Stack & Drop – A participative way to illustrate &effect – An individual solution for a Software Company.

I developed a set of corporate illustrations for the software company “&effect Data Solutions GmbH”. I had the vision to create an individual graphic set combined in one tool, that empowers the individuals in the company to actively implement the company's corporate identity. Through an intuitive user interface, they now can effortlessly combine various graphic elements according to their specific needs.

How it works: Select elements in the gallery view for browsing, use the list view where graphics are sorted by categories or search for certain keywords – perfect when you're searching for specific attributes. Additionally, you can adjust the canvas ratio and activate layout guides. Choose between a vibrant orange theme or an elegant, sophisticated petrol theme.

Tool Briefing: How to Use the Stack & Drop Tool

Description

The tool empowers you to actively implement your company's corporate identity. Through an intuitive user interface, you can effortlessly combine various graphic elements according to your specific needs. Select elements visually in the gallery view for browsing, or use the list view where graphics are sorted by categories – perfect when you're searching for specific attributes. Additionally, you can adjust the canvas ratio and activate layout guides to refine your composition.

Choose between a vibrant orange theme or an elegant, sophisticated petrol theme. Click the export button and your illustration is ready to use immediately.

Canvas Settings

Orientation & Ratio:

• Select from predefined aspect ratios (e.g., 16:9 for social media, hover for specific use case examples)

• Choose between horizontal or vertical orientation

Layout Guides:

• Select „Show Layout Guides“ to activate alignment helpers

Graphic Selection

Browsing & Selecting:

• Browse through expandable categories, each containing different graphics

• Select a maximum of 1 graphic per category

• Combine up to 4 graphics total on your canvas

Special rule: L-size graphics can only be combined with 1 additional graphic

Additional Features:

• Click the info icon for a brief description of each category

• Experiment playfully with different combinations and compositions to discover what works best

Color Theme:

• Switch between orange (vibrant) and petrol (elegant) themes to match your project's mood

Use Cases

This tool is perfect for:

Presentations – Create impactful visual slides

Applications – Enhance UI/UX with branded illustrations

Merchandise – Design graphics for products

Small Projects – Quick visuals for campaigns or content

Layouts – Compose branded page designs

Tip: Don't be afraid to experiment – finding the right combination is part of the creative process!

Kategories

Actions

How does your work get done? Actions show operational processes – collecting data, connecting systems, refining code, planning timelines, presenting results. Use these to illustrate workflows and the concrete steps that drive your project forward.

Impact

What happens because of your work? Impact shows outcomes beyond technical implementation – research findings, decisions, communication, execution. Use these to demonstrate how your project influences change and creates value.

Principals

What qualities define your system? Principals represent foundational values like accessibility, modularity, security, and scalability. Use these when discussing architecture decisions and the principles guiding your technical choices.

Sector

Where does your work create impact? Sector graphics represent industries – finance, healthcare, labor, environment, education. Use these to anchor technical work in real-world applications and demonstrate domain expertise.

Services

What does your team deliver? Services show specialized capabilities – data governance, infrastructure, AI integration, web development. Use these to present offerings, propose scopes, and communicate technical competencies.

Character

Who are the people in your story? Characters bring the human element through diverse avatars. Use these to represent users, team members, stakeholders, and make technical concepts more relatable.

Single

What specific element clarifies your message? Singles are versatile icons – charts, devices, concepts. Use these alone or combine them to create custom illustrations and emphasize key points.