Mercury Financial Illustrations
Transforming Mercury Financial: A Tale of Illustration & Brand Revitalization
During my time at Haddad & Partners, I had a unique opportunity to work closely with the Microsoft and Mercury Financial teams. Initially brought in for the Microsoft project, I quickly became involved with Mercury Financial due to my background in illustrations. They needed someone with my skill set to recreate selected illustrations and introduce new ones that would shape their visual direction.
Mercury Financial's initial approach involved using unpurchased stock illustrated vectors as placeholders in their XD mockups. However, as they progressed, they realized the importance of maintaining a consistent brand style while incorporating their design aesthetics. They wanted to retain the look and stylization of the selected vectors but with their unique design elements infused. This required a meticulous redesign effort, going beyond simple color adjustments to ensure each illustration reflected Mercury Financial's brand philosophy and visual language while retaining the essence of the original vectors.
As the first Designer at Haddad & Partners to introduce an Illustration Library, I embarked on a groundbreaking approach that placed illustrations as our focus. Despite the challenge of creating 100 illustrations from scratch, I ensured that each one captured the essence of Mercury Financial's brand identity. Collaborating closely with a UX Designer, we categorized and documented these illustrations meticulously, setting the stage for future design endeavors.
Mercury Financial's initial hesitation towards incorporating illustrations quickly transformed as they witnessed the impact of the new direction. They were so impressed that they requested a comprehensive Illustration Library to maintain this unique visual style across all their branding materials consistently.
My role in this project was multifaceted. Not only did I create illustrations that transformed Mercury Financial's brand, but I also spearheaded the development of the Illustration Library. This involved creating a diverse range of illustrations that not only captured the essence of Mercury Financial's brand identity but also could be easily integrated into various design projects.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was Mercury Financial's commitment to diversity and inclusivity in their illustrations. They wanted to positively represent individuals from all backgrounds, which presented a unique challenge that highlighted our dedication to inclusive design practices.
In the end, our efforts resulted in a resounding success. We delivered not only a redesigned website but also a comprehensive Illustration Library that exceeded Mercury Financial's expectations. This project stands as a testament to our team's unwavering dedication, creativity, and ability to surpass client expectations, even when faced with complex challenges.s.
