Illustrations arguably play the most significant role in web design or app development. If it is for a landing page, mobile app, or even a logo, such illustrations can elevate the design from simple to stunning. However, an illustrator's contribution makes creating stunning illustrations that fit perfectly into your mind's eye vision while integrating into the rest of the design quite tricky, especially if it's the first time working with an illustrator.
Collaboration of design, development, and illustration in itself is art: Use these great tips on working with an illustrator to make the process much easier and more productive, so that both creative and technical sides can get involved in getting the best results.
1. Be Clear on Goals and Vision
The final product must be well-defined before embarking on the illustration process. As an artist or developer, you have probably pictured a final product that looks and works a certain way. However, what an illustrator needs is more than here and there to comprehend where the work fits within the broader picture of your design.
Tips:
Share Inspiration: Whether it's a mood board, sketches, or other artwork examples, reference images will better explain your aesthetic goals to your illustrator.
Clarified Functionality: If you're working on web design or app, explain how the illustrations will fit into the layout. Should they be scalable? Interactive? Do you need icons that can adapt to different screen sizes? These are questions that should be clarified upfront.
From Iconfair's Collection: Find the finest quality vector icons that would inspire your illustrator to match your vision more closely.
2. Establish the Style, Color Palette, and Brand Identity
An illustrator’s style has the power to affect the tone and feel of a design greatly. Whether you want it lean, whimsical, or anything else realistic, let your preferences be known from the very start. The illustration must be well-aligned with the brand identity in order to adhere to the principles of visual consistency.
Tips:
Discuss Colors: Explain to the illustrator the color palette of your brand, even going so far as to give hex codes for fussy specifications.
Be Very Specific About Style: Is it hand-drawn versus vector versus flat? Clear direction as to the general style will keep the illustrator from getting too far off of your intended vision.
Mention Icons from Iconfair: If you are utilizing particular icons or illustrations represented on Iconfair, the illustrator should be informed about them to maintain consistency across all visual elements.
3. Set Deadlines and Budget
As with any collaborative project, an achievable timeline and an agreed budget are essential components. You and the illustrator need to agree on the scope of the project and the time necessary to deliver quality work. Haste is seldom the best approach; therefore, put your expectations on the table.
Tips:
Discuss Phases of the Project: Divide the project into phases, such as initial sketches, revisions, and final delivery; this way, both sides understand the curve of the works.
Negotiate Budget Upfront: Make sure the illustrator knows what your budget is upfront. If it is hourly-based or project-framed, establishing this early avoids misunderstandings.
Confirm Pricing of Resources at Iconfair: If you decide to include Iconfair icons in your project, be sure to understand licensing and pricing right away for budgeting purposes.
4. Clear Frequent Parties involved Effective Communication
Clear and continuous effective communication is the fuel of collaboration. As a designer or developer, there may be specific technical needs that should be discussed with the illustrator, and there may be some questions or clarifications about any aspect of the creativity direction from the latter.
Hints:
Constructive Feedback: While reviewing drafts or concepts, while giving clear, actionable feedback. If something doesn't click with your vision, explain why elaborately and give suggestions for change.
Open to Suggestions: An illustrator would have a rich skill set and can offer suggestions you would never think of. Take their creative input; it might add an extra dimension to your project.
Have Regular Check-Ins: It can prevent possible misunderstandings and keep the project on track with regular meetings or progress updates.
Collaborate with Iconfair’s Community: That might, however, be the easiest way to reach some illustrators who are on a similar project with you.
5. Knowing Formats of Files and Technical Restrictions
From vector files like SVG, AI, and EPS, the raster formats like PNG and JPEG. Knowing the technical limitations of your project is vital to the smooth integration of the illustrations into your design.
Tips:
Know the File Format: Be clear if the scope has to deal with needing scalable vector graphics for responsivity or raster images for web use. Just by knowing all this, you can save time and effort.
Optimize for Web: Large illustration files slow down the loading time of a website. In such a case, ask your illustrator to optimize an image for the web or to provide different versions of the same artwork in variations of sizes.
Check here for Iconfair SVG Icons: If you require vector-based icons in your project, Iconfair stocks a library of SVG icons simply customized for other screen resolutions and sizes.
6. Curtail the Seamless Workflow with Development Team
When illustrations come into play, especially in-app or web development, the collaboration between designers, developers, and illustrators becomes even more important. Developers need the right files and sizes, while designers must ensure that visuals work with user interfaces and user experiences.
Tips:
Give the Right Assets: Make sure you got files from the illustrator in a format that's usable by your developers: vector, layered, or web-optimized, whatever it is.
Work with Responsive Designs: Ensure that all illustrations respond and look good on different screen sizes-from mobile phones to desktops-if you make a website.
Integrate the Iconfair Library: If you're using icons or illustrations from Iconfair, ensure that your developers are provided with the correct files and that the designs work fluidly within the development framework.
7. Grant Freedom of Creativity
Another factor to consider would be, as much as you need to have some specific goals, there are times when the most astounding results are generated from letting the illustrator play around a bit.
Tips:
Trust Their Worth: Illustrators are professionals with their own style and approach to work. Let them do what they do best while keeping the project requirements in view.
Keep the Alignment: Align Creativity with Necessity. Regular touchpoints and feedback ensure that the illustrator stays on track while still producing their best work.
8. Respect Copyrights and Usage Rights
Illustrations are intellectual property, so it is important to respect copyrights, as well as to ensure that you have the appropriate rights to use the art the way you intend. Buy into using the licensing terms prior to any complications.
Tips:
Clarify Rights of Use: Make sure you discuss and document how the illustrations can be used, whether native to your project or reused elsewhere.
Buy Right License: If you're sourcing icons or illustrations from Iconfair, make sure you know the licensing options and ensure the proper usage rights for your project.
Conclusion
Working with an illustrator is both exciting and a bit grueling at times. Yet, establishing good communication lines, and expectations in advance, and then working together on aligning the creative vision with technical needs can conjure stunning designs. Remember, every step in the collaboration-from defining your goals to giving contributes to the final result.
For designers and developers wanting to include quality illustrations within a project, Iconfair has an outstanding collection of high-quality icons and vector-based illustrations that will supplement your designs.