ILLUSTRATION
Illustration plays an important role in modern brand systems from websites to social campaigns to educational materials. It translates ideas into visual stories. It adds personality. It creates emotional connection.
Illustrations can soften complex topics. They can energize a campaign. They can make information more approachable and more human. Need to explain a process? There’s an illustration for that. Launching a community initiative? There’s an illustration style for that. Breaking down data into something digestible? Illustration helps.
And even though illustration styles have evolved from hand-drawn editorial art to sleek vector graphics and now AI-assisted visuals, it’s the consistency of style that makes them powerful. Line weight. Color usage. Texture. Perspective. Character treatment. These choices matter.
Because just like icons, illustration becomes part of a brand’s visual language. When done well, it is instantly recognizable. It reinforces tone. It builds familiarity. It strengthens identity.
But without guidelines, illustration can quickly become inconsistent. One campaign feels playful. Another feels corporate. Another feels generic. Over time, that inconsistency weakens brand recognition.
That’s why illustration style belongs in your brand standards. Not as decoration. Not as an afterthought. As a defined system.
Because when illustration is intentional, it does more than decorate. It communicates.
Here are some examples of illustration we have created for our clients.
Altruist Brewing Company
As part of the label design process we were often called upon to illustrate concepts. While these illustrations complement the concept behind each brew, the visual identity of the brand itself is very illustration forward.
Wilson Wolfe Real Estate
Wilson Wolfe’s branded illustration style to date has been bold and geometric. This watercolor look for holiday correspondence is an intentional softer look for the brand.
Be Well Northborogh
Illustrative dividers separated the sections of Be Well’s directory. Icons and doodles were combined to both match the brand and add emotion.
Eighty/Twenty
Custom illustrations were created to become the identity of each section or category of content. Below see travel, beauty, shopping/fashion, fitness, food and entertaining, and lastly, interior design.
Visual Identities With an illustrative look & Feel
Other Illustrations
Studio Eighty Seven can update your brand guidelines to include illustration or helps create new illustrations that are part of an already established system. Reach out to us today if you need help with illustration.
