stylized

This term describes a deliberate departure from realism to emphasize a specific aesthetic or conceptual goal. It suggests a conscious choice by an artist to prioritize form, pattern, or symbolic meaning over an accurate anatomical or physical representation. In modern design, it often implies a process of simplification or abstraction, such as turning a complex object into a minimalist icon.

While "abstract" refers to a broader removal of representational qualities, "stylized" typically maintains a recognizable link to the original subject. A stylized drawing of a cat is still clearly a cat, but its proportions or lines are modified to fit a particular artistic convention. It is commonly used in discussions of animation, graphic design, and architecture to describe a cohesive visual language.