Visual Storytelling for Complex Ideas.

Selected projects spanning business communication, instructional design, UX systems, and brand development — each built to clarify information, structure ideas, and make complex content usable.

CASE STUDIES — VISUAL SYSTEMS & STRATEGIC ILLUSTRATION

Explain. Structure. Make It Usable.

Business comics, instructional illustration, and visual frameworks designed to turn complex processes into clear, actionable communication — across training systems, internal communications, and product education.

CASE STUDIES — BUSINESS COMMUNICATION & TRAINING

UX Thinking Applied to Visual Communication.

Interface concepts, learning systems, and structured visual systems built to guide users through complex information — from SaaS platforms and executive training tools to navigational and diagnostic systems.

CASE STUDIES — UX SYSTEMS & INFORMATION DESIGN

Distinct Visuals Across Contexts.

From mascot design, packaging, and brand assets to editorial illustration and publishing — visuals developed to communicate clearly, carry personality, and perform in real use.

CASE STUDIES — BRAND, CHARACTER & VISUAL IDENTITY

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instructional illustration and business communication case studies including strategic frameworks, training systems and visual process diagrams UX interface design and learning system visuals including software engineering training deck, navigation systems and structured information design visual storytelling case studies showing instructional illustration, UX interface design and business communication systems for corporate and training environments branding, character design and editorial illustration case studies including packaging, mascots and publishing visuals

Selected Case Studies: Illustration, Visual Communication & Branding

This page presents selected projects in which illustration, visual storytelling and creative direction played a central role in how something was explained, understood or experienced.

The work includes UX systems, signage, training materials, comics, mascots, packaging-related visuals and communication projects developed for clients in France, Germany, Switzerland and beyond.

Across these case studies, the emphasis is consistent: clear structure, readable storytelling, hand-drawn visual language and artwork tailored to the brief, medium and audience.

For related work, see also Editorial Illustration · Mascot Design · Business Illustration.

Executive Training UX & Visual Learning System — Strategic Wealth Creator System™

Strategic Wealth Creator System case study showing visual identity, UX interface, instructional illustration and business ecosystem diagram

Visual Identity, UX Interface & Instructional Visual System for Executive Education

Client: Executive Learning Systems, Inc.
Role: Creative Director · Illustrator · Visual Systems Designer · Information Designer · UI/UX Concept Designer

Download Full Case Study (PDF)

An integrated visual system for the Strategic Wealth Creator System™, combining UX interface design, instructional illustration, information design, iconography and modular visual architecture for executive training. The aim was to translate complex business strategy into a structured, navigable learning environment across presentations, diagrams, illustrated modules and interface concepts.

  • Hexagonal identity system and modular colour architecture for six strategic domains
  • Simulated handheld UX interface for executive learning and diagnostic navigation
  • Instructional illustrations, infographics and visual metaphors for strategic content
  • Analytical graphics and matrices redesigned for clarity, usability and training impact
  • Scalable visual assets for print and digital learning formats

Article: Strategic Wealth Creator System Case Study

Software Engineering Training Card Deck — Visual System, Icons & Character Design

Software Engineering Essentials Deck box on a desk with four illustrated sample cards arranged in front, coding monitor behind.

Visual System for Developer Training — Taxonomy, Iconography & Educational Illustration

Client: Audiger EURL (France) – 2025
Role: Visual System Designer · Illustrator · Creative Direction

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A production-ready visual language for a software engineering training tool: a 59-card educational deck designed to make abstract engineering principles easier to navigate, remember and apply. The project combined instructional illustration, character design and a modular visual taxonomy for onboarding, internal training and technical education.

  • Four-part visual taxonomy using colour coding, character anchors and navigational icon tags
  • 59 illustrations designed for clarity, readability and scalable reproduction
  • Complete product identity including packaging, icon system and typographic / colour guidelines
  • Print-production delivery with layered AI files, press-ready PDFs, SVG assets and dielines
  • Original character design and vector iconography for technical learning contexts
QR code linking to the Software Engineering Essentials Deck case study article on Marsden Illustration
Scan to read the full case study (Software Engineering Essentials Deck).

