diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index e235a589..48869346 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 PATH
   remote: .
   specs:
-    rolemodel-rails (1.1.0)
+    rolemodel-rails (2.0.0)
+      benchmark
       rails (> 7.1)
 
 GEM
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a076891e..8d329810 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,12 +28,15 @@ rails db:create
 Add this line to your application's Gemfile:
 
 ```ruby
-gem 'rolemodel-rails', group: :development
+gem 'rolemodel-rails'
 ```
 
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> We used to recommend putting rolemodel-rails in the development gem group. This is no longer supported, because some Rolemodel namespaced utility modules and classes are expected to be available at runtime.
+
 And then execute:
 
-    $ bundle
+    $ bundle install
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -116,10 +119,6 @@ bin/new_generator testing/fantasitic_specs 'A Fantastic Testing Framework'
 We use the embeded Rails apps (`example_rails_current` & `example_rails_legacy`) to test generators against. They reference the rolemodel-rails gem by local path,
 so you can navigate into one of them and run your generator for immediate feedback while developing.
 
-> [!IMPORTANT]
-> Before submitting a PR, run `bin/bump_version` to ensure the Gem builds successfully & that everything continues to stay in sync & up-to-date.<br /><br />
-> For very small changes & bug fixes, prefer `bin/bump_version --patch`.
-
 ## Testing
 
 Generator specs should be added to the [spec](./spec) directory.
diff --git a/example_rails_legacy/Gemfile.lock b/example_rails_legacy/Gemfile.lock
index bca04a45..379115b4 100644
--- a/example_rails_legacy/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/example_rails_legacy/Gemfile.lock
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 PATH
   remote: ..
   specs:
-    rolemodel-rails (1.1.0)
+    rolemodel-rails (2.0.0)
       rails (> 7.1)
 
 GEM
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/README.md b/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/README.md
index fbf26ea9..8697e32f 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/README.md
+++ b/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/README.md
@@ -4,4 +4,9 @@
 
 ## What you get
 
-Adds icon helper for handling material icons and custom icons
+Adds icon helper for handling icon generation using the provider of your choice.
+
+## Icon Builder Customization
+
+Run the generator with the `-i` option to install the IconBuilders themselves in your
+application's `lib/rolemodel/optics` directory.
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/icons_generator.rb b/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/icons_generator.rb
index 2614d65a..2e2b5f46 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/icons_generator.rb
+++ b/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/icons_generator.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ module Rolemodel
   module Optics
     # Generates the icon helper and icon builders for the chosen icon library
     class IconsGenerator < Rolemodel::GeneratorBase
+      BUILDER_DIR = 'rolemodel/optics'
       SUPPORTED_LIBRARIES = HashWithIndifferentAccess.new(
         material: 'filled, size, weight, emphasis, additional_classes, color, hover_text',
         phosphor: 'duotone, filled, size, weight, additional_classes, color, hover_text',
@@ -14,30 +15,34 @@ class IconsGenerator < Rolemodel::GeneratorBase
       ).freeze
 
       source_root File.expand_path('templates', __dir__)
+      class_option :install_builders, aliases: '-i', type: :boolean, default: false,
+                   desc: "Install IconBuilder classes for customization"
+
       class_exclusive do
         SUPPORTED_LIBRARIES.keys.each do |library|
           class_option library, type: :boolean, lazy_default: false, desc: "Use #{library} icon library"
         end
       end
 
-      def remove_existing_icon_helper_and_builders
-        remove_dir 'app/icon_builders'
-        remove_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb'
-      end
-
       def add_view_helper
         @chosen_library = capture_user_selection
         @supported_properties = SUPPORTED_LIBRARIES.fetch(@chosen_library)
 
