# noun-mcp

Search The Noun Project from an AI assistant and save matching icons as SVG or PNG. Useful when project assets need to be found through a chat request.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 7
- Author: alisaitteke
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/alisaitteke/noun-mcp
- Updated: 2026-09-16
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/noun-mcp

## What it does

noun-mcp connects an AI coding client to The Noun Project. It turns a plain-language request into an icon search, with filters for style, line weight, and public-domain licensing. A selected result can be saved as SVG or PNG at a chosen path, with a custom colour and size. Collections and search-term suggestions are supported too.

The server exposes seven MCP tools for search, downloads, collections, autocomplete, and quota checks. Search runs before a file download, so the agent can inspect matches before spending an icon call. Node.js 18+, `NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY`, `NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET`, and `NOUN_API_TIER` are required; the tier value is `FREE` or `PAID`.

The free tier lists 2,000 service calls and 150 icon calls per month. Ask for `check_usage` to inspect consumption, then refine the search or wait when a quota error appears.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY`, `NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET`, `NOUN_API_TIER` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add noun-mcp -e NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY=<NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY> -e NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET=<NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET> -e NOUN_API_TIER=<NOUN_API_TIER> -- npx -y @alisaitteke/noun-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add noun-mcp --env NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY=<NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY> --env NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET=<NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET> --env NOUN_API_TIER=<NOUN_API_TIER> -- npx -y @alisaitteke/noun-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "noun-mcp": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@alisaitteke/noun-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY": "<NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY>",
                "NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET": "<NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET>",
                "NOUN_API_TIER": "<NOUN_API_TIER>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "noun-mcp": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@alisaitteke/noun-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY": "<NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY>",
                "NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET": "<NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET>",
                "NOUN_API_TIER": "<NOUN_API_TIER>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY=<NOUN_CONSUMER_KEY> -e NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET=<NOUN_CONSUMER_SECRET> -e NOUN_API_TIER=<NOUN_API_TIER> noun-mcp npx -y @alisaitteke/noun-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- find an icon from a natural-language brief
- filter results for public-domain licensing
- save a selected asset as SVG or PNG
- generate better terms for an icon search
- check monthly API usage

## Example prompts
- Find solid coffee-cup icons with a public-domain license and save one as a red SVG in `./icons`.
- Suggest search terms for “spo”, then look through weather collections.
- Tell me how many The Noun Project API calls I have used this month.

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