We recently discussed style vs. design here, and thought it might be useful to take a deeper dive into some of the vocabulary that tends to come up in our creative process. Specifically, when starting a project, one topic that almost always comes up is, "Do you want it to look abstract? Or do you want it to look realistic?" Most people out there likely have a decent idea of the literal difference between the two. However, when is it a good idea to use one approach versus the other? Or does it make a difference at all? Let's take a look.
So, just to be sure we're all on the same page, a realistic design is going to look pretty similar to something found in real life (duh). There won't be a whole lot of simplification or stylization, and the overall visual look will (hopefully) be pretty much a 1:1 with things in the real world. An abstracted design, on the other hand, tends to... smooth things out. Or make things pointier. An object in such a design could look more exaggerated, paradoxically with fine details slimmed down or even removed altogether. Google "abstract art" and you'll see a lot of examples of this pop up all throughout the mid-20th century, with Picasso's later art being a pretty safe example to point to.
So, that's what it all looks like. Now, when would you use one style vs. the other? Like all things, it depends. Here's a pretty clear-cut example of when to use a realistic style: Medical reference (or architectural reference, or cultural reference, etc). The biggest clue is right there, "reference." Chances are, your target audience here needs to know exactly what something looks like, and doesn't have time for all your wacky line work. The storytelling here really isn't the main point (unless you're a courtroom artist, and the storytelling is very much the main point), so much as fidelity to what things actually look like in the real world. More to the point, the target audience here will typically be interacting with the real world themselves, and need a very precise reference to steer them along the correct path.
Abstraction, on the other hand, tends to come up when the target audience will likely not take detailed notes of your work, but rather might remember it later, after the fact. And exaggerating things (and smoothing out confusing details) is a tried-and-true way of getting things to be "stickier" in the memory. To switch gears for a second, compare a symphony to most pop music. Certain Looney Tune soundtracks notwithstanding, the vast majority of jingles that tend to stick in your noggin are the more simplified arrangements we find on Top 40 radio, or whatever mainstream music listening format you prefer. By the same token, abstracted art can use lots of bold shapes, complimentary colors, and dynamic line work, all of which work together to stay in your head much easier than simply looking at a photo will.
Realistic art and abstract art are both great tools, but with very different purposes. Hopefully these are some helpful notes to give you a good starting point as to when one would be a good fit vs. the other. Stay safe out there, and we look forward to seeing you next month!