-        template 'app/icon_builders/icon_builder.rb'
-        template "app/icon_builders/#{@chosen_library}_icon_builder.rb"
-        template 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb'
+        template 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb', force: true
+      end
+
+      def install_builders
+        return unless options.install_builders?
+
+        source_paths << File.expand_path(BUILDER_DIR, Rolemodel::GEM_LIB)
+        copy_file 'icon_builder.rb', "lib/#{BUILDER_DIR}/icon_builder.rb", force: true
+        copy_file "#{@chosen_library}_icon_builder.rb", "lib/#{BUILDER_DIR}/#{@chosen_library}_icon_builder.rb", force: true
       end
 
     private
 
       def capture_user_selection
-        options.except(*%i[skip_namespace skip_collision_check]).invert[true] || ask(
+        options.slice(*SUPPORTED_LIBRARIES.keys).invert[true] || ask(
           'What icon library would you like to add?',
           default: SUPPORTED_LIBRARIES.keys.first.to_s,
           limited_to: SUPPORTED_LIBRARIES.keys.map(&:to_s)
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/helpers/icon_helper.rb.tt b/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/helpers/icon_helper.rb.tt
index 20e70863..46beee6c 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/helpers/icon_helper.rb.tt
+++ b/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/helpers/icon_helper.rb.tt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
+require 'rolemodel/optics'
+
 # Helper method that renders icons from your icon library of choice.
 #
 # Usage:
@@ -14,11 +16,11 @@
 module IconHelper
   # <%= @supported_properties %>
   def icon(name, **)
-    <%= @chosen_library.classify %>IconBuilder.new(name, **).build
+    Rolemodel::Optics::<%= @chosen_library.classify %>IconBuilder.new(name, **).build
   end
 
   # <%= @supported_properties %>
   def flash_icon(type, **)
-    <%= @chosen_library.classify %>IconBuilder.flash_icon(type, **).build
+    Rolemodel::Optics::<%= @chosen_library.classify %>IconBuilder.flash_icon(type, **).build
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/rolemodel-rails.rb b/lib/rolemodel-rails.rb
index d6ccc1df..06e1ef26 100644
--- a/lib/rolemodel-rails.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel-rails.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 module Rolemodel
   NODE_VERSION = '24.12.0'
   RUBY_VERSION = '4.0.1'
+
+  GEM_LIB = File.expand_path(__dir__)
 end
 
 require 'rolemodel/version'
diff --git a/lib/rolemodel/optics.rb b/lib/rolemodel/optics.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c5c32e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/optics.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+module Rolemodel::Optics
+  autoload :IconBuilder, 'rolemodel/optics/icon_builder'
+  autoload :CustomIconBuilder, 'rolemodel/optics/custom_icon_builder'
+  autoload :FeatherIconBuilder, 'rolemodel/optics/feather_icon_builder'
+  autoload :LucideIconBuilder, 'rolemodel/optics/lucide_icon_builder'
+  autoload :MaterialIconBuilder, 'rolemodel/optics/material_icon_builder'
+  autoload :PhosphorIconBuilder, 'rolemodel/optics/phosphor_icon_builder'
+  autoload :TablerIconBuilder, 'rolemodel/optics/tabler_icon_builder'
+end
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/custom_icon_builder.rb b/lib/rolemodel/optics/custom_icon_builder.rb
similarity index 94%
rename from lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/custom_icon_builder.rb
rename to lib/rolemodel/optics/custom_icon_builder.rb
index cef0e2c1..bc5f5858 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/custom_icon_builder.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/optics/custom_icon_builder.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 # CustomIconBuilder is an IconBuilder that allows for custom SVG icons to be used in the application.
-class CustomIconBuilder < IconBuilder
+class Rolemodel::Optics::CustomIconBuilder < Rolemodel::Optics::IconBuilder
   def self.flash_icons
     {
       notice: 'circle-check',
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/feather_icon_builder.rb b/lib/rolemodel/optics/feather_icon_builder.rb
similarity index 82%
rename from lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/feather_icon_builder.rb
rename to lib/rolemodel/optics/feather_icon_builder.rb
index 8396d578..bf31e6ce 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/feather_icon_builder.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/optics/feather_icon_builder.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # FeatherIconBuilder is an IconBuilder that allows for Feather icons to be used in the application.
 # https://feathericons.com/
-class FeatherIconBuilder < IconBuilder
+class Rolemodel::Optics::FeatherIconBuilder < Rolemodel::Optics::IconBuilder
   def self.flash_icons
     {
       notice: 'check-circle',
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/icon_builder.rb b/lib/rolemodel/optics/icon_builder.rb
similarity index 73%
rename from lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/icon_builder.rb
rename to lib/rolemodel/optics/icon_builder.rb
index 4f60bcab..4f68aeae 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/icon_builder.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/optics/icon_builder.rb
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
-class IconBuilder
+class Rolemodel::Optics::IconBuilder
   include ActionView::Helpers::TagHelper
 
