BUILDING YOUR POWER
How To Work With an Illustrator
an interview with the Visual Ambassador
Q: How do you determine whether illustration or photography is appropriate for your design concept?
A: Sometimes it’s easy: if the idea calls for an impossible picture, like a banana slug surfing on a comet. Usually, though, it just depends on the project. Some designers like to use illustration to prevent people taking the idea too literally, but really either medium can produce images that are as evocative or metaphorical as you want. I don’t know that there are any hard and fast rules.
Q: What are the benefits of choosing illustration?
A: That’s a big question. Nowadays I’d say that illustration is a good way to set your project apart from its surroundings: there’s an awful lot of photography out there. From a practical standpoint the distinctions are minor – costs are similar, time frame is similar – so the big difference there is that you (the designer) stay more involved throughout the process of illustration, compared to photography, where it’s pretty much a done deal the moment the shutter clicks.
Q: What are the best resources to start looking for illustrators?
A: A good place to start is online: reps’ sites (like scotthull.com, thank you very much) and portfolio sites (theispot.com, altpick.com, folioplanet.com) are all good resources. There are also resource books such as Workbook, and then there are directories like Communication Arts, Society of Illustrators, Spark, and so forth. Any of those should point you in the right direction.
Q: Will I work directly with the illustrator or an illustration representative? What are the benefits of both?
A: Initially it’ll be the rep who will help define the project and check the artist’s schedule. After that, he or she will put you in touch with the actual artist, at which point you’ll be discussing the project and what it’s all about, what your vision for it is, how open you are to some interpretation on the artist’s end, etc. Really, you’ll be talking to each person when it’s most beneficial – the rep for all the professional, mediator stuff (money talk), and the artist for all the, well, artistic stuff.
Q: Is the fee structure of illustration similar to photography? Usage versus own?
A: Costs for each are similar, except on elaborate photo shoots – models, stylists, location fees, etc can really add up – in which case illustration is generally cheaper. Usage rights and purchase costs are similar as well.
Q: What is meant by stock illustration vs. commissioned illustration?
A: Stock illustration is illustration created beforehand, with no specific project in mind, to “stock” the reserves for the next time someone needs an image. If time and budget allows, we recommend commissioned illustrations, which are made from scratch. Then you’re guaranteed originality and ability to license the image for exclusive purposes. There’s a term in the garment industry: “bespoke.” It means a piece of clothing made specifically for you, by a tailor. The difference when you’re wearing the finished piece is subtle but definite.
Q: If commissioning an original illustration, what is the best way to communicate what I am looking for in the illustration?
A: Just talk the artist through it. Explain the idea and how you got there. Go over the details with all necessary hand gestures, even if you’re talking on the phone. This is a good question because this step is crucial; here’s where you make sure you understand each other. And listen closely for suggestions you hadn’t thought of – a fresh perspective (from an artist – one of your own kind, no less) can sometimes really help define the idea.
Q: If commissioning an original illustration, what can I expect from the illustrator to convey his concept?
A: This is where sketches come in. Here you find out if you and the illustrator really understood each other during that last step, or you discover that she had a totally different take on it that you never even thought of, and it’s great. You’ll know as soon as you see the sketches.
Q: If commissioning an original illustration, will I see a progression of the work along the way?
A: Not generally, but if you’d prefer you can be as involved as you like. Some illustrators will include the intermediate step of a color study in between sketches and final art. For the most part, though, there’s that period of anticipation when you get to look forward to unwrapping that present (or downloading the attachment) and seeing what the illustration fairy sent you.
