Meghan Mackay

As a graphic designer, I am constantly drawn to the spaces where traditional craftsmanship meets modern technology. This week, through both practical work and research, I explored how hand-drawn illustration continues to be a powerful emotional tool in contemporary design.

For this week’s assignment, I put together three moodboards based on the themes of Vintage, Grunge, and Art Deco. Even though each style has its own unique look and feel, I noticed a common thread running through all of them. Every style could be made even more powerful and emotionally engaging by adding hand-drawn graphic elements.

Alongside this creative work, I read the article The Different Types of Illustration (and How to Use Them) published by Graphic Mama (2022) (https://graphicmama.com/blog/types-of-illustration/). The article discusses a wide range of illustration types from digital vector art to more traditional hand-drawn techniques and explains how each can be used strategically to influence a brand’s tone, audience connection, and emotional appeal.

One section that resonated with me deeply was the focus on traditional hand-drawn illustration. Graphic Mama notes that hand-drawn illustrations bring a sense of “craftsmanship, authenticity, and warmth” that purely digital techniques can sometimes lack (Graphic Mama, 2022, https://graphicmama.com/blog/types-of-illustration/). In a world where consumers increasingly seek genuine, human experiences, this type of design feels especially relevant.

Applying this idea to my moodboards, I realized that in my Vintage Moodboard, soft pencil sketches could introduce a nostalgic, handmade quality that resonates with memory and sentiment. In the Grunge Moodboard, rough, expressive ink strokes could emphasize the rebellious, DIY nature of the aesthetic. Even in the Art Deco Moodboard, which is traditionally more geometric and polished, I found room for hand-drawn ornamentation that could soften the severity of the lines and create a bridge between tradition and personal expression.

Working on this project made me realize an important design truth. Hand-drawn elements bring a kind of imperfection that feels real and emotional. In a world where so much of what we see is polished and manufactured, designs that show the human touch stand out. They create stronger, more genuine connections with people.

As I continue to grow as a designer, I want to keep this idea at the center of my work. I plan to intentionally incorporate hand-drawn elements into my designs, whether it is through subtle textures, custom letterforms, or illustrated icons. These small details can add personality and warmth that make a design feel truly alive.

In a professional world where clients and audiences are craving work that feels fresh, meaningful, and human, insights like these are invaluable. They are not just things I am learning for a class. They are ideas that will shape the kind of designer I want to become.