16 Best Day of the Dead Design Assets: Sugar Skull, Marigold, Altars & More

If you've been touched by Disney and Pixar's heartwarming film “Coco,” you're probably familiar with the vibrant and meaningful celebration known as Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.

In this article, we'll dive into the rich history and captivating stories behind the Día de los Muertos and discover a collection of Day of the Dead icons, illustrations, 3D illustrations, and Lottie animations that you can use in celebration of this special day.

What is the Day of the Dead?

The Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos is a beautiful and heartwarming tradition, deeply rooted in Mexican culture. It offers a unique way to cherish the memory of loved ones, celebrating their life and legacy with vivid colors, sugar skulls, and marigold flowers. The festival is a tribute, designed to honor and welcome the spirits of those who have departed, radiating happiness and celebrating love and remembrance.

When is the Day of the Dead celebrated?

The Day of the Dead is a two-day event that begins at sunset on October 31st. November 1st, known as Día de los Inocentes or Día de los Angelitos, translates to the Day of the Innocents or the Day of the Little Angels and is dedicated to remembering departed children.

On November 2nd, Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos, the Day of the Dead or the Day of the Deceased, is observed. This day commemorates adult ancestors and friends. People visit cemeteries, often staying throughout the day and night.

During these days, individuals clean and decorate gravesites while also creating elaborate ofrendas (offerings) in their homes or at burial sites. These ofrendas are filled with food, music, flowers, and personal mementos, serving as a heartfelt way to welcome and honor the spirits of the departed.

Decorate your design with Day of the Dead elements

Now that you know a little bit about this special day it's time to join and celebrate it yourself. Decorate your brand or designs during this period or schedule a post to wish those who celebrate it and also show your respects.

What does it symbolize?

Before diving into the decorating process, it's beneficial to understand the meanings behind the elements associated with the festival. Here's a brief breakdown:

• Altars: Families create altars in their homes, adorned with offerings for the deceased, such as food, candles, incense, and photographs.
• Marigolds: These vibrant orange flowers are commonly used to decorate altars and graves, symbolizing the fragility of life.
• Sugar Skulls: Colorful, ornate skulls made of sugar or clay, often customized with the name of the deceased.
• Pan de Muerto: A sweet, round bread adorned with bone-shaped dough, typically placed on the altar as an offering.
• Candles: Used to light the way for the spirits of the deceased and to symbolize hope and remembrance.
• Photos and Mementos: Images and keepsakes of the deceased are placed on the ofrenda to honor and remember them.
• Calacas and Catrinas: Skeleton figurines dressed in fancy attire used in various decorations.
• Music: Mariachi bands and traditional Mexican music are played to entertain the spirits.
• Face Painting: Many people paint their faces to resemble sugar skulls or the Catrina, an elegant female skeleton figure.
• Crosses and Religious Symbols: Included in the ofrenda to honor the deceased's religious beliefs.

Now that you're all set, here are 16 Day of the Dead-themed design asset packs filled with altars, candles, marigold flowers, sugar skulls, and more that are perfect for social media, apps, websites, and other platforms! One might even say these assets make them feel ‘un poco loco’.

Candle, food, skull and more Day of the Dead 3D illustrations

Gravestone decorations and more Day of the Dead Lottie animations

Dancing, music, reunion and more Day of the Dead Illustrations

Flowers, guitar, costume and more Day of the Dead icons

Where to use design assets?

You can use these assets in multiple ways; it's all about how creative you get. Here are some ideas:

1. Share warm greeting cards and e-invites with family and friends.
2. Redesign your mobile applications or websites for a seasonal touch.
3. Incorporate them into your marketing materials like newsletters, banners, and advertisements.
4. Add them to your social media posts.
5. Use them as stickers in your chat applications.
6. Enhance your physical product packaging with illustrations or icons.

Another way to celebrate this special day is by using colors that symbolize Día de los Muertos, such as yellow, orange, red, purple, pink, and white. You can easily customize Day of the Dead Lottie animations with the Lottie Editor or tweak Day of the Dead illustrations and icons using the Color Editor tool in IconScout. If you're looking for a lively touch with Day of the Dead 3D illustrations, you can change colors and angles using the glTF 3D Editor.

We hope these design elements inspire you to create something special during this meaningful time of remembrance. If you're looking for more, explore our collection of Day of the Dead design assets on our website.