Incorrect visual approaches

Our illustration style is guided by a set of principles outlined earlier in this guidance. To keep illustrations consistent, avoid the following:

Don’t use gradients.

A suitcase and a briefcase in a gradient colour with a red cross on the top right.

Don’t use patterns.

A boy holding a box that has a pattern on it with a red cross on the top right.

Don’t use low contrasting colours.

A collection of items, all with low colour-contrast: an abstract document, a webpage, and icons in a design-tool, with a red line crossing over all of them.

Don’t add facial expressions to characters.

An illustration of a woman shown with a pair of eyes, with a red cross on the top right.

Don’t use outlines or strokes.

A paperclip holding a document with a black stroke around them both and a red cross on the top right.

Don’t use three dimensional assets, However, layering of 2D assets to create a sense of depth is allowed.

A 3D image of a woman holding a box and a red line across the whole image.

Artificial intelligence image used in the example above.

Incorrect contextual usage

Don’t include imagery that is of a sensitive nature.
Don’t create purely decorative illustrations.
Don’t use humour or satire.
Avoid assumptions about gender, age, disability, ethnicity, family structure or employment.