creative illustration for cultural heritage

The value of rich creative illustration for cultural heritage

Our team have a wide skill set when it comes to creative illustration. Today, rich imagery is an important component for a wide range of digital channels. Be it static 2D, video storytelling, or interactive 3D.

High quality digital illustration has many applications and is the starting point for providing rich visual screen experiences. And we don’t just mean for images as below, it’s equally valuable for creating mobile app interfaces and navigation systems. Or attraction re-branding, even down to the menu icons used within apps. Our own drawn library of icons just for menu interface use now numbers over 700+

How creative illustration is used

You may be looking for a mobile app to show visitors around your site with a built-in map. Perhaps also including 3D modelling of exhibits and augmented reality visuals/labelling used alongside storytelling. Or you may even require an interactive timelines to show visitors the history of your heritage attraction? Creative illustration is vital for generating the digital visual assets that these types of experiential visitor app require.

creative illustration - goldfinch by App Studio UX

This illustration of a Goldfinch and the Dovecote below have been drawn using Adobe Illustration. It’s the case that illustrations provide a punchier, more stylised digital graphic than a photograph.

creative illustration - the Dovecote by App Studio UX

Maximum fidelity images

The above images have been specifically created for digital browser viewing. Drawn in Adobe Illustrator, then made into scaleable vector graphics (SVG). This means that whatever device you’re viewing them on, whether a 6″ mobile screen, or a 12 foot wide led panel, they’re perfectly sharp and clear. SVGs are infinitely scaleable without any loss of resolution. This is great if you want the highest fidelity across all media – particularly for branding also.

There’s a fine balance when creating these types of image to ensure there’s enough detail, but to not overdo it, which could lead to large file sizes and slow loading. The image above is highly detailed in terms of the stones and foliage, but it’s just 0.2MB. You can check the edge resolution by zooming in with your browser using Ctrl + (Windows) or CMD + (Mac) (Ctrl or CMD + 0 to return) or pinch-in on your mobile phone. We guarantee you won’t see any jagged artefacts!

Creative illustration in heritage uses

The types of image shown above are particularly valuable for use in mobile apps for historic attractions. The use-case is where an attraction wishes to have their own stylised imagery surrounding their assets. This allows them to easily differentiate themselves in marketing activity. Potentially the issue could be where other entities have access to common photo images of the same item.

Being able to clearly push entity branding across a range of media can be valuable. Additionally, it can also be used in signage, print, emailings, social media, and mobile apps. Don’t think our creative illustration service is solely for app building. This service is available for a wide range of image assets required by the heritage sector. Call us.

How we can help in terms of mobile apps

We differ from other app developers because we focus solely on the visual experience aspects of app development. Ensuring visitors have engaging information at their fingertips is our goal.

Here are some examples of how our creative illustration service can help:

An important artefact no longer exists

Recreate the artefact in 2 or 3D – see example of heritage 3D animation.

You need an interactive map to show location of highlights

We draw a digital map of your attraction adding all the features. Then we add interactivity, including the exhibits that need highlighting. We’re not restricted to proprietary mapping. See visitor site plan map example here.

An animation is required to demonstrate a traditional process

We’d create bespoke vector illustrations and incorporate within animations. These would then be built into 2D or 3D screens within a mobile app.

A star exhibit needs to show additional information – but there’s no space!

Create digital information labelling and use within an augmented reality display that’s overlaid in 3D on the actual exhibit.

The above are all situations where we can help – they’re just a few of the possibilities that can help boost visitor enjoyment.

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