Business Illustration & Campaign Visuals
Communicate Boldly. Deliver Clearly.
Campaign artwork and branded illustrations aligned with your message, built to engage audiences and scale across formats. From local promotions to global activations, visuals are crafted to resonate — in print, digital, or OOH media.
Visual Assets with Strategic Purpose
Inform Visually. Engage Intelligently.
Whiteboard graphics, business comics, and data-infused infographics designed to simplify complexity and enhance understanding. Perfect for explainer videos, training tools, onboarding, and internal communications.
Clarity Through Visual Thinking
Design That Builds Recognition.
From packaging to mascots, icons, and UX visuals — each asset is built for clarity, usability, and brand cohesion. Designed to perform across retail shelves, digital products, and animated environments.
Distinctive Design for Real-World Impact
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Business Illustration & Campaign Visuals
Sometimes a business needs one strong image. Sometimes it needs a whole series of illustrations, characters or visual stories that can carry a subject across a campaign, publication or internal communication project.
I create original commissioned illustration for companies, agencies and organisations. Over the years that has included recycling comics printed directly on Coca-Cola cans, illustrated employee communication for Mercedes-Benz, infection-prevention imagery for Dräger, energy-efficiency comics for SUSTAIN-D, workplace-safety characters for seele and branded visual work for clients including Google and Henkel.
The subjects vary enormously. My job is usually the same: understand what needs to be communicated, find the visual idea, and make an image or sequence that people will actually look at and understand.
I have worked professionally for more than 35 years, directly with clients as well as with agencies, designers and communication teams in Europe, the United States and internationally. In 2000, I became the first official Google Doodle artist.
Have a project in mind? Tell me about it.
Selected Commissioned Work
These projects show some of the different jobs illustration has done for my clients. Some are advertising or campaign pieces. Others are about explaining behaviour, making technical information approachable or creating characters that give a company a recognisable visual voice.
Coca-Cola — Recycling Comics Printed on Cans
For Coca-Cola, I created language-independent comic strips about recycling that were printed directly on cans. The sequences had to communicate without depending on copy, so the action and visual logic needed to be immediately understandable across different languages and markets.
Mercedes-Benz — Illustrated Employee Communication
For Mercedes-Benz, I illustrated an employee guide using characters and everyday workplace situations. Rather than presenting the material as abstract rules, the illustrations show people interacting in recognisable scenarios, giving the communication a more direct and human tone.
View the Mercedes-Benz project →
Dräger — Infection Prevention & Training
My work for Dräger used illustration to make infection-prevention subjects easier to enter visually. The imagery moves between familiar everyday situations and clinical environments, helping communicate hygiene and safety topics without relying entirely on technical language.
SUSTAIN-D — Wordless Energy-Efficiency Comics
For SUSTAIN-D, I created wordless comics about energy efficiency for multilingual housing contexts. The stories explain behaviour through simple situations and consequences rather than long written instructions, allowing the same sequences to work for audiences speaking different languages.
seele GmbH — Oskar and Workplace Safety
For seele GmbH, I developed Oskar, a recurring safety character used in training, presentations, signage and animated communication. Oskar gives workplace-safety messages a consistent visual presence and allows potentially dry or technical information to be shown through recognisable situations.
The Kind of Work I Am Usually Asked to Do
Clients often come to me when photography is not enough, when the subject is difficult to show literally, or when they want something with more character than conventional corporate imagery.
- Advertising and campaign illustration — central images and supporting artwork developed around a specific brief or message.
- Business and corporate illustration — people, situations, services and processes made easier to understand visually.
- Packaging and product illustration — commissioned artwork created as part of the physical product or package.
- Character-led communication — recurring figures that help a company explain, teach or communicate consistently.
- Illustrated concepts for motion — artwork and sequences designed to continue into animation or hand-drawn film.
I do not try to force every commission into the same visual style. A Coca-Cola recycling strip, a Mercedes-Benz employee scene and a Dräger healthcare illustration have completely different audiences and jobs to do. The drawing style, level of detail, humour and visual language should follow the brief.
