UI as Art. Illustration in Interfaces

The phrase well-known all over the world and claiming that “…a picture is worth a thousand words” is still popular and actual nowadays, getting more and more shades of meaning with human progress. People still get attracted to visual images such as pictures and photos faster than with the copy, in lots of cases image is recognized and understood more quickly, and even more, it is able to satisfy not only informative but also aesthetic needs of the recipient. Taking this into account, today we would like to consider some functions of illustration in perspective of modern UI/UX design.

The essence of illustration

According to the definition of Merriam-Webster dictionary, the verb “illustrate” in its wide-spread and most recognized meanings means “to clarify”; “to make clear by giving or by serving as an example or instance”; “to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate”; “to show clearly”. However, it should be remembered that initially, it derived from Latin “illustrare” meaning “light up, enlighten, illuminate”. Although it is the obsolete meaning now, it really adds much to all the diverse potential of illustration in digital graphic design, in particular for UI/UX projects.

Historically, illustration has a long and amazing path and perhaps could be included in the list of the most diverse directions in art. On the basis of its progress in print production like books, comics, magazines and newspapers, advertising materials and so on, illustration as the sphere of visual art found the new lease of life with the development of technology. The design tasks got even more challenging and therefore interesting. Digital illustration, as well as the platforms for which it had to be created, brought new horizons in this sort of art.

Sketches for UI illustrations 

Anyway, no matter where illustrations appeared, how and for what purpose they were created, the basics were still the same: the aim of illustration was to enlighten, to clarify, to deliver the message by means of visual elements. In modern graphic design, therefore, illustration is an image that creates a visual message. To make the illustration functional, this image should be easily recognizable and preferably the information it transfers should be decoded similarly if not identically by different viewers.

Earlier we have already published the article about such small but highly meaningful visual elements as icons, their types, functions and vital role in creating efficient UI/UX solutions. As well as the icons, illustrations, mostly being more detailed and artistic images, also have important functions behind them and often become an effective way to boost usability and in the same way to present nice artistic elements.

Features

Illustration used as a part of the interface should become a working functional element. Making the decision in favor of using an illustration of any kind on the screen or a webpage, the designer has to think thoroughly how to make everything possible from its broad potential. Illustration in most cases becomes an efficient way to provide the user with a piece of information faster and easier than it could happen with the text. Using illustration in layout, it is possible to fulfill multiple user needs that is why it is so popular in user interfaces of different kinds.

So, to become an efficient element of a layout, illustration applied in user interface should be:
– meaningful
– recognizable
– preferably straightforward and unambiguous
– clarifying
– attractive
– harmonic and corresponding with the general stylistic concept of the interface
– improving usability and user experience in general
– not overloading the screen or page.

UI illustration for Toonie Alarm

Considering these positions, let’s look at some practices of using illustration in design.

Mascots and characters

Perhaps, one of the most efficient ways to apply illustration techniques in design both as a visual and functional element are mascots of different types. Mascots are images, usually personified, which in most cases represent the brand, product or service identity and therefore become its symbolic convention via the entire application or website.

Veggie App Concept 

Mascot as a graphic design object needs great attention as they have to represent the nature of the brand or product. Mascot becomes the element of identity and inter-connector between the user and the product. In many cases, the mascot is the basic element of communication and interaction, therefore in different states, it can become the basic way to deliver the message to the user.

Design version of Saily app mascot

Obviously, mascots are very helpful in interfaces: they liven up the general process, catch up user’s attention, become the memorable element, create important support for a stylistic concept and make the illusion of direct communication with the user. Also, wisely used in illustrations featuring actions or interactions, a mascot can become a good way to avoid using too much copy on the screen and in this way save space for other important elements of the layout or just more “air” also really needed to create a good perception of data on the screen or page.

Sheriff Foxx Character 

Astrocats

Tutorials and tool-tips

One of the good ways to use the illustration in UI is diverse tutorial screens and any kinds of tool-tips. In this case, they fully reveal their potential in explanation and clarification. The options can be totally diverse from simple icon-like to artistic and sophisticated ones. Illustrations of this kind become a good way to boost usability minimizing the necessity of using the copy on the screens. They are particularly efficient in apps for kids and youngsters as they usually feel this sort of explanation more user-friendly.

Illustrated tool-tips for Saily App 

Singify Tutorial

Tour Guide App

Travel App Tutorial

Rewards

One more good case when a designer could consider the option of using illustration in the interface is the case of various awards and rewards, with which the user marks any kind of progress in the app or website, sort of stickers, medals, signs, coins and the like. Again, the options can be extremely diverse, from simple symbolic shapes to elaborately drawn detailed images, but anyway, used wisely and accomplished in accordance with the general stylistic decisions of the whole app or website, they become one more step towards user-friendly interactions and positive user experience.

Good Sign App Concept

Simple Blog App 

Snake Battle App

Theme and style illustrations

Illustrations of this kind are usually applied in a user interface basically to provide visual support of the general stylistic concept and perhaps the topic of the app or a website as well as events, seasonal features and so on. Their main purpose is to support all the functional elements of the layout with the general harmonic and attractive appearance of the screen or page. It should also be mentioned that in some cases illustration of this type can add the element of gamification or more artistic feel to the whole product. In one of our previous articles, considering the points of creating potentially viral UI/UX design, we mentioned that one of the ways is to add some unique, custom and stylish visual elements so that people wanted to share them with the others as well as satisfy their aesthetic needs. Illustrations have great potential at this perspective.

Underwater Explorer

Weather App

Page 404

Rio 2016 Olympics

Moneywise App

Obviously, this article is only the start for the discussion of multiple and diverse functions of illustration in UI design and we are going to continue it in further articles sharing our studio experience. However, even the general basics mentioned today are still the strong support of the most important position about UI design process: any elements of the interface should be purposeful and functional, supporting the user, enhancing usability and providing the solid basis of positive user experience and problem-solving. Illustrations are not the exception and their application in the interface should be thoroughly thought-out and accomplished with the target user in mind at every stage of the process.

Useful Reading and Inspiration

If you want to see more collections of illustrations or discover how they work in particular design projects, here’s the set of posts for you.

17 Trends in Illustration and Graphic Design to Meet 2020
Motion Design: 20 Inspiring Animated Illustrations
Winter Olympics Illustration. Step-by-Step Process
Moonworkers. Digital Illustrations on Film Production
Florence App. Illustrations for Healthcare Service
Digital Art: 40+ Inspiring Illustrations on Diverse Themes
26 Digital Artworks About Design Process

Originally written for Tubik Blog