# Can a sign-up illustration reduce logins and registrations?

Author: Ali Abouelatta
Source date: 2024-08-02
Tags: signup, onboarding, conversion, illustration
HTML: https://design.lazyweb.com/blog/spotify-sign-up-illustration-test
Markdown: https://design.lazyweb.com/blog/spotify-sign-up-illustration-test.md

Short answer: Yes. Ali's Spotify example shows that even adding an illustration to an otherwise plain signup screen lost against the simpler control. The change did not add a new decision, but it added visual competition around the same signup, social-login, and login actions.

> Ali's Spotify example shows that even adding an illustration to an otherwise plain signup screen lost against the simpler control.

## Visuals

### Primary visual: Spotify signup screen experiment comparing a plain control against an illustrated experiment.

Image URL: https://design.lazyweb.com/research-assets/boring-sign-up-screens/05-spotify-signup-experiment.jpg
Original image URL: https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b4ead1ec-7cb6-45b4-a91c-089935738ff9_6903x3996.png
Image description: Spotify tested a plain black signup screen against a similar screen with added background illustration; the visual says the illustration lost.

## Evidence

The Spotify visual isolates a smaller change than the video tests: a plain black signup control against a similar screen with illustrated background portraits.

## What changed

- Control: black Spotify signup screen with a clear green primary CTA and social login options.
- Experiment: similar layout with added illustration behind the Spotify mark and headline.
- The experiment changed visual emphasis without improving the action set.

## Why it matters

- Delight does not have to be heavy to distract; a simple illustration can be enough.
- Signup screens should earn every decorative element against the cost of weaker action clarity.

## Sources

- [1] Lazyweb Research: Spotify signup illustration test. Ali says the Spotify example shows that adding an illustration to an otherwise plain signup screen hurt logins and registrations. [Source](https://read.first1000.co/p/use-boring-sign-up-screens)

## Methodology

Product-experiment write-up by Ali Abouelatta, dated on August 2, 2024. Source links are listed below.

- [First 1000 issue](https://read.first1000.co/p/use-boring-sign-up-screens)

## Related research

- [Why should sign-up screens be boring?](https://design.lazyweb.com/blog/boring-sign-up-screens)
- [What did Ring learn from testing a boring sign-up screen?](https://design.lazyweb.com/blog/ring-boring-sign-up-screen)
- [What did AllTrails learn from testing a boring sign-up screen?](https://design.lazyweb.com/blog/alltrails-boring-sign-up-screen)