How to Choose the Right Illustration Style for Your Website

Illustrations can transform a boring layout into a vibrant, engaging experience. But not all styles fit every project. Choosing the right one depends on your brand personality, audience, and goals.

Let’s explore the most popular styles available on GhostSVG—and how to choose the best one for your website.

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1. Line Art — Minimal & Elegant

Line art is all about simplicity and structure. It uses clean outlines, often in monochrome, to convey concepts in a lightweight, modern style.

• ✅ Great for tech, SaaS, portfolio sites
• ✅ Loads fast (SVG = performance win)
• ❌ May feel too abstract or "dry" for emotional topics

Use if: Your brand feels minimal, precise, or professional. Think architecture firms, fintech startups, or developer tools.

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2. Flat — Bold & Modern

Flat illustrations use solid colors and simple shapes to deliver bold, clear visuals without gradients or shadows.

• ✅ Great for modern startups and product websites
• ✅ Bright, accessible, and versatile
• ❌ Can appear too generic if overused

Use if: Your product is easy-to-use, playful, or consumer-facing. Flat art works well in landing pages and onboarding flows.

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3. Cartoon (Open Peeps style) — Friendly & Approachable

Cartoon-style illustrations bring in a fun, personable vibe—often with character designs, speech bubbles, and exaggerated motion.

• ✅ Perfect for social apps, communities, or personal brands
• ✅ Helps build emotional connection
• ❌ May not be suitable for corporate or luxury brands

Use if: You want to humanize your brand and make it feel more friendly, diverse, and approachable.

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4. Sketchy (Open Doodles style) — Creative & Expressive

Sketchy illustrations mimic hand-drawn art. They're spontaneous, expressive, and full of character.

• ✅ Excellent for creative brands, blogs, or education platforms
• ✅ Stands out visually from typical polished UI art
• ❌ Can clash with clean, minimal UIs

Use if: Your project is unconventional, artistic, or focuses on storytelling.

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TL;DR: Style Selector Table

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How to Choose Your Style

Ask yourself:

1. What’s my brand personality?
   Serious and sleek → Line art. Playful and bold → Cartoon or Flat.

2. Who is my audience?
   Professionals may respond better to minimal designs. Young audiences might prefer expressive visuals.

3. What’s the user journey?
   Do you need fast-loading visuals? Are characters needed to tell a story?

4. What platform am I using?
   Platforms like Framer, Webflow, or GhostSVG support SVG imports easily. Lean into performance by choosing light formats.

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Final Tip

If you're unsure which style to pick — try generating a few with GhostSVG using the same prompt but in different styles. Compare them in your layout and see which one feels right. Trust your instincts and align with your brand goals.