A method and system are provided for displaying icons in accordance with user preferences. The method includes providing a uer with a size selection mechanism for selecting a icon size from a range of sizes (702). The method additionally includes searching a set of stored resources related to the underlying file and generating the icon in the selected size based upon the stored resources (A04). The method may additionally include selecting an icion type including one of a traditional icion and thumbnail icon based on at least one of the user's size selection and the represented file (A 14, A 16). Furthermore, the icon display system may position label and overlays in the vicinity of the icion based upon the selected size and aspect ratio of the icion. (1105)