Article: Software Engineering Training Card Deck

SaaS Platforms & UX Illustration — iShepherd AG

Compliance UX Visual System for iShepherd – Icons, Diagrams & Platform Branding

Compliance UX Visual System — Icons, Diagrams & Platform Branding

Client: iShepherd AG (Zürich, Switzerland)
Role: Visual System Designer · Illustrator · Creative Direction

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A full visual language for TRM360, a compliance SaaS platform: scalable illustrations, iconography and a mascot character tailored to onboarding, presentations and interface use. All visuals were developed in vector formats for clarity, consistency and brand alignment across product and communication touchpoints.

  • Custom mascot character to embody platform values and improve UX clarity
  • UX icon sets developed for Adobe XD interface design
  • Pitch graphics and walkthrough visuals for onboarding and product explanation
  • Scalable vector assets supporting compliance messaging across media

Article: iShepherd UX Branding

Mobility & Concept Illustration — Volkswagen Group

Storyboard Visuals & Concept Art for Volkswagen SEDRIC Launch

Storyboard Visuals & Concept Art for the Volkswagen SEDRIC Launch

Client: CMV Cross Media Verlag (Hamburg, Germany)
Role: Illustrator · Concept Artist · Storyboard Visualizer

Download Full Case Study (PDF)

Stylised concept illustrations created for Volkswagen’s autonomous mobility platform, SEDRIC. Developed from script and rough storyboards to support a stage reveal at CEBIT, the work was delivered as high-resolution panels for presentation, motion and press-related use.

  • Storyboard-led artwork supporting the launch narrative
  • Scene panels for audience arrival, unveiling and key technology messages
  • Adaptation for stage, presentation and print use
  • Line-and-wash visual style tailored to concept and mobility storytelling

Article: Volkswagen SEDRIC Concept Art

Signage & Map Illustration — Parc Le Duc

Environmental Map & Wayfinding System for Parc Le Duc 34270 Vacquieres

Environmental Map & Wayfinding System for Parc Le Duc Holiday Park

Client: Parc Le Duc Holiday Park (Vacquières, France)
Role: Illustrator · Environmental Designer · Visual Communicator

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A full environmental orientation system for Parc Le Duc, a holiday park near Pic Saint-Loup in southern France. The illustrated map and signage elements were developed from architectural plans and translated into clear vector artwork for multilingual use, poster formats and large-scale on-site display.

  • Custom icon system covering amenities and services
  • Detailed site layout showing paths, plots and landscape zones
  • Multilingual-ready visuals for international visitors
  • Vector artwork adapted for signage, posters and digital use

Article: Parc Le Duc Orientation Map & Signage

Explainer Graphics & Product Visuals — Henkel

Cutaway Diagrams & Packaging Illustrations for Henkel Cleaning Products

Cutaway Diagrams & Packaging Illustrations for Henkel Cleaning Products

Client: Henkel via Rock Brasiliano (Hamburg, Germany)
Role: Illustrator · Instructional Designer · Visual Communicator

Download Full Case Study (PDF)

Vector-based product visuals and cutaway illustrations for Henkel’s cleaning and hygiene brands, including Bref. Developed for packaging, instruction leaflets, point-of-sale material and multilingual communication, the work was designed for clarity, adaptability and consistency with Henkel’s wider visual identity.

  • Cutaway diagrams explaining use and product benefits
  • Custom iconography for packaging panels, leaflets and POS material
  • Adapted illustrations for print, packaging and regional campaigns
  • Layered vector artwork built for localisation and scaling

Article: Henkel Product Visuals

Outreach Comics & Energy Awareness — SUSTAIN-D

Text-Free Comics for Energy Awareness in Social Housing – SUSTAIN-D

Text-Free Comics for Energy Awareness in Social Housing

Client: SUSTAIN-D (Toulouse, France)
Role: Illustrator · Character Designer · Visual Storyteller

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Silent comics promoting energy-conscious behaviour in multilingual housing environments. Created for the French initiative SUSTAIN-D, this visual campaign used a bandes dessinées approach to communicate sustainability concepts through approachable, text-free panels suited to outreach in social housing across Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

  • Two-panel comics for signage, handouts and public spaces
  • Character design for Foxy and Major Domo
  • Wordless visual storytelling for accessibility across literacy levels and languages
  • Vector artwork adapted for print and environmental display

