Custom Illustrations

But why exactly are illustrations so impactful?

Both illustrations and graphic design can be used to make brands stand out, but illustrations are impactful for several reasons:

1. Visual appeal: Humans are naturally drawn to visuals, and illustrations catch the eye and hold attention more effectively than plain text.
2. Emotional connection: Illustrations have the ability to evoke emotions and connect with the viewer on a deeper level, making them more memorable and influential.
3. Simplifying complex concepts: Illustrations can simplify complicated or abstract concepts, making them easier to understand and more relatable to a wider audience.
4. Uniqueness: Illustrations can be tailored to fit a specific message, brand, or audience, making them more unique and memorable than generic stock photos or images.
5. Storytelling: Illustrations have the power to tell a story or convey a message in a way that words alone cannot, creating a more engaging and immersive experience for the viewer.

Overall, illustrations have a powerful impact because they engage the viewer on a visual and emotional level, simplify complex ideas, and create a unique and memorable experience.

Which are the most popular illustration styles?

If you decide you want your own custom illustrations, there are plenty of cool styles to explore to let your artist know what you want. Here are a few of the most popular ones:

• Freehand: Hand-drawn illustrations are made using good-ol’-fashioned drawing tools like pencils and pens. They’re great for achieving a more natural and organic look.
• Vector: Vector illustrations are created using fancy tools like professional software or apps. They’re perfect for making super clean and sharp visuals that can be resized without losing quality (because they’re made with math, not pixels)!
• Digital: Digital illustrations are made using digital drawing software. They’re perfect for captivating audiences and telling stories through images.
• 3D: Cutting-edge illustrations are brought to life with 3D modeling software and a whole arsenal of nifty brushes and tools. They can sculpt and model their way to creating intricate pieces that look just like the real deal. Are often used to show off ideas in a really realistic way.

How do I use art illustrations in branding and marketing strategies?

Custom illustrations can be used in a variety of ways to help boost your business and marketing strategies. Here are some of the best ways to utilize custom illustrations:

• Websites: If you want your website to stand out from the crowd, custom illustrations are the way to go. Brands use animated illustrations, like motion graphics or Lottie files, to spice up their pages with some serious WOW factor to their pages and increase their conversion rates. It’s all about that visual identity.
• Social media: The use of unique illustrations on social media enhances visibility and interaction. They effectively convey ideas and thoughts to your audience, making it easier for them to recall and share. A little free re-sharing never hurts, especially in today’s economy.
• Marketing materials: Blog articles, banners, posters, email newsletters, infographics, print graphics, brand avatars, mascots, and so much more. All of those marketing materials can benefit from using custom illustrations that will stand out for your audience, and maintain your brand’s visual identity.
• Product packaging: Customized packaging creates a memorable experience for your clients when they are the most excited to contact your brand. This can be effect for products that are available inside a store or supermarket, but also for e-commerce products for shipping.
• Onboarding screens and manuals: When your client just made a purchase with you and wants to start using your product as soon as possible, that’s one moment to delight them with a great experience. Personalized illustrations can be helpful and compelling to your clients in such an important step of the process.
• Merchandise: Illustrations can be used to create original merchandise, such as t-shirts, mugs, and stickers, catching more eyes on the street than you think!

What types of custom illustrations can you use?

Custom illustrations can be used in a variety of ways, from logos and icons to complex visuals and graphic animations. Some of the most popular types of custom illustrations include:

• Custom icons: Illustrated icons are super easy to understand, no matter if someone speaks Chinese or English. Take the thumbs up, for example – everyone gets it! They’re a quick way to share your message and, once you create a set of branded icons, you can use them in lots of different places.
• Illustrated characters and cartoons: Add some spice to your designs with unique illustrated characters that stick in customers’ minds. Characters give your business a face that people can connect with and remember, making your brand more personal.
• Awesome infographics: Transform your infographic into eye-catching visuals with custom illustrations. These graphic illustrations help your audience grasp complicated ideas and data more easily, all while keeping your brand style consistent. Who says data can’t be pretty? Certainly not us!
• Animated illustrations: Animations connect directly with your audience, letting them engage with complex processes or explanations in an authentic way. Explainer videos with illustrations help people remember more information, too.
• Creative concept art: Turn those fantastic ideas in your head into colorful, detailed illustrations. Imagine impossible scenes, creatures, and characters coming to life with a magical and futuristic twist that’s hard to find anywhere else.
• Book art illustrations: We believe all books should have illustrations – it just makes the world a better place. Whether it’s for children’s books or more serious reads, illustrations bring stories to life, making them more appealing, memorable, and engaging.
• Impressive presentations: Make a lasting impression at important meetings by ditching boring stock photos. Invest in custom illustrations for a presentation that wows every time. Unique graphics will give your slides an unforgettable look, leaving your audience impressed long after the presentation ends.

