The start of a new decade is the perfect time to take a look at the trends of the past and get some clues about the industry of the future. Jamie Clarke is one of the leading experts in illustration and its use in communications. Clarke believes that gradients were at their peak in the 2010s, but by the end of the decade they began to be used more sophisticatedly. “I see more and more gradient illustrations - large-scale and seductive. In the right hands, they are capable of creating different moods - from euphoria to gloomy threat, ”the illustrator argued. He suggested looking at Marley Gallardo's illustration of sustainable development in Barron’s magazine.
Why is it that now more and more illustrations are being replaced by photographs?
Illustration, at the moment, is the most flexible, fast and standout visualization tool.
Creating an illustration is faster than organizing a photo shoot The illustration is flexible and can be fine-tuned to fit the context.
The illustration stands out from the background of identical stock photos Illustration can be unique in style.
Making changes and adjustments to illustrations is faster than making edits to a photograph Illustrations are cheaper than a photo shoot, buying and editing photos.
Illustrations have a huge number of variations and styles, which allows them to be unique in the market and serve as the main tool of brand communication.