Exciting and unusual uses of illustration in web design

Illustration for the web has for a long time been restricted to the ‘Web 2.0’ standard of colourful, cute vector art. But increasingly as web designers are moving away from this aesthetic, some interesting uses of more unusual illustrative styles are cropping up. We picked a few examples.

It’s Nice That

The popular web design blog uses Tom Gauld’s illustrations to add character to certain sections of the website.

Skype

The Scandinavian communications company are well known for their richly illustrated branding, but their use of illustration can be found in the smallest details, such as in the use of these bespoke icons created by Cookie in the business section of their website. (Thanks to Pete Usborne for pointing that out!)

Orange Unlimited

Poke’s used a distinctive style of illustration to create this strangely addictive website that seemingly never ends. It features some fun and unusual characters along the way down.

FormFiftyFive

FFF take a very exciting a novel approach to illustrate the header of their website every week by an interesting artist.

Umbro

The sport brand’s new website features fun, illustrated type throughout the site.

Virgin

The new Virgin.com conveys a sense of fun unlike that of any other corporate website, from “Branson’s world” on the homepage, to individually crafted banners throughout the site’s different sections.

ACNE

ACNE’s fashion shop, Acne Outlet use watercolour typography throughout, as standalone text and overlays on its photography.

Tate Kids

The website for art loving children by Tate is a chaotic explosion of colour and fun, which makes it one of the most successful children’s website designs around.

Checkland Kindleysides

We couldn’t do a feature on illustration without mentioning the stunning ‘faux papercut’ illustrations used on the agency’s homepage.

Studio Racket

This design studio’s website is dominated by an unusual illustrated banner and navigation system.

Made in England by Gentlemen

Cookie’s personal website is filled with fun, colourful illstrations which are tightly integrated to the overall feel of the site’s design.

Made by Many

The London-based social media agency’s fairly corporate/web 2.0 website is peppered with hand-drawn elements that offer a nice contrast to the site’s framework.

 

You can view many more illustrative website by visiting the illustrative section of siteInspire. Or, if you need further inspiration why not browse websites whose theme is illustration.

Here are some of our favourite showcases of illustration talent:

  • YCN - the agency section of the site features a vast array of diverse illustration portfolios
  • Poolga - if you fancy finding an illustrated iPhone wallpaper, you’ll find it here
  • Pekka - a Finnish illustration agency
  • Debut Art - one of the largest Illustration agencies in the world, whose website was designed by Alex+Alex
  • Toy - a small illustration agency based in London

 

— Posted on September 4th, 2009 by Daniel in: Collections

What do you think? 5 comments

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Martin Lucas says:
Sep 04, 2009

Nice set of illustrations, liking the quirky / fun side of website design.

James says:
Sep 06, 2009

It’s certainly a trend I enjoy seeing done well. I particularly love Cookie’s site and work (especially the custom invoice - http://www.made-in-england.org/free-invoice-template/)

Troy says:
Sep 17, 2009

totally bookmarked this man… i’ll be back.
i’m obsessed with sites/blogs featuring illustration

Ben Sky says:
Jan 20, 2010

Nice inspirational collection there, loving the Virgin. Thanks for sharing.

Alex Webb says:
May 23, 2010

Good collection of quirky picks but I have to say the Virgin site is not my cup of tea, too busy and dare I say too tacky. It seems like a really 90s/VH1 design if you know what I mean.

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