   attr_reader :name, :filled, :size, :weight, :emphasis, :duotone, :additional_classes, :color, :hover_text
+  alias title hover_text
 
   DEFAULT_SIZE = 'medium'
   DEFAULT_WEIGHT = 'normal'
   DEFAULT_EMPHASIS = 'normal'
 
+  # TODO: consider Data.define a custom options object if all of these parameters are indeed necessary.
   def initialize( # rubocop:disable Metrics/ParameterLists
     name,
     filled: false,
@@ -42,32 +44,21 @@ def self.flash_icons
   def build
     options = {
       class: tag_classes.compact_blank.join(' '),
-      title: hover_text
-    }
-
-    if color.present?
+      title: hover_text,
       # color: primary, neutral, alerts-notice, alerts-warning, alerts-danger, alerts-info
-      options[:style] = "#{color_attribute}: var(--op-color-#{color}-base);"
-    end
+      style: ("#{color_attribute}: var(--op-color-#{color}-base);" if color.present?)
+    }.compact_blank
 
-    tag.send(tag_method, tag_contents, **options)
+    tag.public_send(tag_method, tag_contents, **options)
   end
 
   private
 
-  def tag_method
-    raise NotImplementedError
-  end
-
-  def tag_contents
-    ''
-  end
-
   def tag_classes
     ['icon', size == DEFAULT_SIZE ? '' : "icon--#{size}", additional_classes]
   end
 
