The project involved developing a cohesive visual language to support visitors across the British Library's redesigned website, from helping people understand how to get a Reader Pass to illustrating workshops, collections and the many different ways people use the Library.
With over 170 million items in its collection, the challenge wasn't simply to create illustrations that looked good. They needed to communicate clearly, feel welcoming, and work across a huge variety of subjects while remaining consistent throughout the website.
Stephen's thoughtful, pared-back approach made him the perfect fit. His ability to simplify complex ideas into engaging, accessible illustrations meant the work could support the user experience without ever overwhelming it.
Working closely with the team at the British Library and digital agency Q42, the project evolved through close collaboration, refining each illustration until every colour, character and composition earned its place.
The result is a growing illustration system that helps visitors navigate one of the world's greatest libraries with greater clarity and confidence.
"How did it feel to be commissioned by the British Library?"
SC: I was very happy when the commission came through! To be able to work with an institution such as the British Library was a real honour.
What appealed to you most about the brief?
SC: I enjoy the challenge of creating a family of illustrations that deal with various subjects and features but ultimately work together as a set.
The illustrations cover a wide range of subjects. How did you make them feel like one cohesive family?
SC: I guess primarily illustrating in one style helps unite all the images. Then there are the details, such as a succinct colour palette, using the same line weight on each illustration as much as possible, and trying to keep scale and proportion the same throughout.
Was there one illustration that proved particularly challenging?
SC: There is an illustration where the client wanted to show the library building and people in the same image. A bit of a challenge as my aim was to keep the scale of the illustrations as consistent as possible, and this threw things off a little. A bit of back and forth exploring some ideas and we made it work!
Your work has a wonderful way of simplifying complex ideas. How do you decide what to include and what to leave out?
SC: My aim is always to keep things as simple as possible. Iif I simplify too much and leave out too many details, the illustration loses its meaning. How I usually get to a finished result is by adding and removing elements until it looks right.
Do you have a favourite illustration from the project?
SC: Illustrations with people are usually my favourites…there’s an illustration of a lady sat at a desk on a computer that I like.
What do you hope people take away from the finished work?
SC: Hopefully my illustrations help people navigate the British Library website, and add a positive element to the user experience.
Was there anything you learned while working on the project that surprised you?
SC: It may well be general knowledge to some, but I didn’t know until this project that the British Library is the biggest library in the world (by number of items in its collection…170+ million) and adds 3 million new items every year!check_circle
