🚀 All (illustration) systems go

[logo] Exploring illustration systems, avoiding creative burnout, and 10 mini-tutorials to keep your skills sharp [hero-image] Art by [Adam Ho]( “Although there are inherent benefits to having consistency, brands have been getting a lot of criticism recently for ‘looking the same’ as other companies—especially as certain design and illustration trends become more popular and widely-used.” Brand designer Adam Ho joined us recently on the Dribbble blog to shed some light on [illustration systems](—plus insights on how brands have been using them to not only set themselves apart, but also to define their unique visual identities. So, what’s an illustration system anyway? “Illustration systems are a set of standards and guidelines that enable the creation of artwork in a certain style. They can include things from colors, icons, and props to more detailed things like brush weight, perspective, and composition.” As a brand designer, Adam has had the opportunity to work on incredible illustration systems for companies like Abstract and Bitly, and [over on the blog](, he gives us an insider’s look into the stylistic choices for these two very different audiences. When it comes to illustration systems, Adam ultimately reminds us to keep business goals in mind, while respecting the origin of certain illustration styles. There’s still room to create something that people haven’t seen before, and getting creative with illustration is a perfect opportunity to explore these singular possibilities. Check out [Adam’s full blog post]( for more tips and insights into the art of the illustration system! ■Sponsored Hey, you! Want to get noticed? Looking to get more contact from your Dribbble posts? With a Dribbble Pro Business membership you can add a ‘Hire Me / Us’ button right to your Shot pages, so prospective clients can instantly get in touch. That’s just one of the must-have features that makes Dribbble Pro worth it—and [you can get it for less than a cup of coffee a month.]( Interested in sponsoring? [Contact us]( “Frankly, I think I’m a boring person, so a lot of the inspiration for my personal work comes from the mundane. I like to observe my surroundings and take mental notes.” [Meet Zellene Guanlao](, an illustrator and graphic designer based in Manila who currently works with the team at Motion Story to illustrate stories for animation. During her down time, Zellene enjoys indulging in creative projects that are heavily inspired by her everyday life and surroundings. [Zellene joined us on the blog]( to share her illustration process, as well as the useful tools she relies on for picking out just the right color scheme in her work. On top of sharing her process, Zellene gets vulnerable in talking about one of her biggest struggles as a creative professional—feeling burnt out. “Right now, the most challenging part of my job would be avoiding burnout. I’ve been there twice before and it wasn’t a very pleasant experience. It’s okay to not do everything yourself, and it’s okay to rest without feeling the guilt of being unproductive or being slow in progress.” For more of Zellene’s story—and to view her colorful body of work—head over to the Dribbble blog and [check out her full interview!]( ■Sharing knowledge is one of the many things designers do best, and on Dribbble this is certainly no exception. If you’re a visual learner who’s ready to master some new design tricks, look no further. Over on the blog, we rounded up [10 mini-tutorials]( that our community’s designers have published into one jam-packed Dribbble Shot. Learn all kinds of tricks—like creating embossed effects in Adobe Illustrator, designing the perfect dropdown menu, or even achieving that trendy neumorphic UI look you’ve seen popping up everywhere. Even if you’ve only got a few minutes to spare, there’s plenty of design tidbits to be learned in a flash. Head on over to the complete [round-up of mini-tutorials](, and happy designing! ■What else we’re reading - Lovers of animated GIFs, memes, and communicating via imagery listen up: news has broke that [Facebook is acquiring Giphy]( for a reported $400 million, and folding the platform into Instagram. - Forget the cloud, find that silver lining: even amidst the 1918 flu pandemic, it turns out there was a [swell of artistic advancements]( whose effects still resonate today. - Pentagram partner Emily Oberman & team have designed a new identity for a division of production company AGBO—one which [incorporates 75 (!) film-inspired logos](. - Follow your nose, friends—but be prepared. Cereal magnate Kellogg’s has [rolled out a revamped design]( of beloved Froot Loops’ icon Toucan Sam, and it’s…it’s got folks talking. - Designers make their mark, even when isolated: thirty-seven designers collaborated to release Group an [eclectic, expressive typeface]( offering whose proceeds go to the World Health Organization. You elected to receive Courtside emails. No longer interested? [Unsubscribe]( or [manage your subscriptions](. Dribbble Holdings Ltd. [• 524 Yates St. • Victoria, BC V8W1K8, Canada]( [hero-image]