The Essence of Digital Illustration
Historically, the verb “illustrate” used to mean “to clarify.” In modern graphic design, illustration becomes a working functional element. Illustrations became a tool for communication. The aim of illustration is to enlighten, to clarify, to deliver the message by means of visual elements. Where words can tell you something; illustration can show you something. To make the illustration functional, the image should be easily recognizable and the information it transfers should be decoded similarly by different viewers. Here are some instances where illustrations are able to bring value to design and users…1. Homepage Illustrations
Good web design has a significant impact on potential customers. People judge a company based on the quality of a website, whether that’s fair or not. User perception is what really matters. As a result designers constantly try to find new ways how we can improve the experience for visitors. And just like in the real world, first impressions rely heavily on visuals. This is where illustrations enter the scene. Homepage illustrations are able to create more artistic feel to the whole website. They appeal to users’ imagination to establish a stronger personal connection with the user. Using unique custom-made illustrations can distinguish you from the crowd and create a better brand recall.![image12](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2017/05/image12.jpg)
2. Mascots
Mascots are those little characters that are able to make your product more authentic, trustworthy and engaging. Mascots create a connection between the user and the app/website: they bring life to the interaction process, keep users’ attention and become the memorable element of user experience. This is a great way to get people engaged. Probably the most popular example of how a mascot can help to improve the user experience is the email newsletter service Mailchimp. Freddie, the friendly chimp of Mailchimp, appears on every page, taking in a different role, to either draw attention to a certain element or to crack a joke in order to make the user feel better.![image13](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2017/05/image13.jpg)
3. Illustrations for Onboarding and Tutorials
Illustrations provide visual aid. They are able to clarify messaging by boiling down concepts into easily-understood visuals. Pictures speak louder than words—and make the experience go faster. That’s why illustrations are so popular for onboarding and tutorials. Onboarding screens introduce the key features or benefits of app to the user. Illustration used during onboarding provides context, adds clarity, or leads the user to their next step. When combined with a minimal interface, illustrations can really help deliver the key message without too much copy.![image2](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2017/05/image2.jpg)
4. Illustrations for Reward Screens
We all familiar with rewarding experience from video games: almost every video-game has a set of achievements or trophies that are gained by completing a set of criteria. The phrase “Achievement Unlocked” has almost become synonymous with progression or successful completion. But why is rewarding so valuable for us? The answer is simple: it makes the interface experience feel like there’s a human on the other end, not a computer. Rewarding is a truly emotional interaction: positive emotional stimulus builds a sense of engagement with the user. People forgive the app’s shortcomings when you reward them with positive emotion.![image6](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2017/05/image6.jpg)
Conclusion
Illustration is a powerful and important tool for enhancing user experience and making interface both attractive and efficient. While there’s no hard or fast rule on using illustration in your design, it’s important to keep in mind one thing: keep illustrations useful. Ultimately, any illustration should provide a deeper understanding of your product or brand.Nick Babich
Fireart Studio is a design studio passionate about creating beautiful design for startups & leading brands. We pay special attention to nuances all the time to create professional while cool products that will not only meet all expectations, but exceed them.
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