The reason I use images more than illustrations in my designs is simple.
In my experience, websites with real human photos convert far better than those with illustrations.
People connect with people. Seeing a face builds trust and relatability, and these are the two things that matter a lot when someone is deciding whether to take action on your site.
it’s not just my two cents, research backs this up.
For example, VWO ran an A/B test for Medalia Art, a platform that sells Brazilian and Caribbean art. They swapped out paintings for photos of the artists, and the results were wild. The conversion rate jumped from 8.8% to 17.2%. That’s a 95% increase just by showing real faces.
Another VWO user, Jason Thompson, ran a similar test on his blog’s contact section. He replaced a generic icon with his own photo, and conversions went up by 48%.
Sometimes, all it takes is showing people you’re real.
Other studies say the same thing. Websites with photos or videos of real humans tend to build more trust and feel more credible. Even just adding a face to a low-trust site can make it more trustworthy.
Now I’m not saying you should ditch illustrations completely. They’re amazing for global brands or when you’re trying to communicate across multiple cultures at once. But if your goal is to build trust and connection, don’t underestimate the power of a human face.
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