Brand Illustration System and Its Impact on Business Identity
Tags: illustration, brandillustration, graphicdesign
Published: 2023-07-10 12:15:44

---
title: Brand Illustration System and Its Impact on Business Identity
published: True
description:  This article provides a brief introduction to the brand illustration system and how you can use it to develop a strong brand identity for your business.
tags: illustration,brandillustration,graphicdesign
---

As the world of online content is gradually becoming competitive, the one thing that can help a company survive in the industry its brand image. A brand image is usually formed in the minds of the customers based upon their experience and interaction with a company. The interaction does not necessarily mean that it is related to buying or using a particular service or product. It can be done in a lot of ways. However, the main concept associated with it is that while purchasing a product, a customer is not just associated with the product but also with that of the company. That is why it is very important that a company should take every possible measure to make its brand image unique, strong, and positive.
So, what do you mean by a brand illustration system? Let’s go through the article to understand the concept in more detail.

<h2>Brand Illustration System and its Uses</h2>

A brand illustration system is a group of images that exhibits a certain style and mood, along with a bit of humor, irony, or hope. Overall, in this, illustrations are a complementary part of the brand framework. If the brand message and visual identity are serious and structured, then the illustration system should also express the same or it might create confusion. Along with that, the intent won’t also be properly communicated to the clients. That is why it is necessary to implement it in the right way to reach company goals.
An illustration is one of the powerful ways to eliminate distractions and showcase the complex emotions in a familiar but delightful manner. It is especially helpful when it comes to explaining an idea or information that is really difficult. Other reasons which make it a profitable asset to the organization are given below.

Language: By employing an illustration system, you can improve the visual appeal of your brand as only logos, color, typeface, or even words are not sufficient to convey the meaning alone.
Consistency: Consistency in branding will create challenges for the business to meet. If it successfully reaches the expectations, then the customer will reward back the company with loyalty.

<h2>How to Design an Efficient Brand Illustration System?</h2>

The design process for creating a brand illustration system might be a little complex. However, in this post, we tried to simplify it by showcasing some examples so that it is easier for you to understand and design accordingly. 

<b>Research your brand</b>
The first and foremost thing to do while designing a brand illustration system for your company is to properly know the ins and outs of your brand. It may seem like you know your brand very well. However, it is advisable to still conduct proper research on it and other similar brands so that you get an extensive idea to judge its current status and what will be needed to improve it.  While researching, the things you should consider are learning about your company’s culture, its main motto, different products and services it offers, its message to the audience, the existing visual identity forms, the direction which your company wants to grow in, etc. Through an appropriate investigation, it can later save from dead-ends and confusion.

<b>Speak to the stackholder</b>
Speaking to the stakeholder is a crucial step that needs to be taken for the successful creation of your design. So, it is beneficial to include them in your work process and keep them updated throughout. Besides, also try to keep a record of their answers for the following questions.
  -Where are the illustrations going to appear?
  -What should they express?
  -What kind of situations and emotions do they need to play?
  -What are the technical parameters needed for your work?
Don’t be worried if the stakeholder is not providing clear answers. It is absolutely fine at this stage. However, you should pay attention to what they are saying about the inputs and smartly include their expectations to your business goals and brand image. Always remember that the designs should be contemporary as well as simple and friendly. 

<b>Find what inspires you</b>
Finding an inspiration is also profitable for your company as you can get grips with the input you receive and start organizing your ideas. You can start gathering images from your competitors or companies in the relevant field. They might possess some qualities that will be similar to your intended goal so that you can use and compile them into a resource. The inspiration can also turn as a guide to achieve the overall tone and suggest different ways for the first iteration. You can also showcase the material to the stakeholder as it will give them an overall idea of how the illustrations will work before the concept creation process starts. 

<b>Create the concept</b>
After you are done with researching and finding inspiration, you can start creating the concept. Choose software like Adobe Illustrator and use different shapes to form a basic structure. You can also use different Pen tool options for adding detail and improving the outline of your illustration. Also, keep in mind that the images you create should stick together to build a uniform system and not the standalone ones. Focus on giving a distinct flavor to the illustration which can be replicated over various future designs. 

For example. if you are using human characters and color schemes to keep the images in line with your visual branding elements, then make sure that they are created in such a way that they represent emotions and could express how they inhibit the interior spaces in reality. Give them dynamic profiles, create movement, and avoid anything that looks heavy.  In addition to that, you can incorporate different objects and environments that are futuristic, design-forward, and abstract. Finally, the interiors should be attractive and bright and the object should showcasing an ideal and personalized environment.
As colors are the most powerful element and result in generating instant reaction, use it carefully so that you don’t overwhelm the illustration designs. Use subtle shades which improving and complementing the scene. Don’t forget that it should reflect the brand’s personality, so make sure to match the visual elements with the brand. 