-  def color_attribute
-    'color'
-  end
+  def color_attribute = 'color'
+  def tag_contents = ''
+  def tag_method = :i
 end
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/lucide_icon_builder.rb b/lib/rolemodel/optics/lucide_icon_builder.rb
similarity index 82%
rename from lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/lucide_icon_builder.rb
rename to lib/rolemodel/optics/lucide_icon_builder.rb
index 9ce21bad..7905484f 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/lucide_icon_builder.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/optics/lucide_icon_builder.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # LucideIconBuilder is an IconBuilder that allows for Lucide icons to be used in the application.
 # https://lucide.dev/icons/
-class LucideIconBuilder < IconBuilder
+class Rolemodel::Optics::LucideIconBuilder < Rolemodel::Optics::IconBuilder
   def self.flash_icons
     {
       notice: 'circle-check',
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/material_icon_builder.rb b/lib/rolemodel/optics/material_icon_builder.rb
similarity index 88%
rename from lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/material_icon_builder.rb
rename to lib/rolemodel/optics/material_icon_builder.rb
index b20d8be4..2310fe16 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/material_icon_builder.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/optics/material_icon_builder.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # MaterialIconBuilder is an IconBuilder that allows for Material icons to be used in the application.
 # https://fonts.google.com/icons
-class MaterialIconBuilder < IconBuilder
+class Rolemodel::Optics::MaterialIconBuilder < Rolemodel::Optics::IconBuilder
   def self.flash_icons
     {
       notice: 'check_circle',
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/phosphor_icon_builder.rb b/lib/rolemodel/optics/phosphor_icon_builder.rb
similarity index 86%
rename from lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/phosphor_icon_builder.rb
rename to lib/rolemodel/optics/phosphor_icon_builder.rb
index bcc7c59a..b128165e 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/phosphor_icon_builder.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/optics/phosphor_icon_builder.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # PhosphorIconBuilder is an IconBuilder that allows for Phosphor icons to be used in the application.
 # https://phosphoricons.com/
-class PhosphorIconBuilder < IconBuilder
+class Rolemodel::Optics::PhosphorIconBuilder < Rolemodel::Optics::IconBuilder
   def self.flash_icons
     {
       notice: 'check-circle',
diff --git a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/tabler_icon_builder.rb b/lib/rolemodel/optics/tabler_icon_builder.rb
similarity index 83%
rename from lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/tabler_icon_builder.rb
rename to lib/rolemodel/optics/tabler_icon_builder.rb
index 4fdd9995..66650b10 100644
--- a/lib/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons/templates/app/icon_builders/tabler_icon_builder.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/optics/tabler_icon_builder.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # TablerIconBuilder is an IconBuilder that allows for Tabler icons to be used in the application.
 # https://tablericons.com/
-class TablerIconBuilder < IconBuilder
+class Rolemodel::Optics::TablerIconBuilder < Rolemodel::Optics::IconBuilder
   def self.flash_icons
     {
       notice: 'circle-check',
diff --git a/lib/rolemodel/utility.rb b/lib/rolemodel/utility.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..79df8b3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/utility.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module Rolemodel::Utility
+  autoload :TaskTools, 'rolemodel/utility/task_tools'
+end
diff --git a/lib/rolemodel/utility/task_tools.rb b/lib/rolemodel/utility/task_tools.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c89f33c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/utility/task_tools.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+require 'benchmark'
+
+module Rolemodel
+  module Utility
+    module TaskTools
+      PROGRESS = %w[⠏ ⠇ ⠧ ⠦ ⠴ ⠼ ⠸ ⠹ ⠙ ⠋].cycle
+
+      # based on the migration helper of the same name
+      def say_with_time(message, &)
+        say message
+        time = Benchmark.measure(&)
+        say '%.4fs' % time.real, subitem: true
+      end
+
+      def say(message, subitem: false)
+        puts "#{subitem ? '   ->' : '--'} #{message}" # rubocop:disable Rails/Output
+      end
+
+      ##
+      # Indicate the progress of a long-running process
+      #
+      # Usage (with a known total):
+      # 100.times do |i|
+      #   indicate_progress(i, 100)
+      # end
+      #
+      # Only update every 'report_interval' iteration for eye-trackable animation speed
+      # Also displays a completion percentage if a total is provided
+      def indicate_progress(index, total = nil, report_interval: 9)
+        return unless (index % report_interval).zero?
+
+        print("#{PROGRESS.next} #{to_percent(index, total) if total}\r") # rubocop:disable Rails/Output
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      def to_percent(index, total)
+        '%3.f%%' % (index / total.to_f * 100.0)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/rolemodel/version.rb b/lib/rolemodel/version.rb
index 1a8d23a7..1e0fd13e 100644
--- a/lib/rolemodel/version.rb
+++ b/lib/rolemodel/version.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 module Rolemodel
-  VERSION = '1.1.0'
+  VERSION = '2.0.0'
 end
diff --git a/rolemodel-rails.gemspec b/rolemodel-rails.gemspec
index 86b7962e..d132406d 100644
--- a/rolemodel-rails.gemspec
+++ b/rolemodel-rails.gemspec
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |spec|
   spec.require_paths = ['lib']
 
   spec.add_dependency 'rails', '> 7.1'
+  spec.add_dependency 'benchmark'
 
   spec.add_development_dependency 'bundler', '~> 4'
   spec.add_development_dependency 'generator_spec', '~> 0.10'
diff --git a/spec/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons_generator_spec.rb b/spec/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons_generator_spec.rb
index a5a0da6b..f2704cdc 100644
--- a/spec/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons_generator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/generators/rolemodel/optics/icons_generator_spec.rb
@@ -5,20 +5,36 @@
       run_generator_against_test_app
     end
 