Article: SUSTAIN-D Comics for Energy Outreach

Corporate Comics & HR Training — Mercedes-Benz

HR Onboarding Comic Book for Mercedes-Benz Internal Training

HR Onboarding Comic Book for Mercedes-Benz Internal Training

Client: Mercedes-Benz via Sieber & Wolf (Stuttgart, Germany)
Role: Illustrator · Visual Storyteller · Character Designer

Download Full Case Study (PDF)

A corporate comic book developed for Mercedes-Benz HR onboarding and internal communication. The handbook visualised etiquette, customer interaction and workplace conduct through more than 120 vector-based panels, produced in collaboration with Sieber & Wolf for multilingual training use across departments and locations.

  • Vector comic panels illustrating HR policy and workplace etiquette
  • Custom uniforms and scenarios aligned with Mercedes-Benz brand context
  • Built for international rollout, compliance and internal distribution
  • Licensed artwork prepared for print and digital training formats

Article: Mercedes-Benz Employee Manual

Workplace Mascots & Safety Illustration — Seele GmbH

‘Oskar’ Safety Mascot Design for Seele GmbH Industrial Training

“Oskar” Safety Mascot Design for Seele GmbH Industrial Training

Client: Seele GmbH (Gersthofen, Germany)
Role: Illustrator · Character Designer · Visual Communicator

Download Full Case Study (PDF)

An internal safety mascot created for Seele GmbH, a specialist in high-tech façade construction. Designed for signage, factory zones and multilingual training materials, the character “Oskar” brought consistency, accessibility and recognisable visual identity to health and safety communication.

  • Original mascot design tailored to industrial safety communication
  • Vector artwork used across posters, signs and training slides
  • Custom props and uniforms reflecting real workplace conditions
  • Multilingual-ready visuals for a diverse workforce

Article: Oskar – Seele Safety Mascot

Board Game Illustration & Visual Worldbuilding — Pillage autour du Pic

Character Cards & Map Illustration for ‘Pillage autour du Pic’ Board Game

Character Cards & Map Illustration for “Pillage autour du Pic”

Client: L’esprit du pic productions (Pic Saint-Loup, France)
Role: Art Director · Illustrator · Game Designer

Download Full Case Study (PDF)

Complete visual development for a fantasy-themed board game inspired by the Pic Saint-Loup region. From character and map design to box layout and print-ready production files, the project was fully illustrated in a bandes dessinées-influenced style tailored to family and collector audiences.

  • Character and map design with hand-inked linework
  • Game components including cards, icons, event markers and rulebook artwork
  • Box packaging, logo typography and layout design
  • Full print-ready production files prepared for manufacture

Article: Pillage Board Game

Event Mascot Design — FIS Ski World Championship, St. Moritz

Official Event Mascot ‘Smoony’ for FIS Alpine Ski World Championships

Official Event Mascot “Smoony” for the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships

Client: FIS Alpine Ski World Championship Committee – St. Moritz Switzerland
Role: Art Director · Illustrator · Character Designer

Download Full Case Study (PDF)

Mascot character design and production-ready artwork for “Smoony,” the official figure of the 2003 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in St. Moritz. Based on a winning sketch from a school competition, the mascot was professionally developed for merchandise, signage, digital media and wider event promotion, with particular appeal for children and families attending the championship.

  • Complete mascot development from children’s sketch to refined vector design
  • Orthographic views and expressions for merchandise, costume and licensing use
  • Brand-aligned visual style for banners, signage and promotional rollout
  • Production package and mascot guidelines with scalable assets

Article: Official Mascot Design – FIS St. Moritz

Client logos including Google, Wacom, Daimler-Benz, Coca-Cola, Dräger, Henkel, and more – illustration and design clients of Ian David Marsden

These projects range from UX systems and instructional design to mascots, comics, product communication and print-ready visual campaigns. Each one was developed for a specific brief, medium and audience, with licensing and production requirements defined as part of the process.

For additional examples, explore related areas of work:

To discuss a project or request a tailored proposal, get in touch by email.

For a concise, shareable overview of selected work, download the portfolio PDF.

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