Brand illustrations are becoming popular in the startup world as more startups begin to use them to help promote their brand, services and products.
Brand illustrations are an adaptable and effective way to build a company’s visual brand, especially if the brand is new or wishes to refresh its image. Custom brand illustrations ensure that a brand’s message comes across clearly and in a memorable way.
Another reason for the popularity of visuals for startups is that when startup companies need to communicate complex product features to their audience, they often turn to illustrations. This can prove especially helpful when a feature needs to be delivered in simpler terms. Therefore, startup businesses are exploring custom illustrations to catch the attention of their target audience. Tech startups across all industries are using illustrations as part of their branding strategy.
What is brand illustration?
Brand illustrations is a collection of images with a cohesive mood and style that gives a brand’s image more depth and life. Its use is emerging as a vital part of the user experience—as illustrations can help express a brand directly into a product.
So what important elements of a brand illustration system are most important to your startup brand?
Personalized illustration style
The first impression a customer has of your business is through your brand and since we live in a visual age, one of the most important elements of your brand image will be the illustrations.
Using custom illustrations adds more personality to your brand, which will make it easier for new customers to connect with you on an emotional level. This is especially useful if you are launching something new, since people tend to be skeptical when trying something new for the first time. A personalized illustration style can also elevate your brand from one of many in the marketplace to one that stands alone and helps you stand out in the startup world.
Consistent colors system
Colors are often the first thing people notice about a brand, affecting how they feel about the company. Your illustrations will have to incorporate colors that reflect your brand identity; this is important, as colors are said to carry the most significant part of brand consistency. Coming up with one consistent color palette across all platforms is essential for building brand recognition.
Defining clear brand values
By showcasing your brand’s personality, culture, and values through visual content such as your website, mobile app or social media, you give people a better sense of who your brand is. However, visual content without illustrations is plain and lifeless. The inclusion of narrative elements makes ideas active and accessible, often in a joyful or unconventional way.
5 startup brands that use branded illustration to stand out online
Let’s explore how 5 major brands use brand illustrations to bring life, energy, and emotion to digital products that are useful.
1. Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud storage service that allows users to backup and sync their files across multiple devices. Dropbox tells stories to captivate its users and convert them into characters by drawing them with a minimal hand-drawn style.
2. Intercom
Use your brand colors for the illustration. You’ll want to create an illustration style that fits your brand. One way to Intercom is a customer communications platform. The illustrations used on Intercom’s website may not be the most colourful or quirky on this list, but they are just as simple and useful. The informative line art style goes collectively with the text, which aims to help users effectively understand the content while browsing the website.
3. Etsy
Etsy uses its brand colours to reflect the handmade nature of products listed on its website. The illustration colors tie in with its logo and reflect the brand’s personality.
4. Slack
Slack is a messaging app for business that connects people to the information they need. It was one of the most prominent unicorn startup companies. Although Slack uses a slightly different illustrative style on its social channels, the illustration colors and use of the company logo connects it with the brand identity.
5. Headspace
The best illustrations are personalized. It means that they contain specifically chosen items and details that match Headspace is a health startup that make meditation accessible to everyone. The creation of little characters with the simple orange and blue color scheme gives the brand a friendly, encouraging feel. The execution of their brand illustration system is consistent with their brand’s tone & voice.
Conclusion
Illustrations are more than just nice to have. They can help create a more dynamic and memorable experience for your users. The right illustration, positioned in the right ways, can reinforce the value and meaning of your digital product.
If you want to make your website or mobile app really stand out, but don’t have the budget to hire a professional illustrator, you can use Artitor — an online illustration creator, to create your own illustrations with over 1500+ elements. No drawing and software skills needed!
