Illustrations as Object / Process / Concept

Most illustrations fall into three categories. These three categories have a big influence on what the illustration communicates, often much more than the style of the illustration


They are either illustrations of OBJECTS, or what things ARE…

or illustrations of PROCESS, or what things DO…

or illustrations of CONCEPTS, or what things might STAND FOR…

or they can be combinations, such as OBJECT / PROCESS…

or OBJECT / CONCEPT…

or  OBJECT / PROCESS / CONCEPT…

Where style comes into play, is when it supports the OBJECT / PROCESS or CONCEPT