[PLACE IMAGE HERE: group of three contrasting commissioned examples showing the stylistic range of the work]
Working Directly With Me
When you commission me, you work directly with me. I do the drawing, but I am also involved in thinking through the visual problem. A project may arrive with a fully developed creative brief, or with a subject that still needs to be turned into an image.
Depending on the commission, I can develop concepts and rough sketches, explore different visual approaches, refine the chosen direction and produce the finished artwork for its final use.
Because I also work in graphic design and creative direction, I am comfortable thinking about where an illustration sits within a larger piece of communication — a campaign, package, presentation, website, publication or identity — rather than treating the image in isolation.
I work internationally in English, French and German with companies, agencies, designers and communication teams.
Every commissioned image is created specifically for the project. I do not use stock illustration, template artwork or AI-generated imagery as a substitute for original commissioned work.
Related Illustration Services
Some business commissions develop into more specialised formats. I cover those in more depth on separate pages:
- Comics, Comic Strips & Sequential Illustration — for stories, scenarios and communication that needs several images rather than one.
- Logo, Mascot & Character Design — for branded characters, mascots and character-based identities.
- Hand-Drawn Explainer Videos — for illustrated films developed through script, storyboard, drawing and animation.
- Editorial & Educational Illustration — for magazines, publishing, education and institutional communication.
More Business Illustration & Campaign Work
A broader selection of commissioned work for companies, brands, agencies and organisations, including advertising illustration, business communication, packaging, characters, comics and visual storytelling.
Click any image in the gallery to enlarge
Business Illustration & Visual Storytelling – Ian David Marsden
Featured image for Ian David Marsden’s case study on the illustrated Dräger Global infection prevention and control campaign. The image shows a frame from the short animated visual “From Kitchen Chaos to Clinical Cleanliness,” designed in a classic comic-book language with a Roy Lichtenstein reference. A retro housewife appears amid floating kitchen items beneath the headline “IPC | Prevention and Control,” linking the domestic-cleaning metaphor to Dräger’s international hospital hygiene communication campaign.
Illustrated Dräger Global campaign poster created by Ian David Marsden for an international infection prevention and control communication initiative. The image begins with a pop-comic domestic kitchen scene marked by stains, clutter and cleaning products, then shifts through hospital procedures, clinical care and hygiene communication. The Roy Lichtenstein–inspired visual language turns the transformation into a clear wordless narrative, designed to be understood quickly in hospitals and professional environments across multiple countries.
Large-format campaign poster illustrated by Ian David Marsden for Dräger Global’s international infection prevention and control initiative. The comic-style sequence begins with meticulous polishing of a classic pink car and transforms into the careful cleaning and preparation of hospital equipment. The analogy connects familiar ideas of care, shine and precision with the stricter standards of clinical hygiene. Designed as a language-independent healthcare communication visual, the poster formed part of a wider set of printed and animated campaign assets.
Large-format illustrated campaign poster created by Ian David Marsden for Dräger Global’s international infection prevention and control initiative. The wordless comic-style sequence begins with a mechanic repairing industrial equipment and transforms into a professional hospital environment with clinical technology, protective gloves and hygiene documentation. Developed in a Roy Lichtenstein–inspired visual language, the poster was designed to communicate across languages in hospital and workplace settings at a glance.
Illustrated poster created by Ian David Marsden for Dräger Global’s infection prevention and control communication campaign. The sequence opens with a cheerful 1950s-style homemaker cleaning a domestic interior, then shifts into the work of a hospital sanitation professional cleaning clinical equipment and surfaces. The image uses a classic comic-book visual language with a Roy Lichtenstein reference to make the IPC message immediate, memorable and language-independent for international healthcare environments.
Complete visual identity system for Glam’s Canin, a French dog grooming business. Includes flyers, business cards, loyalty cards, and storefront graphics with playful dog mascots and bold pink visuals. Created for pet grooming marketing.
High-impact vector artwork for the “Mayor of Slamtown” brand — a custom T-shirt design for wrestler Johnny Mundo (aka John Hennigan). Created in Adobe Illustrator for large-format screen printing, featuring bold comic-inspired illustration and typographic identity.
