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Design Trends

Vector Illustration Trend

By Aigars Silkalns 1 min read

As you probably know, illustration is a big trend now. We see them every where from fashion design, print media to web design. Here is a nice collection of over 30 sites that demonstrated excellent use of vector illustration. This set of site has proven that illustration is suitable for all type of sites — from personal blogs, to designer showcases, and even professional or corporate sites. Not only illustration can set the mood and characteristic of the site, but it can also establish an icon (branding) of your corporate image. Here are some good examples…

Veerle Blog

Veerle Blog

You should recognize her by now. Veerle has been using the same illustration and design for quite a bit of time, but it still looks so refreshing.

Freelance Switch

Freelance Switch

What is the best way to describe your team and personality? Obviously, illustrate it!

Joyent

Joyent

Who said a hosting site must be filled with computer and server rack photos? Joyent developed a very friendly (yet professional) corporate image by using simple illustrations.

Stoodeo

Stoodeo

See how a single-page site can be so attractive?

Cork’d

Corkd

Although there is only one illustration throughout entire site, but that character with a wine bottle is stamped in my head — simple and memorable.

More illustrated sites

Keep reading

128 comments from the archive

  1. Vector art is definitely gaining popularity.
    I love the roll over expanding images, nice touch

    (congrats on the new site btw, great design)

  2. Talented people always make nice³ works with Illustrator.

    Thanks for share this ;)

  4. I love going to sites and seeing vector illustrations, they are always so inspiring. I always use a vector illustration in my layouts.

  5. I love vector illustrations. I like simple yet bright designs and vectors allow that instantly. The soft curves and bright colours always put a smile on my face.

  6. Yeap, even simple vector illustration gives so much “vitality” to the design but also “closes the door” – there are not many web developers who can bring that stuff to their sites, because they are “workers”, not artist. However, that’s good, because vector art still will be that unique.

  7. Vector arts are definitely popular. I like the expression they can hold and you can always tell the mood of website when you see the vector images. I need to learn how to create vector images. Great thread but you left out E-Surance which their whole campaign is ran on vector images.

  8. Hi Nick, thanks for mentioning globalzoo.de. I”m honored! Love your blog and all your other projects. Keep up the good work! Greetz from Germany

  9. We love us some vector. Almost every client we get requests some kind of illustration or character. Lots of great sites here. Great to see EllisLab in the mix!

  10. That is a nice collection of sites with outstanding illustrations. Not only vector based illustrations, but all kinds of drawings are popping out around the internet. And quite a few illustrators have been around for some time now…

  11. I think it’s important not to get too caught up in calling these out as ‘vector’ graphics. It’s less about the method that these were created with than the style, color and detail. Raster vs. vector doesn’t matter as much as good vs bad, this is a great set of good designs.

  12. I really like the “Realistic” ones, but the other cartoony characters look retarded. I can’t stand those Freelance switch neckless little shits. I’ve had to Block those images Opera just so i can visit the site. Bleh.

  14. Vector art just looks a lot better. It’s pretty difficult to do for facial images or characters.

  15. Just want to say THANK YOU for your post! I enjoy it and your site very much!

    tenmonkey from China :)

  16. I find that Vector Art is one of the best ways and forms of advertising. 1 you get what you want, 2, it’s clear, vibrant. The mood it sets is one-of-a-kind. Good capture on vector!

    Cheers!

  17. Nice post. Im trying to understand the whole vector thing. Good inspiration on this one :)

  20. Very good examples of what we can do with simple illustrations on Web…

  22. I actually think microstock sites such as istock are playing a big part in making vectors available to designers. Before illustrations were either expensive stock illustrations or cheesy clipart and not much in the middle. Outlets like istock make it possible for designers to find, licence and use high quality, up to date vector illustrations. About 1/3 of the designs posted here feature illustrators on istock.

  23. Good guide … agree with comment above re istock … know of several “designers” who can cut and paste vectors from stock with the best of em :)

  24. A very good selection of sites. Like that you mentioned Veerle first – she must’ve been one of the first designers to use this style.

    A qyestion: How do you make your images grow larger, on mouse over?

  25. This is a great collection of sites. I am planning on using illustration in my upcoming redesign. When I took history of graphic design in college we studied about how much easier it is for people to relate to an illustrated person than a photograph. There is a natural tendency to look at a photo and think “I am not that skinny/tall,etc” but with an illustration of a person its easier to relate rather than compare.

  27. I particularly like the jek2k design – simple, clean but striking!

  31. It’s not totally vector, but I’d really like to add my partner’s illustration that he did for our site: intuitivedesigns.net. I really like what he did for the site and it always amazes me what he can come up with.

  32. Hi,

    yes, vectors are very popular. And if you are an illustrator you can make quite some money on the big stockphoto and -image sites. I have written an article with some information on getting your vectors and photos listed on istockphoto.com
    Check out my blog for details.

    Sven

  33. Brilliant websites, Excellent artwork and inspiration content. I will sure use some those ideas in my upcoming venture.

    Love,
    Ganesh

  34. Brilliant websites, Excellent artwork and Inspirational content. I will surely use, some those ideas in my upcoming venture.

    Love,
    Ganesh

  35. WOW! This is a very nice collection of vector illustrated headers on websites. You have done a very nice work of bringing them on one platform for all of us to see.

