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Brilly
It seems you can’t open a magazine, shop online, or watch a commercial without seeing
innovative illustrations. From inspiring ads to cutting-edge smartphone apps and
whimsical pop art, the world is recognizing that Illustration creates a uniquely
imaginative design element that can’t be achieved with a photograph. Like last year, it
will continue to make its mark for years to come.
We’re excited to show you our 2019 Illustration trends. From 1980s-inspired color
combos and trippy 3D shading, to amusing glitches and quirky flat figures, these are
the creative styles and techniques we know customers are looking for to tell their
stories in 2019.
IkonStudio
Galina Timofeeva
Aleksandr Durnov
Darumo
1/ 9
Anna_Isaeva
Egor Shabanov
Jelena Zivkovic
SpiffyJ
Anna Sidorova
1/ 10
Hyper-Realistic Shading
Tools for realistic shading effects in vector editing software are getting more
sophisticated, and illustrators are taking advantage. We’ve seen a surge in hyper-
realistic, almost 3D render quality shading in vector illustrations. Last year’s trend of
cutout and layered paper styles really started to showcase how subtle and clever vector
shading can create an optical illusion of depth on an artboard, and artists keep pushing
the limit using complex shading techniques like Gradient Meshes and Blends. The end
results look as though you could reach into your computer screen and pick up each
object on the artboard!
Hyper-Realistic Shading
TAW 4
TAW 4
VPanteon
TAW 4
Rogotanie
1/ 10
Illustrators continue to explore this color contrast today, using a more modern color
palette. The contrast is subtler, often playing off pastel versions of colors. For
example, instead of a cyan blue and saturated orange, illustrators may now use a pale
teal with a subtle coral pink. The results are sophisticated but impactful illustrations
with a modern twist.
grivina
molotovcoketail
elenabs
grivina
Tanya Syrytsyna
1/ 10
Isometric Perspectives
An isometric projection is a representation of a three-dimensional object in two
dimensions and is most commonly used in technical and engineering drawings. The two
front sides of an object are drawn in an isometric perspective will be an equal angle, so
that they can be flipped interchangeably to the left or right.
Isometric Perspectives
aurielaki
mathisw orks
Bigmouse108
miakievy
Irina_Strelnikova
1/ 8
Fluidity
Liquid effects are everywhere. We see shapes melting into each other, droplets
breaking away to hover in midair, or objects dripping and flowing. Often achieved using
hyper realistic shading techniques, liquid effects break down geometric and rigid shapes
and give a sense of movement to a composition. These surreal effects work as abstract
backgrounds as well as icons and isolated subjects.
Fluidity
layritten
venimo
v_alex
smartboy10
Greens87
1/ 9
Not-So-Flat Design
Flat design, which is characterized by graphically simplified flat colored shapes, with little
to no shading, detail or perspective, has been the go-to style for mobile apps and
interface designs.
However, as screen resolutions have improved, we are seeing a shift away from
traditional flat design. Illustrators are now pushing the boundaries of this style by
incorporating gradient shading, subtle textures, more detail and even perspectives
(particularly isometrics).
Color palettes have also evolved from vintage inspired to more bold, bright and
saturated colors, particularly rich deep blues and violets juxtaposed with bright punchy
neon’s like orange, pink and yellow. The result is a much more visually engaging and
cheery style that we can't wait to see more of.
Not-So-Flat Design
grivina
aurielaki
miakievy
kfilonov
Macrostore
1/ 7
Metallic Textures
Adding metallic effects to an illustration convey glamor and luxury. Gold, silver, bronze,
and platinum colors make a sparkly attention-grabbing accent color to any palette.
We’ve seen this evolve with metallics being incorporated into textural elements like
glitter, paint, marble and foil. This brings a tactile and textured feel to normally cold and
slick metallic surfaces, while still adding a bit of glitz to a composition. Look for colors
outside the typical warm and brassy gold: Rose golds, white golds, and even green
golds are a fresh new way to bring a metallic color into a design.
Metallic Textures
discan
~Userba9fe9ab_931
invincible_bulldog
Vik_Y
cienpies
1/ 10
Pearlescence
Pearlescent is a multi-dimensional color that reveals different colors depending on the
angle it’s viewed. Think about what a pearl looks like: It’s typically a pale cream color
but as you rotate it, you will see other colors like pastel pinks, blues, yellows and
greens ripple across the surface as the light hits it from different angles. It’s a
mesmerizing effect and can add movement and interest to what would otherwise be a
flat color in a composition.
Pearlescence
Aliaksei_7799
Vanzyst
Fosin2
olga_hmelevska
Maxger
1/ 8
Glitch
As technology evolves, it’s fun to look back at its early days and appreciate just how
difficult things were back when personal computers and internet were in their infancy
experiencing technical glitches. TV screen images vanished, replaced by ‘snowy image’
as cable lost its signal; radio signals disappeared to the crackling of white noise; the
internet required you dial-up your connection via a landline phone, and computers
crashed and displayed a confusing mess of colored pixels on screen.
Adding glitchy effects to clean, slick and modern vector illustrations adds character and
visual interest and creates an amusing nostalgic throwback to the earlier days of
technology.
Glitch
solarseven
solarseven
Egor Shabanov
octomesecam
miakievy
1/ 8