About Me

Ian David Marsden – Internationally Experienced Illustrator, Cartoonist, and Animator

français CV & Témoignages | deutsch Lebenslauf & Referenzen

Ian David Marsden

Place de la Liberté
34270 Claret, France

Phone: +33 (0)6 42 49 82 11
E-mail: ian@marsdenillustration.com
Website: https://marsdenillustration.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idmarsden/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarsdenIllustration

Download my CV as a PDF

I am an independent illustrator, designer, cartoonist, and animator, and I also produce whiteboard and explainer videos.

I’m Ian David Marsden, an independent illustrator, designer, cartoonist, and animator with a passion for storytelling through art. My work spans everything from whiteboard and explainer videos to iconic branding projects like the original Google Doodles.

A Journey Rooted in Art:

Born in 1967 in Greenwich Village, New York City, my early years were steeped in the vibrant artistic culture of the neighborhood. Encouraged by the community and my parents, I developed a deep love for drawing, which only grew stronger after our move to Zurich, Switzerland. It was here that I immersed myself in comics, discovering Mad Magazine, underground comics, and the rich world of Franco-Belge bandes dessinées.

From School Doodles to Professional Cartoonist:

My schoolbooks quickly became filled with doodles, much to the dismay of some teachers, but this led to my first professional work at just 16, when I became the youngest cartoonist for Switzerland’s renowned satire magazine, Nebelspalter. By 18, I had my own studio in Zurich, working with high-profile clients like Swiss Television, VISA, a weekly comic strip in Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich, and illustrating for virtually all Swiss magazines and newspapers, as well as national advertising campaigns.

A Diverse Career Across Continents:

My career took me from Zurich to Santa Monica, California, where I studied Traditional and Computer Animation. This period saw my work published in The New Yorker and MAD Magazine and led to my role in designing the first Google Doodles and becoming adept in designing and animating web animation. I’ve also served as a creative director for companies like Ja-Tail Enterprises and Plushland Inc., where I managed everything from album art to plush toy designs.

Living and Working in France:

Since 2006, I’ve made my home in the beautiful Languedoc region of France. From my home studio, I collaborate with global clients, creating everything from illustrations for Mercedes-Benz to graphic novels. My recent projects include the graphic novel, “Marvin,” based on the biography of musician and composer Marvin Hamlisch (2020), and ongoing work on self-written children’s books and graphic novels.

Career Highlights:

• Published in The New Yorker, MAD Magazine, and many other international magazines and newspapers

• Designer of the first Google Doodles

• National Cartoonist Society, Reuben Award nominee for New Media (2002)

• Mascot designer for global events, including the 2003 Ski World Championship

• Featured artist and brand ambassador with Wacom

• Illustrated books and children’s books for various publishers

• Ritzenhoff Designer

Education & Expertise:

I honed my craft at institutions like the F+F School for Art and Design in Zurich, Switzerland, and the Academy of Entertainment Technology, Santa Monica College. My educational background in graphic design and animation has been complemented by over three decades of professional experience in illustration and design.

Languages:

Fluent in English and German/Swiss German; proficient in French; basic Italian.

My diverse clientele includes:

