Illustration
What illustrations are for, when to use them, when to use Icon instead, and the character of each illustration type.
Illustrations are an effective way to build an app's visual identity and help convey complex ideas in a simple way.
They should be meaningful and reflect the user's context and emotional state.
Alternatives
- Icon — For common actions, features, and themes
Usage
Use illustrations effectively to:
- Welcome the user to the app, on Sign in or Splash screen
- Introduce and explain a feature or the product itself
- To congratulate and celebrate when the user completes a task
- Provide help when something happens unexpectedly in the application
Types of illustrations
Scene
Scene illustrations are welcoming and positive. They usually come in a pair and are anchored to the bottom edges of a page.
Hero
Hero illustrations are more metaphorical in nature. They can contain more than one person in a broader scene with larger than life objects.
Medium
Medium illustrations are slightly smaller versions of heroes. They contain a person (or two) doing a single task or representing a single concept.
Spot
Spot illustrations are the simplest and smallest illustration. They contain a single object or a part of the human body, usually a hand. They do not include any people.