Elementary OS is a distribution that is based on Ubuntu, like Linux Mint, but its development has nothing to do with the development of an official flavor but rather has its own identity.
Elementary OS tries to look like macOS and with this it tries to be beautiful and useful for the end user. However, at present, the Elementary OS desktop does not allow for something as basic as adding or creating icons on the desktop.
Although docks and panels are a great advance for many, if it is true that many users still want desktop shortcuts and icons, something that the Elementary OS desktop does not allow to have.
This can be solved by an application. In this case We will opt for Desktop Folder, an application that we can find in the App Center from Elementary OS.
If we can't find Desktop Folder, we can go to the GitHub repository from the developer and download the application's deb package.
Desktop Folder does not directly insert the icons like Nautilus does but it does like Plasma and create areas or boxes where we insert the shortcuts and icons that we want. The operation is simple and very intuitive, in many cases it will be enough to drag the icon or shortcut. Desktop Folder will also allow us customize the drawer by adding image colors and backgrounds, as well as being able to move the drawer to our liking or create as many as themes or groups of applications we want.
Desktop Folder not only works with Elementary OS but also with any distribution that is based on Ubuntu. And not only with the Elementary OS desktop but also with Gnome Shell, making it possible to insert icons in this desktop environment, an environment that is becoming more and more popular. Do not you think?