Professional wrestler and entertainment star Johnny Mundo (John Hennigan) wearing a custom-designed Slamtown T-shirt by Ian David Marsden. Part of a visual identity series for merchandise, events, and streetwear in the pro wrestling industry.
Illustrated and animated explainer videos for Mycotrition Naturpilze. Entirely produced by Ian David Marsden: storyboards, character design, backgrounds, animation, and voiceovers in French, German, and English — with celebrity dubbing voices.
Whiteboard-style explainer video introducing the role of a Contracting Professional within the U.S. federal acquisition system. Created by Ian David Marsden for Coley & Associates and the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI), this training tool features custom character illustrations, vector artwork, and visual storytelling tailored for agencies like NASA, DOE, and GSA.
Animated explainer introducing the role of a Program Manager (PM) in the U.S. federal acquisition process. Commissioned by FAI and illustrated by Ian David Marsden, the project simplifies complex procurement policy into clear visuals with character-driven storytelling, used by NASA, VA, and other federal agencies.
Retail packaging presentation of Ritzenhoff Kitchen Farm products featuring mascots and visual storytelling elements by illustrator Ian David Marsden. Each box showcases a different character – bringing playful, high-end storytelling to kitchen giftware in Germany.
Character design for Ritzenhoff’s “Kitchen Farm” line – featuring a whimsical sugar bird mascot created by Ian David Marsden. This stylized, illustrated character appears on kitchenware and gift packaging, blending charm with modern branding for the German design brand.
Display of Ritzenhoff Kitchen Farm boxes, featuring illustrated mascots designed by Ian David Marsden. The characters were developed to enhance shelf impact and brand storytelling across packaging and promotional materials.
Full product collection from Ritzenhoff’s “Kitchen Farm” series featuring multiple illustrated mascots and packaging designs. Designed by Ian David Marsden, this set includes birds, animals, and stylized branding illustrations on kitchen items and retail packaging.
Visual identity, user experience system, and branded illustration assets for iSHEPHERD AG — a Swiss SaaS provider specializing in enterprise compliance and access management. I developed a cohesive suite of storytelling visuals, UX wireframes, vector icons, pitch decks, and explainer scenes for their TRM360 platform. Project scope included concept-to-delivery for motion graphics, gamified infographics, and interface systems.
Illustrated scene from the Web Libre Consult explainer video (vidéos explicatives), showing an excited crowd using a digital Click & Collect service. Commissioned by a French tech startup in Montpellier and illustrated by Ian David Marsden.
A selection of ten unique animated eCards designed for 1&1 Mail & Media portals. This series includes humorous, festive, and emotionally resonant cards tailored for holidays, team recognition, and customer moments — each featuring original character art and looping animation.
A looping animated eCard design celebrating the New Year, developed for GMX, WEB.DE, and mail.com. Featured here on an iPad mockup, the card showcases bespoke character design and motion crafted to boost engagement and brand sentiment during seasonal campaigns.
Mobile preview of the animated “Merry Christmas” eCard created for GMX, WEB.DE, and mail.com. Shown on an iPhone screen, this festive animation blends bespoke character design, looping motion, and brand-aligned color palettes to spread cheer across millions of inboxes.
Full-page business comic created by Ian David Marsden for Stadtwerke Wedel (Germany). Featuring superhero Captain Power and villain Dr. Disturber, this comic promoted energy efficiency and infrastructure awareness through engaging visual storytelling.
In the last scene, Captain Power floats triumphantly over the peaceful town of Wedel as all electrical systems run smoothly again. Below, Dr. Disturber flees, vowing, “You haven’t seen the last of me!” A fun and engaging ending to the awareness comic illustrated by Ian David Marsden.
Captain Power bursts from the Stadtwerke Wedel headquarters, red electric tape in hand, ready to stop Dr. Disturber’s sabotage. Is he secretly part of the utility company? The mystery remains… An exciting panel from the corporate comic illustrated by Ian David Marsden.
