Illustrations are another way to amp up your brand and marketing designs. Unlike graphic design, illustrations are more engaging and welcoming. And in this article, we’ll tell you some illustrator art tips for your DIY projects or professionally-made illustration designs.
What are Illustrations?
Illustrations are sometimes interchangeably used with graphic design. However, the two have noticeable differences:
Graphic Design:
- Mainly used for commercial purposes
- Leans towards the modern world to vie for attention
- More flexible design used on almost any branding and marketing material such as logos, billboards, business cards, etc.
- Relies on fundamental principles such as typography, texture, balance, colors, etc
- Needs extensive target audience research
- Clear and easy to understand
Illustrations:
- Related more to fine art
- Offers a more creative and lighthearted communication style
- A powerful element that drives the creative field
- Interprets even the most complicated concepts or ideas
- Depends mainly on the illustrator’s style
- Requires more skill, experience, and expertise
- Sometimes ambiguous
Illustrations: Should You DIY or Hire Experts?
Illustrator art is fun when you know the ins and outs of this field. If you have ample experience and skill, it’s cost-efficient to DIY. Otherwise, it’s best to hire professionals. Here’s a rundown of the pros and cons of both options:
DIY Illustrator Art
Pros:
- Saves you money because you can download free and paid illustrator art tools online
- Allows you to revise your illustrations without paying extra
- You can choose from a bunch of illustration templates
Cons:
- Not unique illustrations
- Some online tools need a learning curve to use
- DIY projects will take a massive chunk of your time
- Other brands may use the same templates, which doesn’t make your brand stand out
- You’ll be paying more illustration tools’ features
- Risks branding consistency
Hiring Professionals for Illustrations
Pros:
- Illustration outcomes are distinct and unique
- You’ll have professional designs that outmatch the competition
- Ensures customer satisfaction through relevant illustrations
- No common and cliche illustration templates
- Offers you good ROI when used for marketing campaigns
Cons:
- Some illustrators come with steep professional fees
- Finding the most suitable illustrator is challenging
8 Illustration Tips for Your Personal or Professional Projects
Regardless of what route you’re taking when creating illustrations, make sure you read these illustrator art tips. That way, you’ll gain some helpful insight into making your design outcomes more captivating.
1. Focus on a style
Brands are continuously evolving their branding and marketing designs. They would choose illustrators with versatile skills and styles. But if you’re starting in this creative field, find a style that fits your skill.
Digital illustrations come in many different forms, such as animes, caricatures, concept art, fantasy, cartoons, and more. Focus and master one style and familiarize the rest. This way, clients will choose you over others because you have an edge.
2. Read up on illustrator art tricks, trends, and principles
They say that practice makes perfect and experience is the best teacher. However, you may start with theory to gain a standard for creating illustrations. Follow the best illustrators worldwide or read illustration-related websites to learn more about this field.
Better yet, you can join social media groups or forums that revolve around illustrations and illustrator art tools. Trust me. You’ll learn something new every day, which you can apply to the creation process.
3. Practice daily
The best illustrator art tip that you can gain from this article is to practice daily. When you encourage yourself and allocate a couple of minutes per day to practice, you’re already putting yourself at an advantage.
Make sure that you have a regular schedule to create illustrations or small passion projects. Then stick to that schedule. Do this every day, and you’d be surprised how fast you’ll improve over the weeks or months.
4. Carry a sketchbook
Illustrators shouldn’t be limited to their creativity. As you know, creativity and ideas can strike anytime. That said, it’s vital to carry a sketchbook with you. Who knows, an idea might come up while you’re riding the bus to work. When you have a sketchbook in tow all the time, you can quickly doodle the illustrations that come to mind.
5. Don’t rely too much on digital tools
Although digital illustration tools can create wonders, there’s nothing wrong with going the traditional route. Some of these tools may require a learning curve and even hefty fees to be used to their maximum potential.
Remember that learning to draw is still one of the essential tips that can lead you to become a better illustrator. So don’t rely too much on digital tools. Try to diversify your portfolio (if you’re building it) by including some digital and manual illustrations. This will only expand your network and attract more interested clients.
6. Get inspiration from excellent illustrators
One of the ways to learn illustrations fast is to learn from the best. Follow the top and well-reputable illustrators worldwide. Check out their styles and techniques so you can apply a thing or two to your small and big projects.
You may collect magazines that feature incredible illustrations, or you can also attend illustrator art galleries and exhibits. Don’t limit your thirst for illustration knowledge and techniques.
7. Never copy others’ styles
One element that will make you stand out as an illustrator is your distinct style. So never copy others’ styles as this doesn’t help you excel in this field. If you find an illustrator with a similar style that you like, you can always put a twist into it and make it your own.
8. Try creating briefs
Whether you’re working with illustrators or clients, a design brief is an essential step before embarking on the design process. A simple misunderstanding of the design brief could lead to disaster or revisions.
That said, try creating varied design briefs and see if the instructions are clear and complete. Include all the necessary details that will make the design process easier.
Conclusion
Illustration is a beautiful and compelling art form that you can use for your personal or business projects. If you’re pursuing this road as an illustrator, make sure to do these simple tips, and you’ll be soaring your way in this industry.
