Web illustrations

 

In a world where the digital traces you leave are just as important as the impression you give in person, having a well-designed website is absolutely essential. Creating a websitedesign is extremely complex and is a true art form. Many aspects come into play, such as functionality, intuitiveness, and aesthetics. Prioritizing one of these aspects can sometimes mean limiting others.

But when are there designs that manage to bring all of these aspects together? That is, a truly unique, functional, beautiful website that appeals to users? Look no further, the solution is in the web illustrations!

Users are fed up with overloaded websites full of text. And photos from image banks or photoshoped are no longer up to par either. In comparison, the illustrations are a real breath of freshair!

In this article, we will review everything related to web illustrations, i.e. illustrations for websites: how to find the right designs, but also the most appropriate style for your business, all illustrated with several (good) examples. We will also see how illustrations can be used as a creative way to tell the story of your brand. Remember, great branding starts with “showing”, not “saying”. And that's exactly what web illustrations can do.

Finding the right style of illustration for your website

Just as there are many different styles of painting or sculpture, there are several styles of illustrations that lend themselves well to digital use. Some are daring, others playful, still others impactful or even simple and straightforward. The best style for you depends on the essence of your brand and what will make it stand out the most.

So let's start with this point. You must first understand who you are as a brand, and therefore have already established your brand identity. Once you are clear on this point, it will be easier to define the style of illustration that will work best for your website.

Cartoon style web illustrations are a great choice for funny and casual brands. On the other hand, crisp and angular illustrations will give your brand a more modern look. Whichever you choose, adding artwork to your website will help you stand out from your competition, who probably all use the same photos and graphics.

And just like fonts and colors, web illustrations help build your brand's overall personality. Sticking to a single style of artwork wherever your brand appears on the web helps maintain brand consistency. And it's one of the most effective ways to show people who you are, the moment they arrive on your website.

Examples of flat and semi-flatillustrations

Some of the most successful web illustrations are also the simplest, and they have often been done in “flat design”. It's a style that works well for depicting everyday life, animals, characters, and objects.

The illustrations produced in this way provide a classic and accessible way to incorporate illustrations into their website, as they are extremely visual. "Flat design" refers to a two-dimensional image, devoid of gradients or shadows. Even the edges and corners are usually the same shade as the rest of the artwork, emphasizing the two-dimensional effect. Semi-flat designs incorporate more elements (gradients, highlights and shadows), without creating a full three-dimensional effect.

Flat illustrations can be playful or sophisticated, depending on the brand using them. This style works best when using the same color scheme on the page in question (see the semi-flat illustrations of Guarantee Quote, for example). They can also easily take the form of fun and recognizable icons. They are therefore ideal for mascots, like the charismatic bird of the Duo lingo site.

Another advantage of flat web illustrations is their adaptability. In the case of the website Live & Dare, whimsical drawings are combined to create a multi-faceted interface with images. By carefully maintaining the color palette throughout the page and paying attention to the proportions, this mix of photography and illustration is balanced.

Textures and gradients in web illustrations

Unless you opt for flash animation, landing pages are usually very flat static spaces. Thanks to web illustrations, these pages are now gaining depth. Textures and gradients help create a certain aesthetic and decor that can really showcase your brand's style.

Take a look at the Magic Spoon Cereal packaging and website (gluten-free, low-carb, totally hipster cereal). The gradients on their info page echo the bright color palettes and funky illustrations on their cereal boxes. This is one of the few examples of successful design that has illustrations in the e-commerce field, because in this industry we are particularly used to seeing product photos rather than illustrations. But when they're done right - that is, they represent the product in question realistically - they work very well. It is important to show products realistically because your customers need to be sure of what they are buying. But there is no reason not to achieve this with illustrations!

The Wise cube website is a good illustration of the use of textures: a galactic overlay transforms the mundane blue background into a stimulating visual. There are many ways to create texture. For example, you can use complex patterns, color overlays, or simply play with opacity. The texture helps bring to life an otherwise flat space and further emphasizes the uniqueness of the brand in question.

Outline web illustrations

Outline-only illustrations have become increasingly popular in recent years (see White Claw packaging, for example). The popularity of adult coloring books may well be the underlying cause of this trend. And that's good. Contoured designs have a retro and charming feel, and in the context of web illustrations, they are the most alluring.

This type of illustration often relies on the use of white space. Thus, the illustrations made in outlines can be very simple, even minimalist, or on the contrary very detailed. Either way, these illustrations allow you to greatly personalize your website, while remaining professional, pleasing to the eye, and engaging. Look at Rocket's site for a minimalist example, and Brand It Guru's site for a more detailed approach.

Illustrations and navigation

In two different ways, the term "navigation" refers to web design. First, this could be the navigation menu itself. Navigation is at the center of any website worth its salt, and illustrations can make navigation clear and interesting. Take Gift Rocket as a successful example of a navigation menu where each product category is represented by an illustration.

We also speak of navigation to describe the way in which users explore and view the content of a given website. Here too, illustrations can help facilitate this process through traditional navigation means (the menu) as well as new creative forms (computer graphics). And in cases like Trailhead, the artwork doesn't just help users navigate the site, it also helps to (literally) chart an engaging path.

Chrysalis is a very good example of a successful use of visualization in website illustrations. The very first thing users see on the Chrysalis homepage is its graphic-inspired illustration, which tells them what the company has to offer.

Think of classic visualization tools like flowcharts. Web illustrations are excellent tools for this, in addition to being an effective way to create a real connection with your audience. They are also often more suitable for mobiles than photos. Keep this in mind when designing the mobile version of your site.

Tell the story of your brand with web illustrations

There are many ways in which web illustrations promote engagement and guide users through websites, combining functionality, intuitiveness and aesthetics. If you've already created your website, think about ways you could add illustrations to it using the examples mentioned in this article. And if you're starting from scratch, consider creating a dynamic design based on beautiful illustrations for your new website.

You do not know where to start? Contact our international community of graphic designers to find a professional specializing in illustration-focused website design.

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