In this comic panel created by Ian David Marsden, the villain Dr. Disturber pilots a menacing underwater submarine equipped with giant scissor arms. His mission: to sabotage the Stadtwerke Wedel energy supply by severing critical electric lines. Part of a custom comic created for a public utility awareness campaign in Germany.
Complete slot machine user interface design for the Inca Slots Facebook game. Includes custom Aztec-inspired character icons, gold-themed letter symbols, and UI layout — fully illustrated by Ian David Marsden in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
A bold creative reinterpretation of the classic Uncle Sam poster for PPHO Human Resources, Paris. Designed for the “In Talent We Trust” campaign, this illustrated figure wears imaginative glasses and promotes change-making leadership in the modern workplace.
Commissioned by Annw Weber SAS for PPHO, this parody poster uses the famous Uncle Sam visual in a modern HR context. Created for a French audience to promote trust in talent, innovation, and collaboration. Concept and execution by Ian David Marsden.
Official logo and mascot design selected for the 2017 International Board of Directors (IBD) meeting of Mensa International, hosted in Nice, France. The concept features a witty, character-based logo with a brainy Frenchman and iconic symbols of intellect and creativity.
A complete set of safety-themed character illustrations for Seele GmbH, creators of Apple Store façades. OSKAR demonstrates workplace procedures, risk prevention, and team coordination across a variety of construction scenarios. Designed by Ian David Marsden.
Official website and branding visuals for Haunted Hollywood Tours in Los Angeles. Features custom monster characters, a spooky Cadillac vector illustration, and full art direction including web UI and mobile responsiveness. A fun and bold attraction identity blending horror and tourism.
Illustration vectorielle réalisée pour Chanzy Automobiles à Sauteyrargues, dans l’Hérault. Ce visuel regroupe des illustrations stylisées de la façade du garage, de deux véhicules vintage emblématiques (Renault Estafette et Renault 4CV), ainsi que du logo principal et d’un pack complet d’icônes vectorielles personnalisées. Projet de branding graphique conçu pour mettre en valeur un artisan local à proximité de Claret et Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, au cœur de la région de Montpellier.
A complete set of safety-themed character illustrations for Seele GmbH, creators of Apple Store façades. OSKAR demonstrates workplace procedures, risk prevention, and team coordination across a variety of construction scenarios. Designed by Ian David Marsden.
The official crest-style logo created for La Toya Jackson - seen here on her website and personal brand, combining regal elements with musical heritage. This image shows the logo featured on her official homepage, which I also designed.
Whimsical character design created for Ritzenhoff’s HOT COFFEE line of cappuccino cups. This energetic illustration features a stylish barista girl with a giant paw-print spoon, combining charm and personality for the brand’s collectible series.
Ian David Marsden was the original Google Doodle artist during the company’s early years, designing many of the now-iconic homepage illustrations that helped launch the Doodle tradition. This visual montage showcases some early concept highlights from his time collaborating with Google.
Premium wine label for Mas de Figuier’s red blend from the Pic Saint-Loup appellation in Languedoc. Features a bold vector illustration of a knight discovering a relic against the mountain silhouette. Designed for upscale French wine branding and packaging.
Elegant custom icon set created for Breaksru by Suzanne Ruf — a Swiss business coach and consultant. Each vector symbol illustrates core services such as transformation, leadership, collaboration, and organizational strategy. Part of the full identity system and web design.
Set of three professionally illustrated kakemonos (vertical banners) for AN2V’s exhibition presence. Each banner includes original character illustrations, custom vector design, and branded messaging to represent training, collaboration, and innovation in the security sector.
Conceptual business illustration for explainer videos and presentations. A team of professionals frantically pressing buttons on a giant control panel without coordination — illustrating the risks of poor strategy, lack of delegation, or overload.
Clean vector illustration used in corporate communication to represent organizational structure and efficiency. Depicts a building with staff distributed across three floors: the largest group on the bottom, a mid-sized team on the middle floor, and only two on the top — highlighting talent distribution or leadership bottlenecks.