Iconography vs Illustration

Developers should learn iconography to improve user interface (UI) design and accessibility, especially when building applications that require intuitive navigation, such as mobile apps, dashboards, or e-commerce sites meets developers should learn illustration to improve their ability to create custom graphics for user interfaces, prototypes, and technical documentation, reducing reliance on external designers. Here's our take.

Iconography

Nice Pick

Developers should learn iconography to improve user interface (UI) design and accessibility, especially when building applications that require intuitive navigation, such as mobile apps, dashboards, or e-commerce sites

Pros

• It's crucial for creating visually cohesive products that reduce cognitive load and support internationalization by minimizing language barriers
• Related to: user-interface-design, user-experience

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Illustration

Developers should learn illustration to improve their ability to create custom graphics for user interfaces, prototypes, and technical documentation, reducing reliance on external designers

Pros

• It is particularly useful in roles involving front-end development, UI/UX design, or indie game development, where visual assets are critical for engaging users and conveying complex information clearly
• Related to: ui-design, ux-design

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Iconography is a concept while Illustration is a tool. We picked Iconography based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Iconography wins

Based on overall popularity. Iconography is more widely used, but Illustration excels in its own space.