The Secret of Illustration — How It Has Taken Over Other Art Forms in 2022
Unique illustrations have been one of the most prominent and enduring design trends over the past few years. Know from where it started, how it got a boost and some really convincing reasons.
I’m sure you’ve seen how pervasive this particular illustration style has become. Depending on who you ask, these illustrations and animations are either amusing and whimsical or creepy and faceless. You might think they look like friendly doodles, or you might find them to be quirky.
Regardless of how you feel about them, there is no denying the fact that these illustrations are currently all over the place. They have successfully monopolized the visual identities of many well-known businesses, whether for better or worse.
Now you might be wondering, “How did this happen?”
Why are so many illustrations that appear to be the same but are located on so many distinct websites? How come so many different brands suddenly adopted the same aesthetic? And wouldn’t that undermine your efforts to establish your brand as unique?
Let’s hop on into this.
But First, What is Illustration?
First, let’s take a look at the meaning of an illustration. In a nutshell, an illustration is a visual representation created by an artist or a designer. It could be a painting, a collage, an engraving, a photo, or a drawing, but its purpose is to explain something. The image need not be drawn; a photograph in an encyclopedia serves the same sense of clarifying the text.
Even if you don’t have the text handy, an illustration can still convey the meaning. Viewers should be able to “read” the story from the image just as they would from the text. That’s what we mean when we say “tell a tale with an illustration,” which is to communicate a given context via an image.
Interesting Fact: The word “illustration” originates from the Latin word “illustrate,” which can signify either intellectual or spiritual enlightenment.
The question is, From When Did the Illustration Design Started Trending?
Facebook could be where this trend started. In 2017, the social networking platform also went through its own rebranding process. Their group collaborated with a design company known as Buck to develop a fresh look for their company.
In addition, illustrator Xoana Herrera recently shared the story behind the project in a piece on the AIGA Eye on Design blog.
I started to draw characters that were defined by their actions … Dancing with their open arms, bending their bodies to play the trumpet, for example … I wanted to portray that sense of joy we feel when we’re sharing things together in community, like celebrating a goal in a bar or singing a song with a crowd at a concert.
- Illustrator Xoana Herrera
I saw that this trend kept increasing over the next year(i.e., 2018). MailChimp’s successful rebranding in September 2018 sent shockwaves through the marketing industry. That font! The color was so bright! And look at those illustrations! Amidst a sea of stock photographs, it was a welcome relief for the industry.
At this point, the concept started to take shape in more concrete ways. Since September 2018, dozens and dozens of SaaS websites have rebranded using a similar — but less abstract — illustrative style.
Brands Love Creative Visual Branding
I believe that, at their core, everyone possesses some degree of “creative” personality. When we were younger, we’d spend class time scribbling on our notebooks, brainstorming plots for new Goosebumps books, and making amateur comedic films with our one friend’s video camera. It’s only natural that we put so much emphasis on the visual presentation of brands.
We show off our individuality and creativity through the logos, typography, photos, illustrations, and other graphics we employ. You ought to be amazed when you browse through the websites of different brands. Or even any other aspect of our brand’s visual identity. Because it’s in our genes.
Design is the silent Brand Ambassador of your brand
- Paul Rand
A brand’s visual identity is an ongoing source of focus and attention since it must evolve and adapt to survive. And you know, the web is constantly changing. Continuing to use fads that have gone out of style can cause people to take notice of you.
If You Want to Show Something that Isn’t Factual, Use Illustrations
Many concepts and stories can be conveyed using only copy and text. But they should also have some kind of picture to go with them. Having an illustration in your design is crucial the more intricate or abstract your notion (idea) is.
Even something as simple as drawing numbers or bullet points can show that the text has had an order or an essential list of items. Or something even more conceptual, like the planetary systems that make up our solar system. It’s simpler to comprehend with an illustration showing the planets’ sizes and order.
An Illustration is Best with Graphic Design
Graphic designers frequently use an illustration to enhance logos, create mood boards, build marketing materials, and even enhance UI. By doing so, a design can be made to stand out, and more brand awareness may be achieved, all while an aesthetic touch is added.
The use of illustration also aids in spreading ideas in a manner that is both aesthetically pleasing and enticing. Something that must be noticed if you want to get your word out to the masses. Adding illustrations is the best way to improve graphic designs for marketing materials.
For example, you can draw characters and scenes from a product or service in caricatures or sketches. Alternatively, simple line drawings of landscapes or cityscapes would look great on a mood board. You can use real objects like furniture, automobiles, and apparel for an additional dose of realism.
Small firms frequently utilize Illustrations in the marketing collateral they provide. A graphic designer may construct a mood board containing illustrations of different product categories for flyers, ads, or website designs. Small business owners can also illustrate recipes or how-to manuals to educate clients.
Summing Up
All of these factors have to do with how humans think and how they affect how well we take in visual information. For designers, making users grasp the layout’s meaning and instantly understand its message is critical. People often get graphic design and illustration mixed up because the two are so closely tied to one another.
