Adobe Illustrator
Vector graphics that scale to any size without losing quality.
What it is
Illustrator is Adobe's vector graphics editor. Vector graphics are defined by mathematical paths rather than pixels, which means they scale to any size - from a business card to a billboard - without any loss of quality. That makes Illustrator the right tool for logos, icons, illustrations, brand identity work, and anything destined for both screen and print.
The distinction from Photoshop is fundamental: Photoshop is for pixel-based images (photographs), Illustrator is for vector-based graphics (logos, icons, diagrams). A logo created in Illustrator will look sharp at 16 pixels on a favicon and perfectly crisp at 2 metres on a printed banner.
How I use it
Illustrator handles all logo creation, icon design, and brand identity work. SVG files exported from Illustrator can be embedded directly into web pages and styled with CSS, which means icons and illustrations can change colour on hover, animate, and respond to dark mode without additional image files.
For any project involving a new brand identity - logo, colour palette, typography system, icon set - Illustrator is where that work happens. The Pen tool, pathfinder operations, and variable font support make it the most precise tool available for detailed graphic work.
Why this over the alternatives
Figma can do basic vector work, but Illustrator's toolset for complex paths, typography handling, and print output is significantly deeper. For brand work that needs to live across web, print, and signage, Illustrator is the right environment. For UI layout and prototyping, Figma is better. They're complementary rather than competing.
What it means for your site
- Resolution-independent output scales to any size without quality loss
- SVG export for web means crisp icons that stay sharp on any screen density
- Industry-standard format for print - printers accept Illustrator files natively
- Complex path operations for detailed technical illustrations and diagrams
Want this on your project?
Get in touch and we can talk through what stack makes sense for what you are building.
Start a conversation