To spruce up design, we sometimes need to consider using a variety of images on a site instead of relying on pure text. One type of imagery to consider is illustration. There is plenty of evidence that suggests that people process information visually much faster than they do textual content. In many cases we can add photographs into our websites, however, there are cases where an illustration will better serve our purposes.
Illustrations are particularly good at expressing abstract concepts which may be difficult to explain in a photograph. We may be able to explain the content textually (and we should continue to do so, and not only for accessibility reasons), but sometimes a drawing or illustration will better represent the concepts we wish to impart. While this theoretically can be done with a photograph in some cases, the content may be too complex to display.
Illustrations help tell a story and can be particularly helpful for people who need to visualize steps they need to make to be able to accomplish a set task. With illustrations, we can clearly outline the procedures that need to be taken.
Sometimes we have reasons to use an image to better illustrate the meaning of data. Instead of simply displaying content in a table of numbers, we can, through the use of graphs and illustrations, tell a story to better represent the information contained so as to more clearly emphasize patterns or trends.
To make a product stand out from its competitors, sometimes it is necessary to create a branded style, which can be represented through various images or illustrations. Simple graphics and illustrations can help create a sense of theme, which can be carried throughout a site.
Illustrations can create visual triggers which convey information quickly to a user. For example, an illustration of a shopping cart will clearly indicate where items a user has chosen for checkout are stored. It can be difficult to convey some information through text, particularly due to wide ranges in reading ability. Sometimes finding the correct words to describe a concept may be more difficult than simply showing a basic diagram or illustration.
When users need to accomplish complex tasks, by showing people the steps they need to take through the use of images, we can better help them remember these steps in the future. They do not need to translate text into images in their minds; the images are already there, providing better access to the information.
While this will not apply for all users (such as those with sight-related disabilities), there are many others who may have trouble processing dense textual information. Many people do not necessarily read at an optimum level. Illustrations can help bridge this gap.
Illustrations work well with copy. Images may serve as a more universal tool for communication than pure text. However, images without text can convey incorrect or misleading information to the user. It is best to include both together to increase comprehension, as well as accessibility.
Quite simply, illustrations add to user delight. We are more emotionally drawn to graphical images than we are to plain text. Also, being able to complete tasks easily, with the assistance of illustration will often result in a better overall user experience.
Use of illustrations can help reinforce a brand in the mind of the user. Using unique images that have been constructed with the brand in mind can go a long way to establishing an identity for a brand. They provide direct human connection to a brand.
Use of illustrations in advertisements can be effective at developing a direct connection to users. Evidence suggests that illustrations are more effective than photographs at getting a point across; they remove distracting details which exist in almost all photographs, and every pixel within the illustration can be focused on the specific point that the company wishes to make