CLIENT – IBM
PROJECT – IBM Illustration Guild and Library
ROLE – Illustrator • Design Lead

CHALLENGE
Initial projects with IBM required broad illustration exploration, since the Carbon Design System had recently launched and the IBM Design Language (IDL) asset libraries were still under development. IBM has three illustrations styles – line, flat, and isometric – each with their own considerations.

Since then, as a member of the IBM Illustration Guild (an invitation-only team of illustrators from brand, dotcom and Blue Studio) I’ve contributed to the IDL libraries and vetted team members’ work.

CONSIDERATIONS
Dark and light color palettes: How do we assign meaning to the use of color palettes? For the Cloud Pak series, we used the dark palette for product features and the light palette for use cases.

Not just decorative images: The consistent use of representative abstract elements creates a new language – the semi-transparent cubes represent Cloud Paks , flat squares represent platforms, gradient dots represent data transfers, and upward rays of light represent computing power.

GOAL
Develop a new way to visualize technical diagrams on product pages, incorporating the isometric illustration style. Evolve the illustration style of people (minimalist, modern) that keeps the technical product features most prominent.

Dark palette