2. Developing a Process…
The Key to Successful Illustrative Design
• Your mind is your best tool for design
and illustration.
• Creative preparation: what you need to do
before you begin producing an illustration
(research, concept development)
• Use conceptual thinking methods to isolate
and discover clever concepts in your
illustration work
• Word associations
• Mind mapping
• Before, during & after
• Illustrators & Designers need to be relevant
• Saturate your mind with information
• Research topic, audience, & visuals
• Broaden interest knowledge base
• Take in and understand information from
a diverse range of non-design focused
topics (history, anthropology, sociology,
mythology, dance, art, etc.)
• Read, glean and pull information from all
sources, not just design books
• Cultivate your design knowledge in
order to form visual ideas that a
mainstream audience can relate to
and resonate with.
3. Developing a Process…
The Key to Successful Illustrative Design
• Design & illustration is a style driven media.
• Part of solving a visual solution is picking an
appropriate style for any given project to
improve appeal to audience.
• Picking a style can help improve appeal to
intended audience.
• Style can attract, distract or repel those who
interact with it.
• The concept may be good, but the
personality of the style you choose may be
inappropriate for the audience.
• Take the time to identify who the intended
audience is and what style will deliver the
message most effectively.
• Collect reference material before drawing.
• Having reference materials will assist you in
determining shapes and forms to stylize
your final art.
• Use reference materials to:
• Improve decision making
• Guide refinements
• Capture essence
• Figure out what to draw and what
not to include
