Float UI/UX Illustration
I've always admired those sleek, minimal, friendly and modern UI illustrations that are widely popular across company websites. As a UI/UX designer, I've developed my own process for creating character drawings that showcase my skills. It starts with identifying the purpose of the character and what message it needs to convey. The goal for this is to create a character for a header website that conveys UI/UX work in a visual context that anyone can quickly understand and enjoy.
Next, I research and gather inspiration from various sources, such as existing characters in media or real-life individuals who fit the desired persona. This helps me create a unique and relatable character that fits the project's goals. For this project, I tried out Freeform, a new mac app for gathering ideas. (shown above)
Once I have some general ideas, I start sketching and photo-bashing. I used the iPad with Adobe Fresco to quickly iterate on different designs and concepts, playing with shapes, proportions, and expressions.
Check out some of the cool live media brushes I played around with in Adobe Fresco in the video above. One can mix and blend watercolor and/or oil as well as use the pencil or pen tool to create vectors.
Ultimately, I decided to refine a vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator for the iPad to allow for svg export or web-based animations. I was surprised how well Illustrator works beautifully across iPad and desktop. Here, I refined the sketch, details, colors, and shading. This is where the character really starts to come to life.
Throughout the process, I keep in mind the user's needs and preferences, making sure that the character design aligns with the project's overall UI/UX goals. This includes considering the character's placement, size, and functionality within the user interface.
My humble advice is to enjoy and play with the process. Try different programs and methodologies. Trust your creativity and you'll be sure to create something beautiful.
Do you think this is cool? I hope you enjoy it!
Feel free to provide feedback and comments. Don't forget to press "L" if you love it.