  38. It is great to see Jek2k in the list, he/they designed our publication!!! She Thinks Geek, She Unlimited I love the list, great picks!!!

  39. hi :)

    great collection of links and very inspirational ;) THANKS :)
    though I was hoping to find some along the line of your wonderful ornate background graphics as well as all those nice character illustrations…

    (just to throw in mine as well: http://www.graphiceyedea.info)

  40. This looks dated through my UK based eyes – it’s not a trend that’s happening here right now… maybe 4/5 years ago.

  41. just simply like your web style!it is so special!….hehe……

    i am a chinese girl and want to be a fashion designer..so i searched it on the internet..and then ..your web site is recommended by GOOGLE..i watched from ndesigner-studion to your new opened “wall”…..
    nobody will miss suh a fascinating and modern-minded web!
    i hope you will go on !
    喜欢这个地方的花纹
    爱这里一见如故的感觉

  44. I have been drawing vector illustrations for years but I have only just noticed that their popularity was on the rise. I think this is a great thing because there is a lot of really great illustrators out there producing beautiful work that we all should see!

  47. Great post.

    @dan: this looks dated? 4/5 years ago!? Are you Rip Van Winkle or what? 5 years ago everything was made in tables and animated GIFs. No one has any idea what you’re talking about.

  56. very nice collection and having too much artistic work
    but i think it is not easy job too much professional work

  58. Vector illustration is merely a tool for creating an image and I think to label it as a “trend” is foolish. The examples are certainly in a very particular style but that style doesn’t necessarily mean that they had to be vectored at all. They could have been drawn, scanned whatever.

    My point is, that with the presented examples here, you are not pointing out a trend of vector usage, more a trend of cartoon style illustration, that happens to have been created in vector form because many styles can be achieved through using vector tools.

    Vector is not a trend, cartoon graphics is the trend.

  60. Great staff, this is exactly the information I was looking for. Keep the great work up!!

    Thanks

  62. Beautyful design and a very nice collection on webdesignerwall.com.

  66. Right!
    Now latest trend moves to vector graphics, me too using flash based vector graphics for all of my web 2.0 projects.

  69. Funny thing is…I notice free-hand illustration being the “in thing” now. I betcha they’ll be a post on WDW in the future about the top free-hand illustrated sites.

  71. This is interesting, I’ve been a vector artist for a long time.
    The amount you see in web-design is much different from what a vector artist would consider to be true vector art.
    I enjoy it none the less.

  77. I just blew out an old site, and reconfigured it with a vector graphic, to give it a fresh new feel. After seeing these, I need to go back to the drawing board!

  82. This is interesting, I’ve been a vector artist for a long time.
    The amount you see in web-design is much different from what a vector artist would consider to be true vector art.
    I enjoy it none the less.

  87. Wow! I love your collections! But I love your layout more.hehe How I wish I could design web templates like you.hehe color-combination is my problem -_-
    Nice! ^_^

  91. Thanks Thanks What’s the problem here? Google could bury the meager profit number from even the biggest media conglomerates.

  96. Wow..As a professional stock illustrations artist it was pleasant to find and read this article. Its good to see the list of website using illustrations in creative and promising way. I take interests in developing illustrations especially for websites and this seems to be a real promotion for all the web illustration community out there. You can take a look at my work here http://www.pixelgenio.com/main/illustration.html , http://www.pixelgenio.com/ongoingprojects/Amit/SampleSlide.jpg . Thanks for writing… :)

  97. Thanks Thanks What’s the problem here? Google could bury the meager profit number from even the biggest media conglomerates.

  98. Its great informative article and as a graphic designer myself its very useful. I was looking for a trends article like this. Good one.

  100. Cool collections, nice article ,whole things are really awesome.
    Thanks for all.

  105. I jus wanna say this is a freaking awesome website. the graphics on this page are so vibrant and fresh. Nice

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  108. white iphone 4 is so charming and chic. As the icon of latest fashion, how can you miss it!

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  110. i like the freelance switch design, very funny, but have deep meaning on those cartoons.

  111. This blog definitely has some information on topic that I just wasnt aware of. Thanks for bringing this stuff to light.

  112. Thanks for your good website and for sharing your experiences.
    Facebook Applications Development
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  113. When you do article marketing, your intention is to increase the number of visitors to your website.

  114. When you do article marketing, your intention is to increase the number of visitors to your website. It is not our abilities that show what we truly are, it is our choices. I have look for such a article for a long time, thanks a lot.

  116. i like the freelance switch design, very funny, but have deep meaning on those cartoons.

  121. The construction of a well-crafted, content-rich website requires clearly defined goals and objectives. The website should be targeted to the audience your company is trying to reach…

  122. These are really stunning, there are even some sites that are new to me. All the colour schemes complex 41are definatly brave but I really think they work to make the sites eye catching and engaging.

  123. The construction of a well-crafted, content-rich website requires clearly defined goals and objectives. The website should be targeted to the audience your company is trying to reach…

  126. Tremendous things here. I am very glad to look your article. Thanks a lot and I’m looking forward to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

  127. These are very nice samples of designs. Your designs are very neat, clean and attractive. Great job done.

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