-    it 'adds the correct helper and builders' do
-      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb'
-      assert_file 'app/icon_builders/icon_builder.rb'
-      assert_file 'app/icon_builders/material_icon_builder.rb'
+    it 'adds the correct helper' do
+      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb' do |helper|
+        assert_instance_method :icon, helper
+        assert_match(/MaterialIconBuilder/, helper)
+      end
     end
   end
 
   context 'selecting an alternate icon library via command line option' do
     before { run_generator_against_test_app(['--phosphor']) }
 
-    it 'adds the correct helper and builders' do
-      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb'
-      assert_file 'app/icon_builders/icon_builder.rb'
-      assert_file 'app/icon_builders/phosphor_icon_builder.rb'
+    it 'adds the correct helper' do
+      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb' do |helper|
+        assert_instance_method :icon, helper
+        assert_match(/PhosphorIconBuilder/, helper)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'selecting an alternate icon library via prompt' do
+    before do
+      respond_to_prompt with: 'feather' # choose an icon library
+      run_generator_against_test_app
+    end
+
+    it 'adds the correct helper' do
+      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb' do |helper|
+        assert_instance_method :icon, helper
+        assert_match(/FeatherIconBuilder/, helper)
+      end
     end
   end
 
@@ -27,16 +43,38 @@
       assert_no_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb'
 
       run_generator_against_test_app(['--tabler'])
-      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb'
-      assert_file 'app/icon_builders/tabler_icon_builder.rb'
+      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb' do |helper|
+        assert_instance_method :icon, helper
+        assert_match(/TablerIconBuilder/, helper)
+        assert_no_match(/PhosphorIconBuilder/, helper)
+      end
 
-      respond_to_prompt with: 'feather' # choose an icon library
-      run_generator_against_test_app
-      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb'
-      assert_file 'app/icon_builders/feather_icon_builder.rb'
+      run_generator_against_test_app(['--lucide'])
+      assert_file 'app/helpers/icon_helper.rb' do |helper|
+        assert_instance_method :icon, helper
+        assert_match(/LucideIconBuilder/, helper)
+        assert_no_match(/TablerIconBuilder/, helper)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'installing builders' do
+    before do
+      run_generator_against_test_app(['--phosphor', '--install-builders'])
+    end
+
+    it 'copies the base IconBuilder and the chosen library builder to the app lib directory' do
+      assert_file 'lib/rolemodel/optics/icon_builder.rb'
+      assert_file 'lib/rolemodel/optics/phosphor_icon_builder.rb'
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'not installing builders (default)' do
+    before { run_generator_against_test_app(['--phosphor']) }
 
-      assert_no_file 'app/icon_builders/tabler_icon_builder.rb'
-      assert_no_file 'app/icon_builders/material_icon_builder.rb'
+    it 'does not copy any builder files to the app lib directory' do
+      assert_no_file 'lib/rolemodel/optics/icon_builder.rb'
+      assert_no_file 'lib/rolemodel/optics/phosphor_icon_builder.rb'
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/helpers/icon_builder_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/icon_builder_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..403c0246
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/helpers/icon_builder_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+require 'action_view'
+require 'erb'
+require 'rolemodel/optics'
+
+
+RSpec.describe Rolemodel::Optics::MaterialIconBuilder, type: :helper do
+  include ActionView::Helpers
+
+  let(:builder) { Rolemodel::Optics::MaterialIconBuilder.new('home', **options) }
+
+  describe 'default options' do
+    let(:options) { {} }
+    it 'renders an icon with the correct class' do
+      expect(builder.build).to eq('<span class="material-symbols-outlined icon" title="home">home</span>')
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'hover_text'
+  describe 'color'
+  describe 'additional_classes'
+end