Why African Illustrations Matter In Design And Are Now LIVE on Ninthgrid!
Browse African centric Illustrations now LIVE on Ninthgrid
If you’ve ever paused while scrolling because a single image grabbed your attention, chances are it was more than just a pretty visual. It was a story, a feeling, a moment, a culture, or an idea brought to life. And sometimes, when a regular photo just doesn’t cut it, illustrations step in to say what words and photos can’t.
Now imagine illustrations that represent our everyday lives, our culture, our food, our people. At Ninthgrid, we’ve always believed in the power of images to shape narratives, influence perception, and tell our stories.
That’s why we’re incredibly excited to announce that illustrations are now live on Ninthgrid!
But First, Why Are Illustrations So Important in Design?
To be very honest, the internet is loud and that's a fact. Brands are constantly trying to stand out with every scroll on your phone and for every second, you’re hit with promo banners, product images, infographics, and carousel posts that all start to blur together. That’s where custom, culturally resonant and African centric illustrations make a difference.
Illustrations give you flexibility. Do you want to depict a concept that doesn’t exist yet? Show a feeling? Celebrate our culture? Represent your community? Illustrations can do that.
They’re more than design elements. They’re:
Visual storytelling tools: A well-done illustration can communicate complex ideas instantly.
Representation engines: Most stock visuals still struggle to reflect the diversity of real people. With illustrations, we can show dark skin, natural hair, African settings, and real life.
Brand differentiators: Whether you’re building a startup or launching a campaign, consistent illustrations can become part of your visual identity. Think of how Duolingo’s owl or Notion’s minimal icons stick in your brain. That’s branding at work.
From Nigerian Amala to Healthcare Heroes: Our Illustrations Are Now Live🥳
Now, back to us, we’ve officially rolled out our African based illustration library on Ninthgrid.
You’ll find categories like:
Food & Lifestyle: because a well-drawn plate of amala and ewedu is art.
Health & Wellness: fitness, maternity, mental health, and more.
Culture & Monuments: from traditional wear to iconic landmarks.
Professions: tailors, farmers, nurses; we’re representing the full spectrum of African work life.
Education, Tech and so much more.
These illustrations are bold, beautiful, and made by African creators just like our photos. Whether you’re designing a website, creating an explainer post, building a product UI, or running a campaign that needs soul, we’ve got you.
And we’re just getting started. Our goal is to make Ninthgrid the go-to hub for Afrocentric design assets, whether that’s high-quality stock images or illustrations you can use freely, proudly, and effectively.
Ready to Explore?
Our illustration packs are now live. View them here. Whether you’re designing a deck, launching a campaign, or just looking for some design inspiration you’re welcome to explore, download, and create.