuracy, and visual style to suit your needs.

Disclaimer: Fulfillment of icon requests is not guaranteed. Completion depends on current subject matter priorities, volume of requests, and complexity. 

Who can request a custom icon?

This feature is available for Industry Team and Enterprise Plans. To browse plans, click here.

How to describe your use case

When completing the Use Case field in the Icon Request Form, include the following:

• The type of figure you're planning to create
• The BioRender icons or templates you plan to use alongside your requested icon

This helps our illustration team ensure your custom icon is:

• Aligned with your scientific goals
• Compatible with other icons in your figure
• Rendered at the appropriate level of visual detail

Common icon use cases

Use cases typically fall into one of the following figure types. You can include these terms—or others that describe your needs—in the request form:

• Flowchart or timeline
• Graphical abstract
• Lab set-up or protocol
• Mechanism of action
• Patient education
• Signaling pathway
• Student education

Choosing the right use case helps the illustrator design for clarity, communication, and context.

Related articles 

• How to name your custom icon request
• Custom icon request limits (👑 Premium only)
• How to provide reference images for custom icon requests

Need help?

If you have any questions or concerns:

1. Email Support: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.