client
Cairngorm National Park Authority
scope
sector
Public sector – Conservation and Planning Authority
Creating visual anchors to aid navigation and unify related digital content
The Cairngorms National Park Authority recently launched a new website to better showcase the park’s work and significance.
Covering 6% of Scotland, the Cairngorms is the UK’s largest National Park, renowned for its stunning landscapes and iconic wildlife. It holds one quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species, and nearly half of its area is considered ‘wild land’.
Home to 18,000 residents and welcoming two million visitors each year, the Park plays a vital role in both nature and community. The new website makes it easier for people to engage with and understand this special place.
project brief
Seven illustrations were needed to support content structure and improve the user experience of the new website. They had to act as visual headings, guiding visitors through key sections of the site. The style needed to be hand-drawn and sketch-like, avoiding straight lines and hard edges. This was essential to reflect the natural, organic character of the National Park.
Each illustration had to feel at home within the Cairngorms National Park brand. Subjects needed to be clear, recognisable, and show the link between nature, people, and place. Together, they had to capture the Park’s unique identity and core values.
The approach
Pen and Ink Explorations
I began by researching reference images for each of the seven categories the illustrations would represent: News and views, Consultations, Meetings, Documents, Paths, Events, and Marker.
Initial hand-drawn sketches captured the Park’s natural, organic style without straight lines. The designs balanced detailed close-ups with broader landscapes to reflect the Cairngorms’ scale and wonder.
Digitalisation and Refinement
I then digitised the illustrations before refining. This preserved the hand-drawn quality and ensured scalable vector graphics with transparent backgrounds, and no loss of quality at any size.
Final Illustrations
The final illustrations align with the Park’s brand, and effectively support content organisation and user experience across the website.
A Humble Contribution
I appreciated the chance to create illustrations that improve the user experience. They give the website a softer, more welcoming feel. The illustrations also serve as anchors, unifying related content.