<b>Get feedback</b>
Once you are done with the first iteration, the next step is to get all the possible feedback. First, you need to speak to the main stakeholder regarding their take on the design. You can also ask for feedback from your colleagues or users who do not belong to the designing field. It may sound unimportant but it is terribly useful. By using their opinions, you can use it as a guide to focus your attention and take the needed measures that can help in improving your illustrations.  

<b>Build a reference library</b>
While creating the illustrations, it is a better idea to create a library for the various elements you have already used. It can help you to refer in case you need to have a look back at the illustration design in the future. Also, try to keep the feel and style consistent as it will assure the overall effectiveness of your system in the long run.

<b>Be prepared to repeat</b>
There might be a need to repeat the process many times. So, prepare your mind to do that. Consistent iteration is one of the most important steps for creating a brand illustration system. Besides, implementing this step can also help you to produce a successful visual identity, which will be hugely beneficial for your business in the future. So, try to maintain consistency in creating new versions, receiving feedback, and drafting new iterations as much as possible. Also, stay open to incorporate changes to create a brand that is more relatable to the users.  

<h2>How to successfully implement the Brand Illustration System for your business?</h2>

If you are new to the brand illustration system or have worked with it but were not satisfied with the outputs, then here are some key steps that can be used while implementing the system for your organization.

<b>Understand your brand</b>
It is the first and most important step. Some may think it is obvious and won’t put much attention to it but it should not be overlooked. If you try to create illustrations without knowing the brand, then it might not create the desired impact in the minds of the targeted viewers. So, make sure to collect information about the brand, how you want it to be perceived, what it should be like, and who you are trying to reach. If possible, you can also use a search engine to collect more information and take notes so that you don’t forget.

<b>Know the type of illustrations you are going to use</b>
Make a note of the different types of illustrations you will be needing for your project, how they should be implemented, their ideal dimension and proportions, and the desired formats. Also, discuss with your clients whether they need spot, full-frame, icon, or any other illustration. Check whether it will be used for packaging or printing purposes. Apart from that, find out whether it will be implemented only for websites, apps, or both.

<b>Work in vector format if possible</b>
You do not have to force it on your projects, but if you see that it fits your company’s vision and the raster graphics are giving any desired impact, then it is better to go for the vector format. The advantages of using it are that your editing will be faster, the color will be flexible, file sizes will be smaller, and resizing will be easier. Apart from that, designers who lack drawing skills can easily incorporate consistent and new assets as the system evolves.

<b>List out the rules that your illustrations must meet</b>
Listing out the rules will help you to create a good collection of illustrations. It should precisely represent the visual identity of the brand and can be arbitrary. For example, you can create the guidelines for adding the minimum and the maximum number of elements, profiles, colors, etc. in your design.

<b>Don’t create a character that becomes a mascot</b>
It is not bad to use mascots, but the type of characters used there usually overshadows the message and mood of the other parts of the brand, which can be a bit confusing. So, ensure that your illustrations complement each other as well as the overall brand.

<b>Keep ample time for visual research</b>
It is advisable to spend more time while visually studying the different types of images. Don’t limit yourself to this and make sure to study the work of other proficient illustrators, artworks, children’s books, old and new images, magazines, and more.

<b>Make the right use of colors</b>
Colors are also important while creating illustration designs. So, never underestimate its importance. Try considering it from the earlier stages of your visual research. It is because maximum people recall a brand by remembering the color schemes rather than the visual shapes and elements.

<b>Select a style that is unique but flexible</b>
Make sure that the illustration system you create is having a style that is unique from the rest. It should showcase special features that would evoke emotions in the minds of the public and make it easy to remember for them. Ideally speaking, it should seamlessly flow with the content, images, and all the graphic elements without affecting the true meaning of the message.

Incorporating the brand illustration system will help in building a strong brand image, thereby fulfilling the motives and goals of your business. It means that you can now easily introduce new products to the targeted audience by using your brand name with <a href="https://mapsystemsindia.com/digital-graphics-services/illustrations-and-artwork.html">illustration designs</a> and <a href="https://mapsystemsindia.com/digital-graphics-services/brand-illustration.html">brand illustration</a>. This, in turn, can attract potential clients and customers towards your products and help them remember your brand for a longer time. If your products are of high-quality and are useful to them, then it can increase their trust level and will compel them to associate with you every time. Gradually, it will help in developing a long-lasting customer-client relationship for your business.