Illustrations vividly described by son (8)
I believe the answer is:
graphics
'illustrations' is the definition.
'vividly described by son' is the wordplay.
'vividly described' becomes 'graphic' (I've seen this before).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'son' becomes 's'.
'graphic'+'s'='GRAPHICS'
(Other definitions for graphics that I've seen before include "Pictures" , "Letterings and drawings" , "Illustrations, drawings" , "Visual representations, in printed matter perhaps" , "Drawings and photographs in printed publication" .)