Illustration has been an art form and design element that’s been around since the beginning of forever. The Technique has evolved over the years, from cave walls, to print, and of course, now to the web. So why is this illustration technique so popular in web design? Well, with an illustration, so much more is possible in communicating ideas and displaying brand personality compared to something like stock photography or the everyday template site.
Illustration makes you stand out.
An Illustrated webpage, page elements, slideshow, whatever, when done well, will instantly add visual appeal to your website. A common approach for a company’s new online presence is to use stock photography or a template for their designs. Companies use services like iStock for various reasons and we’re not saying there’s never a time, but there’s a good chance this technique will make your website fade into the Shadows of Forgotten Sites and nobody wants that. Illustration can add a level of uniqueness to your site as well as instantly enhance your brand to make you stand out in a sea of repeats. One company that’s done a great job not becoming a repeat is the delicious tea brand Luhse Tea. A drink as simple as tea was made into an exciting adventure with a unique brand story accompanied by fun illustrations.
Illustrations tell a story.
In addition to enhancing brands, illustration can be used to tell a brand’s story more clearly and concisely than words can on their own. The WWF website for the UK does a great job of directly communicating a message with colorful images in a slideshow, rather than wordy copy littered with statistics. Instead of being forced on the reader, it leads them through the story for a clearer message.
Mascots are fun (and can help your customers remember who you are)!
Mascots are a type of illustration that are important to building brand personalities. Mascots can help customers remember what your company does by representing the core of your brand. For example, inkFinder allows its customers to easily find the right ink cartridges and toners for their printers and have them delivered with no hassle AND their mascot is a cute little squid. The squid illustration enhances the name of the app (since, you know, squids are inky creatures) and the use of the name with the mascot creates a memorable connection for consumers. MailChimp is another success story in the world of mascot use. Earlier in their brand’s evolution, MailChimp’s website featured a giant chimp (insert chimp evolution joke here). This engaging visualization of their brand built a personable connection between marketers and the MailChimp brand that their competition does not possess. Now you can pretty much find them on every “best of” list about email marketing that’s out there. Example 1. Example 2. Example 3. You get the idea.
Illustrations can make boring data less boring.
Numbers and charts can be hard to look at. In fact, they may put you to sleep under the right conditions. If your website is one that gives out stats and different numbers, try using illustrations to spice it up. Organizing data into an infographic or a colorful chart can help grab people’s attention and more effectively communicate your message. You can even create beautiful visualizations yourself with an app that adds the spice to your data called Visage.
Most importantly…
Personality is a huge part of how people form opinions of your website and of your brand overall. Implementing illustration into web design can immediately add a level of uniqueness and individuality that invites your visitors to stay and interact creating a memorable experience that lasts well beyond the closing of a browser tab. Have website design questions? Need illustration design for any application from print to homepage to infographic? Chat with our team to learn how Square 205 can help your design and branding needs!