I decided to push my Figma skills and create a hyper-detailed motherboard illustration.

Using a real motherboard photo as my guide, I tried to match the colors with my eyes alone. This 15-hour challenge was addictive. Still, I'm calling it done (for now).

Here's what I learned from this fun experiment:

• Realistic shadows are tough!

• Black and gray shades make it hard to add depth.

• Textures are essential.

• Gradients, inner shadows, and drop shadows can add a 3D effect to anything.

While I likely won't create illustrations this detailed for work (they're too time-consuming!), this was an amazing learning experience. As a Product Designer, I often incorporate illustrations into my work (think onboarding, empty states, etc.). This exercise has given me valuable new techniques to implement.