AN2V, All Stars Project, Auto Bild, Autour du Pic, Blick Online, Blocklearning.ch, BOLD Werbung GmbH, Breaksru GmbH, Bref, Carlos Dias, Chemmedia, Club de la Presse Occitanie, Coca Cola, Coley & Associates, Comité des Fêtes Vacquières, Curtius Lütten Werbeagentur GmBH, Deutsche Telecom, Dfreeeze App, die Kleinert Bildarchiv, Diesel Jeans UK, Digades, Domaine Les Tuileries, Dräger Global, Drägerwerk AG, Droemer Knaur Verlag, Ecoforest, Evonik Industries, Executive Learning Systems, Federal Acquisitions Institute, Fernsehen DRS, Fox Television, Fraunhofer, Friars Club New York, GMX Glückwunschkarten, Google, Hairloss.com, HauntedHollywood, Hawlik Naturpilze, Henkel, Hermes Pakete, Infospace.com, Inspired Arts & Media, Jay Abraham Strategy Institute, John Morrison / Johnny Mundo, Johner Institut, Justhappiness Montpellier, KHW, La Gravette de Corconne, La Toya Jackson, LandLiebe Schweiz, LAP Vorbereitung, Le Mas du Sire, Les Héritieres de Bacchus, Lindt Chocolate, Mac Directory, MAD Magazine, MADant LtD, MAN, Mairie de Vacquières, Marktrezept.de, Mas de Figuier, Max Curious, New York, METRO, Mövenpick, Mycotrition GmbH, Nebelspalter, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Novartis, O Mas Troquet Restaurant, Parc Le Duc, PartyPOW!, Plushland, Publicis, PwC, Ransom Publishing, Richmond, Ringier Verlag, RITZENHOFF, Rock Brasiliano, Roland Berger, Samsung, Sanafort AG, Santillana, Schiffer Publishing, Seele, Sens Digital, Showtime Television, Sieber & Wolf, Ski WM 2003, Stadtwerke Wedel, Strobe Solutions, Sustain D, Take the 55, Telekom, The New Yorker, TIR, Top Source Wines, Universal Music Group, Universität Bern, Universität Zürich, Volkswagen Sedric, VISA, Wacom, Web.de, Yantramatte, YJOO, Zum Goldenen Hirschen, Zürich Gym

Select Client Testimonials:

“In 2019 I redesigned my internet presence. Together with Ian, I developed a new logo, which puts more emphasis on my consulting personality. We have done this well and I am very grateful for Ian’s support. The icons we developed and the illustrations on the website www.breaksru.ch are very appealing and please me and my customers again and again. What I really appreciated about working with Ian was that he responded to my wishes and was very quick to implement them. Thank you very much, anytime again.”
March 11 2020 – **Suzanne Ruf**, owner of breaksru gmbh

“Ian is not only a very talented illustrator but also an accomplished designer and corporate identity developer. He has his own distinct style but his designs are very much customer focused and oriented. The work Ian did for iShepherd can be best described as that he understood our concept and vision from the first drawings he made. The thing that I personally admire the most about his work from an artistic perspective is the conceptual variety he comes up with, but with a constant consistency. Business with a small flair of fun or unexpected “Easter eggs”. I hope we are able to call upon Ian’s support for a long time coming.”

March 6 2020 – **Harro Wiersma** is the CEO of iShepherd, Inc.

“I worked with Ian on several projects, such as our illustratedvideos for Mycotrition GmbH: https://www.mycotrition.com/en/about-us/our-videos We were always very pleased with his work. Ian is a great guy. Thank you, Ian”

March 16 2020 *– **Sebastian Schmode**, COO at Hawlik Group, Dronania Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Mycotrition GmbH*

“Ian was always a pleasure to work with. His creativity and ideas always helped us achieve results beyond what we had hoped. We recommend Ian without reservation for any design, web and illustration needs.”

Tony Weber, President – Plushland, Inc. Los Angeles

“Ian Marsden is a highly gifted and talented animator and artist. He truly does deliver superlative work. But the real magic behind Ian’s astonishing animations is his ability to listen closely to what the client wants to to perfectly blend his own vision with the client’s to deliver work that is always provocative and deeply insightful. I worked with Ian on several projects, from rock & roll videos to public service annoucnements. He is personable, generous and very warm. It has been my pleasure.”

Michael Garcia, Vice President at BrightBulb Solutions, Los Angeles

“Ian’s talents are wide and deep. He takes a concept that you think is great already and delivers a final result which makes you have to revise upwards your idea of “great”. Ian adds new dimensions and polish to the projects I’ve used him on. Professional. Detail-oriented. Reliable.”

Michael James Kacey, Owner at Anthracite Films, LLC

Ian was my favorite Illustrator working on an animation project I directed. He supplied us with many cutting edge assets in very short dead-lines. It was a pleasure working together.

Avi Graiver, Animation Director, Animation Cowboy Studio

Download PDF Portfolio

CV Ian Marsden English | CV Ian Marsden Français | CV Ian Marsden Deutsch

For a partial client list and testimonials please visit my biography page.