Illustrations
Illustration Style
Our illustrations are one of the most distinctive parts of our visual identity. They are hand-drawn in feel, technical in precision, and warm in character. Every illustration we use must feel like it belongs to the same family. The three examples below define the rules.
The Two Illustration Families
We use two distinct but complementary illustration styles. Both must always feel like they belong to the same brand.
Family 1: The Sketch-Fill Style (used for icons and UI illustrations)
This style is seen in the partnership icon (three abstract human figures connected by arrows) and the world map illustration.
It has the following characteristics:
Line quality: The outlines are hand-drawn in character, slightly organic and imperfect, never perfectly geometric. The stroke feels like a confident pen or brush stroke rather than a ruler-drawn line.
Fill technique: Shapes are filled with parallel diagonal hatching lines rather than solid color fills. The hatching runs at approximately 45 degrees and is evenly spaced. This gives the illustration a hand-crafted, sketch-book quality.
Stroke weight: Outlines use a medium-weight stroke (approximately 2px to 3px at standard display size). The hatching lines inside shapes are thinner (approximately 1px to 1.5px).
Color: This family uses a single flat color for both the outlines and the hatching. There is no shading, no gradients, and no secondary colors within a single illustration. The primary color for this family is Tech Fleet Blue (#0056A7) or Action Blue (#1863DC) on white backgrounds.
Transparency and layering: Shapes may overlap. Where they overlap, the hatching of the shape on top simply continues over the shape below, creating a layered, stacked effect.
Human figures: When representing people, use simple, abstract silhouette-style figures. The figures are rounded and friendly, not detailed or realistic. They have no facial features. They communicate role and relationship through posture and proximity, not detail.
Motion and connection: Use simple curved arrows to show relationships, collaboration, and flow between figures or concepts. Arrows should match the hand-drawn quality of the outlines.Family
The Engraving Style (used for hero and section illustrations)
This style is seen in the planet illustration (a large circular planet with a habitat dome, satellite dish, and rocket ship on its surface).
It has the following characteristics:
Line quality: This style uses a fine, precise engraving or etching technique. Lines are closely spaced, parallel, and used to build up form, texture, and volume. The overall effect resembles a vintage scientific illustration or a woodcut print.
Texture and form: Volume is created entirely through the density and direction of parallel lines, not through color shading. Areas of shadow have more closely spaced lines. Areas of light have more widely spaced lines or no lines at all.
Stroke weight: All lines are fine and consistent, approximately 1px to 1.5px at standard display size. There is no variation in stroke weight within a single illustration.
Color: This family uses a single flat color for all linework on a white or transparent background.. Use any primary brand color for these.
Subject matter: This style is reserved for larger, more conceptual illustrations that represent the world, the mission, or the journey. Subjects include planets, celestial bodies, spacecraft, habitats, and other space-exploration metaphors that speak to exploration, discovery, and building something new.
Scale and detail: These illustrations are highly detailed and are designed to be viewed at large sizes. Do not use them at small sizes where the fine linework will become illegible.
When to Use Each Family
Context
Illustration Family
Example Use
UI icons, feature explanations, small diagrams
Family 1: Sketch-Fill
Partnership icon, career path diagrams
Hero sections, section backgrounds, large visual statements
Family 2: Engraving
Planet illustration, world map
Social media graphics
Family 1: Sketch-Fill
Post illustrations
Email headers
Family 1: Sketch-Fill
Newsletter headers
Landing page hero
Family 2: Engraving
Homepage hero
What Not to Do
Do This
Not This
Use a single flat color per illustration.
Use gradients, shadows, or multiple colors within one illustration.
Keep human figures abstract and silhouette-based.
Draw realistic human faces or detailed anatomy.
Use hatching to fill shapes in Family 1 illustrations.
Use solid color fills in a Family 1 illustration.
Use fine engraving lines to build form in Family 2 illustrations.
Use bold outlines or flat fills in a Family 2 illustration.
Keep the hand-drawn, organic quality of the linework.
Use perfectly geometric, computer-drawn lines that feel mechanical.
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