Graphic Design and Illustration: When to Choose What

Sooner or later every brand has to ask the crucial question: Which one will tell my brand story the best: graphic design or illustration? 

They both are integral to branding, but they don't exactly do the same job. 

 Knowing the difference between the two and more importantly, understanding which one to choose when helps you save time and money while ensuring branding success.  

In this quick guide we’ll cover what graphic design and illustration are, the different types of each, and situations where one option wins out over the other. 

What is graphic design? 

Put simply, it's a form of visual communication. It combines text, images, and layouts to convey a message clearly and effectively. Think of logos, social media posts, brochures, and website designs—these are all products of graphic design.

Check out this compelling logo design done for a brand by Cueball Creatives:

A graphic design services provider focuses on:

• Branding that includes logos, style guides, business cards, etc.
• Marketing collaterals including posters, banners, and flyers
• Digital content, such as Email Design, E-Books, Website Layouts, social media graphics, and so on.
• Print Media including magazines, packaging, billboards, printed marketing collaterals.
• User-interface design focuses on the buttons and layouts in apps and on websites. 
• Packaging design is all about ensuring packaging materials, including stickers, boxes, and displays appeal to customers.

With the rise of subscription graphic design services, businesses can now get high-quality designs without hiring in-house designers. Options like an unlimited graphic design subscription or a monthly graphic design package provide cost-effective solutions for ongoing design needs.

What is illustration?

Illustrations are also components of branding but they rely on fine art. Illustration experts make a brand come alive with sketches, characters, or concept art. Compared to graphic design, illustrations are more focused on storytelling.  

Another key difference between graphic design and illustration is that the graphic design typically adheres to branding style guides, but an illustrator can experiment with color palettes and sketches to make the brand memorable.

Here’s a stunning Mascot illustration Cueball Creatives developed for a brand.

There are different types of illustrations, such as:

• Digital draws for mobile apps, social media posts, websites, posters, printed collaterals, and so on. 
• Editorial artwork that appears in magazine columns and blog posts, adding flair to the written word. 
• Packaging and merchandize sometimes have custom product illustrations.
• Character design in cartoons, video games, and even brand mascots.
• Technical illustrations that explain a concept with clear diagrams and step-by-step visuals.

When to use graphic design

Graphic design is ideal if you want:

• Consistent branding (logos, business cards, social media templates)
• Clear, functional layouts (websites, brochures, ads)
• Quick, scalable designs (perfect for unlimited graphic design services)

When to use illustrations

Go for illustrations if you want:

• A one-of-a-kind mascot, a storybook cover, or a poster your competitors can't compete with. 
• Storytelling elements in children’s books, animations, editorial work, etc.
• Emotional engagement with your brand that stock photos can’t deliver.

The other consideration when choosing between illustration and graphic design is cost.

Graphic design vs Illustration: Which is cheaper?

The cost depends on whether you have an in-house team, hire a freelancer, or opt for flat rate graphic design services.

According to the rates of a graphic design freelancer listed on Fiverr, the hourly rate can be between $60 to $1000+. When you have recurring graphic design requirements, the costs add up significantly.

Freelance illustrators are expensive too, and can charge anywhere from $250 to $1000+ per hour depending on the complexity of the project.

If you want to hire an in-house design team, bear in mind that an experienced designer can cost the company $100,000 + per year. Apart from the salary, companies also have to bear the cost of paid time off, health insurance, and other benefits. You’ll also have to factor in the costs of software licenses, hardware, and training expenses. Keep in mind that a graphic designer may not be adept at illustrations and vice versa.

If you need frequent, scalable designs, a monthly graphic design service is more budget-friendly.

Why partner with a flat rate graphic design service provider?

A smarter way to lower your costs is to partner with a creative design partner that offers a monthly graphic design package, such as Cueball Creatives. 

For an affordable monthly fee, you can put in as many requests for graphic design and illustrations as you want. 

Our clients have saved $42K and more by choosing us for their illustration and graphic design needs. As a full-house design subscription agency, we have experts in all areas of graphic design, motion graphics, and custom illustrations, including book design, websites, email design, logo, packaging, mascot, and character illustrations.

For a fixed monthly fee, you get:
✔ Unlimited requests & revisions
✔ Fast turnaround times
✔ Professional, brand-aligned designs

This is a game-changer for startups, agencies, and e-commerce brands that need high-volume design work without breaking the bank.

‍Contact us today for your illustration and graphic design requirements.