How to incorporate custom illustrations into your brand

If you believe that custom illustrations play a secondary role in branding design, it’s time to reconsider. Personalized illustrations require thoughtful consideration when aligning a corporate campaign with your business’s messaging and core values. Neglecting custom illustrations can result in a lackluster brand design at best. In 2024, attention spans are shorter than ever, making any chance to stand out and enhance brand recall a no-brainer.

Smart brands are fully embracing the potential of custom illustrations, seamlessly incorporating them into various mediums such as animation, Lottie files, digital billboards, and kiosk screen displays. Don’t relegate custom illustrations to a minor role in your branding strategy – leverage them wisely and creatively!

What digital tools can you use to create custom illustrations?

Several platforms are available for creating custom illustrations, with Adobe Illustrator being the most common choice. As an industry-standard vector graphics software, Adobe Illustrator is widely favored by professional illustrators and designers. It provides an extensive array of tools and features to craft high-quality illustrations. At Deer Designer, all designers utilize Adobe, sharing both the final files and source files.

Another well-regarded platform is Procreate, an app enabling users to produce digital illustrations in diverse styles. Professionals and beginners alike appreciate Procreate for its user-friendly tools and features, facilitating the creation of both basic and unique illustrations.

How to choose the right designer or illustrator for your needs?

Finding an illustrator shouldn’t be a hassle, but the truth is, that traditional methods make it time-consuming and costly. That’s why Deer Designer simplifies the sourcing and portfolio search for you. We collaborate with you and your brand to make the connection between you and the right illustrators for your campaigns, removing the heavy lifting. Sharing examples, creative direction, and your ideas help us set you up for success!

Tell us your project’s requirements like any other design request. Provide details in your creative brief and share references and examples of the illustrations you need. Cover everything from custom graphic art specifications to where and on what platforms it will be used. Consider illustration styles that align with your brand’s aesthetic and overall campaign.

Ensure both parties are on the same page regarding deadlines and expectations. Throughout the process, offer feedback and make sure the illustrator understands your vision. Effective communication is crucial, so stay in touch and provide timely feedback. Avoid getting stuck in a feedback loop; invest in a service like Deer Designer for quick and easy communication of constructive feedback.

Illustrators are among the most sought-after talents in the creative industry, and they can be costly. However, getting an exceptionally talented designer paired with your brand overnight is possible with Deer Designer. We source professional illustrators, so you don’t have to sift through freelance portfolios. Pay one flat rate monthly for all your illustration needs. Say goodbye to tedious portfolio searches and welcome an on-demand creative perfectly matched to your brand—watch the magic unfold!

How to find quality unlimited illustrating services?

Hiring a graphic illustrator can be done on a freelance, part-time, or full-time basis for various projects like magazines, books, ads, and digital work. While freelancers are a common choice, the process can be time-consuming and repetitive, as you need to provide directions for branding and quality expectations with each project. Imagine how much easier it could be to provide project instructions and, like magic, receive a perfectly on-brand and visually trendy result.

That’s the magic Deer Designer’s service brings to every project. Each assigned illustrator works with your brand profile and creative brief to ensure an amazing end result for your campaign, with full visibility and transparency throughout the process—all for one flat monthly fee, so you never go out of scope again!

Deer Designer offers unlimited graphics with unlimited revisions, offering you an experience similar to having an entire design department at your disposal (minus the water cooler chats). This subscription-based, flat-rate design service is an excellent solution for small to medium-sized businesses and agencies to access top-tier creative illustrators and designers without the need to expand their payroll with a whole new team.

To sum it up:

Custom illustrations are a fantastic way to distinguish your business and make it stand out in a crowded digital landscape, enhancing brand recall in an era of short attention spans. Whether it’s logos, icons, characters, or animations, custom illustrations offer diverse ways to craft a memorable and distinctive brand.

By leveraging custom illustration services, you can elevate your marketing graphics, leading to increased conversions. Get your own design team from Deer Designer today to explore the possibilities of flat-rate, unlimited design services that can propel your brand to new heights.