What is an Illustration Style?
An illustration style refers to visual language or technique an illustrator uses to create their artwork. A style is formed when elements like shading, color harmony, lines, shapes come together to convey a message. Some styles emphasize simplicity and boldness by using flat shapes and strong lines while other styles create depth and texture through detailed shading and complicated patterns. The possibilities are quite endless when it comes to creating styles that’s why we see something new every year.
We published an illustration trend list before that you can find here. Below, I gathered a list of popular illustration styles in the year 2024 that are widely used by top illustrators in the graphic design industry. I used the Statue of Liberty as the subject for all the style samples so you can learn the difference better. I hope the following list inspire you as an experienced or aspiring illustrator. Let’s jump into it!
1) Psychedelic Retro
This style takes inspiration from the 1960s and 1970s. You’ve probably seen it in music posters and album covers. It usually consists of vibrant, swirling colors and abstract patterns. The illustrator uses distorted shapes and unusual color combinations to evoke an almost hallucinogenic experience. Nowadays, you may notice modern adaptations of this style that employ bold visual impact while maintaining its free-spirited, mind-bending roots.
2) Nostalgic
Nostalgic illustration dives into past eras. It triggers sentimental feelings by using muted colors, bold graphics, grain textures and elements from past time periods like the 1960s or 1980s. This style usually combines old-school visual language with contemporary design techniques to create illustrations that remind us of memories and vintage aesthetics. Some of these illustration were used during war time by governments to spread propaganda.
3) Isometric
Isometric art is a type of illustration in which the objects and characters are drawn to look more like a three-dimension (3D) illustration. Isometric graphics follow a specific camera angle. Interestingly, Isometric means “equal measure” in Greek, isometric images are used to create graphics of interiors, exteriors, objects with height, width and depth to have a three-dimensional look. This style is very popular in explainer videos and how-to videos these days.
4) Flat Illustration
Flat design focuses on simplicity. It is achieved by using clean shapes, bright colors, and minimal details. This style is highly favored in UI/UX design because it’s clear and visually uncluttered. Unlike other styles, flat illustrations do not use textures or complex patterns. Flat illustrations are mainly used for their functionality and straightforward messages through sharp and simplistic elements. But their use is very broad, from cartoons and motion graphics to corporate brochures and websites.
5) Surreal Illustration
Surrealist images mix reality with strange or dreamlike parts. This style often shows different objects together, unusual layouts, and strange feelings. Surrealism works well for sharing ideas or tales, where logic can bend, usually to express feelings or important symbols.
6) Pop Art
Pop art is influenced by popular culture and advertisements. It uses bright colors and images of consumer items, famous people or comic books. This style frequently has thick outlines and dot patterns like older printing methods. It serves as a vivid and approachable illustration style that merges “high” art with regular culture. It is one of my favorite styles when it comes to explainer videos and posters.
7) Grain-Textured
Grain-textured illustrations use more halftone, grain, or speckle textures to give digital works dimension and a tactile sensation. In modern artworks, this texture can convey a sense of the past or handcrafted quality. It’s frequently used to give graphics a depth of warmth or realism by softening strong vector shapes.
8) Minimal Vibrant
A minimalist approach with a twist of vibrancy. This beautiful illustration style focuses on reducing elements to their core shapes and uses bold striking colors. It keeps the simplicity of minimalism but makes the artwork more attractive than a typical minimal illustration. It is usually used in branding and editorial design.
9) Doodle & Line Art
As the name suggests, Doodles and line style is normally made of simple lines and shapes. This style ranges from whimsical and spontaneous sketches to detailed patterns. Artists use Doodle and Line Art style to communicate playful or lighthearted ideas. The simplicity of the lines makes visuals expressive and easy to human eyes.
10) Risograph
A risograph illustration mimics the vibrant and imperfect quality of Risograph printing. For those of you who’ve never heard of Riso printing, it uses limited color layers and textures as compared to normal printing methods. The result of this illustration style is often grainy with misalignments or ink smudges that add a unique feel to the artwork. This style comes with layered colors and retro feel which perfectly balances digital and analog aesthetics.
11) Holographic
Holographic illustrations use iridescent colors and shimmering effects to create the reflective surfaces seen in real holographs. This futuristic style plays with light to create vibrant, shifting gradients which give illustrations a high-tech feel. It’s mainly used in tech, fashion, and music-related designs. I believe it gives a sense of modernity and otherworldliness.
12) Geometric
As the name suggests, geometric style illustration uses shapes, circles, squares, triangles and clean lines to create visually interesting graphics. While this style may seem simple to viewers, geometric designs often rely on accurate and calculated compositions. This makes them suitable for logos, posters and abstract art. This style can range from minimalist to highly complex depending on the arrangement and layering of shapes. Less is more sometimes, isn’t it?
13) Abstract
Abstract illustration distills subjects into their most basic forms, often using non-representational shapes and colors. This style prioritizes mood, emotion, or concept over direct representation, allowing for vast creativity and interpretation. Abstract works often experiment with form, space, and texture, making them suitable for editorial work, album art, and other creative fields where imagination takes precedence over realism.
14) Pixel Art
Pixel art is a cool art style in which the illustrations are designed pixel by pixel! It became popular during the early days of PCs and arcade games because screen resolutions and color choices were pretty limited. But surprisingly despite the advancement of tech until today, pixel art still has a special place in many industries. The good news is that software such as Adobe suite, helps us illustrators create pixel art much easier and faster than before. From video games to advertising, Pixel art nostalgic look continues to attract brands and graphic design artists. There is something about this style that we can’t let go. Don’t you agree?
Final Words
I hope the above article and its samples inspire you as an aspiring illustrator. In my opinion, learning different styles is a crucial step in an illustrator’s journey because it helps you become more versatile. It also helps to stand out in a competitive industry. The more styles you know, the higher chances of you getting hired or commissioned for future projects.
Ultimately, the ability to work across various styles enhances your creative range and opens up doors to create better quality artworks and illustrations.
Looking for an Awesome Illustration Team?
Kasra Design team is capable of creating almost any illustration style under the sun. For over a decade, we have used many types of styles in our animated videos. To check out our portfolio, click here. Contact our team to discuss your illustration needs at: