Some designers don't take it seriously enough, others think it falls magically from the sky, and only a few take the challenge and really create it. I personally believe that icons are a very important part of a good design, and therefore every designer should be able to design a system of icons as long as there's passion, patience, and guidelines.

The visual design of an application or website is not just a happy accident. Often the client and the designer sit together to discuss and define a specific look and feel for the product. After drafting one or several proposals, attending some review meetings, and receiving the go-ahead from the management, everybody in the project team is convinced about the visual design.