What is a brand illustration? This question opens the door to a colorful realm where art meets marketing, creating a unique brand identity.
In this guide, we’ll explore how you can use visuals to directly communicate your brand’s ethos into the viewer’s psyche. We’ll also discuss the different kinds of brand illustrations and look at the best examples.
Let’s jump right in!
Table of Contents
- What Is a Brand Illustration?
- Types of Brand Illustrations
- Tips for Developing a Brand Illustration System
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is a Brand Illustration?
A brand illustration is a visual representation specifically that conveys a brand’s identity, values, and message.
These images, usually digital illustrations, are tailored to fit the brand’s unique characteristics and are used across various media to enhance brand recognition and connect emotionally with the audience.
Visual illustrations play a critical role in communication and learning due to the brain’s predisposition towards processing visual information.
According to data from eLearning Industry, 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual, underscoring the immense impact visuals can have on our understanding and retention of information.
This effectiveness is further highlighted by the fact that the human eye can register 36,000 visual messages every hour.
Data Source: eLearning Industry
These statistics illustrate how powerful visuals can be in capturing attention and quickly and effectively conveying complex information.
For brands, this means that well-crafted illustrations can significantly enhance message clarity and engagement, making them invaluable tools in marketing and education.
Types of Brand Illustrations
Brand illustrations can vary widely in style and application, each serving unique functions across various media platforms.
Here are some common types of custom illustrations for brands:
Icon Illustrations
These are tiny, simple graphics that convey information quickly and efficiently. Most designers use icons in user interfaces, such as on websites and apps, where there is limited space. They help users navigate content and understand features with just a glance.
Alongside other brand illustration styles, you can also use icon illustrations for logos. This approach is particularly practical for creating a clear, memorable identity that is easily recognizable and scalable across various mediums.
Here are a few logos with icon illustrations by our expert designers here in Penji:
Logos with Icon Illustrations by Penji Designers
Full-Frame Illustrations
These large, detailed images can take up significant space in a layout, such as a full webpage background or a large banner.
Full-frame illustrations are practical for making a solid visual impact. That said, you can use them to set the tone or mood of a brand’s website or in advertising campaigns.
Character Illustrations
These involve depictions of characters that can personify the brand or its customers. Character illustrations are particularly useful in storytelling, helping to create a narrative that viewers can relate to.
Just as they are used in book illustrations, they are also commonly used in marketing materials. For instance, many marketers use them for social media and animations.
Infographic Illustrations
Combining data with graphic design, these images make complex info easier to grasp.
That said, they are ideal for educational content, reports, and presentations. In addition, you can also use them to share on social media, where they can increase engagement and retention.
Tips for Developing a Brand Illustration System
Developing a brand illustration system involves a few steps to ensure that the visuals represent the brand and resonate with the target audience.
Here’s how to create a robust brand illustration system:
1. Understanding the Brand
Begin by knowing the brand’s core values, mission, and personality through and through. After all, doing so will guide the aesthetics and themes of your visuals.
In addition, know the demographics and psychographics of the audience the brand aims to engage. This helps tailor the style and content of the visuals to appeal directly to this group.
Headspace is one of the best brand illustrations that showcase clear branding. As a meditation app, the brand’s visuals are simple and easy to digest. For instance, it uses minimalistic and soothing designs that evoke a sense of calm and focus, which is apt for meditation.
2. Conceptualization
Hold brainstorming sessions with creative teams to get ideas that capture the essence of the brand in visual form. To streamline your concept, create mood boards that compile visual inspirations. That said, you need to ensure that color schemes, typography, and visual styles align with the branding.
In the conceptualization phase of a brand illustration system, Mailchimp provides an exemplary case of aligning design with brand identity.
Mailchimp’s illustrations are notably quirky, featuring a consistent look and a warm, playful color palette. As seen in the examples below, the design choices make their technical content seem friendlier. In doing so, they attract more engagement from users who may find email marketing concepts daunting.
3. Creating a Style Guide
Set rules for using color palettes, text styles, and visual looks to maintain consistency across all brand visuals. It also pays to include brand guidelines on how and where the visuals should be used, covering various media like digital, print, and merchandise.
In creating a style guide for a brand illustration system, take a cue from Dropbox’s approach.
Dropbox has a set of rules in its style guide that dictate the use of color palettes, text styles, and illustrations. These guidelines ensure that despite the varied content types and channels, the visuals remain distinctly Dropbox, showing the brand’s identity in every format.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do you mean by illustration?
Illustration pertains to a visual representation created to explain, decorate, or visually express ideas, concepts, or narratives. Illustrations are often used in books, magazines, ads, and digital media to enhance textual info and engage viewers more effectively.
What is considered an illustration?
An illustration is any artwork created to supplement and visually explain text or media, typically used to clarify concepts, highlight details, or add aesthetic appeal. This includes drawings, paintings, diagrams, and digital art used in various publications and digital media forms.
How to create an illustration style for a brand?
To create an illustration style for a brand, start by understanding its identity, including its values, audience, and market positioning. Develop a style that aligns with this identity, considering factors such as color schemes, line styles, and character designs that will resonate with the target audience. Consistency across all visuals is critical, so establish clear guidelines to ensure that every artwork reinforces the brand’s message.
Interested in professional help to develop your brand’s illustration style? Contact Penji for expert design services tailored to your brand’s needs.
View a demo and see how our excellent designers can help you express your brand identity through stunning visuals.
