By We’ve all heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” But have you ever wondered how to make your pictures communicate more effectively? With brand illustrations, you can add an interesting narrative to your brand campaign. Whether it’s an attractive infographic for your Instagram feed or taking center-stage as your brand’s logo, brand illustrations are everywhere! They have the power to raise the bar of your content by creating a visual language that matches your brand message.
Doodles, cartoons, graphic illustrations, 3D illustrations, animation, etc – there are endless possibilities!
We at Simplified are here to help you get started on this creative journey!
Why Brand Illustration?
(Source: Alíz Stocker) The most popular use of graphic illustration is product branding!
“75% of people recognize a brand by its logo, 60% by its visual style, 45% by the brand’s signature color, and 25% by its unique voice.” – Renderforest
Children gravitate towards books with colorful pictures and diagrams, and as adults, we subconsciously crave that emotional connection and a visual experience with brands we encounter. This is exactly why brand illustrations are so effective at resonating with customers!
Characters, doodles, and graphic illustrations are all useful tools for communicating your brand message to the viewer. People are more likely to notice the visuals way before they commit to reading any typography (no matter how pretty your fonts are!).
3 Benefits of Using Brand Illustrations:
- Creates a visual identity: Communicate your brand’s message without distractions.
- Brand consistency: By using similar colors and graphic illustration styles across multiple platforms, you create a consistent brand look that viewers will recognize.
- Establishing brand voice: Whatever your brand’s tone of voice is, you can always create appropriate illustrations to match! For example: Cute and innocent? Pandas and puppies! Natural and cruelty-free? Leaves and herbs!
Related: Your Ultimate Guide To Product Branding
How can you make your own brand illustrations?
(Source: Leon Shore) Who said brand illustrations have to be heavily detailed? Simple and minimalist designs can go a long way too!
You might think that after you hire a graphic designer, your job is done. But the truth is that it’s just getting started. You will want to work with your designer to decide where your illustrations are going to be – on the website, packaging, infographics, and of course the brand’s logo! Then, visualize your audience and set a consistent brand image you wish to achieve through the brand illustrations.
Related: Your Ultimate Guide To Product Branding
3 tips to keep in mind for making your own brand illustrations!
(Source: Tarot Cards by Victoire Douy) Once you’ve established consistency in your brand’s tone, try adding variations in your graphics through your merch!
1. Type of brand illustration:
- Logo
- Brand mascots
- Iconography
- Graphics and illustrative assets
- Packaging design
2. Budget:
- Size-based cost: large billboard vs. small posters
- Detailed vs. minimalist design
- Simple 2D sketch vs. full-blown 3D illustration
3. Brand Audience
- PG-13
- Adult-only audience
- Meant for specific groups vs. a general audience
(Source: La Minna) Illustrations don’t necessarily have to be commercial. Use them in your personal brand to spice things up!
Brand illustrations can take you business to the next level, but they can also be used for personal use! In today’s world, everyone from small businesses to social media influencers rely on brand illustrations to stand out!
Simplified Tip: You don’t need to be a graphic designer to add illustrations for your branding projects! With Simplified‘s design tools, you can include tons of icons, patterns, shapes, callouts, and even avatars – right from your workspace. Login now!
