(with YouTube Video Radio Interview with Mascot Designer Ian Marsden)
I n 2002 I was contacted by the organization for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in the renowned pristine alpine resort town of St. Moritz, Switzerland. I was informed, that I had been chosen as the designer and illustrator to create the official mascot for the event.
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
4th of July 2000 Google Doodle Series
4th of July 2000 Google Doodle Series
4th of July 2000 Google Doodle Series
4th of July 2000 Google Doodle Series
Sydney Summer Olympics - Torch
Sydney Summer Olympics - Kayak
Sydney Summer Olympics - Gymnastics
Sydney Summer Olympics - Archery
Sydney Summer Olympics - Track and Field
Sydney Summer Olympics - Diving
Sydney Summer Olympics - Cycling
Sydney Summer Olympics - Weights
Sydney Summer Olympics - Soccer
Sydney Summer Olympics - Basketball
Sydney Summer Olympics - Closing Ceremony
Happy New Year 2001!
The first Illustrations I made for Google, were shown on April Fool’s Day 2000. Google launched the amazing MentalPlex Technologywhere you could just think of what you were searching for and Google would find it. I created a little character and made some animated GIFs to explain how it worked.
My first ‘Google Doodle’ series was also the very first actual Google Doodle – namely the Alien abduction of the Google logo which happened in May 2000.
The third series of Google Doodles I designed were the Olympic Doodles for the Summer Olympics in Sydney – with the little ‘Kangaroodle” character design I made for the event. I have never received more fan mail than I did during the days these olympic google doodles were online. Hundreds of e-mails from all over the world. All of them positive and friendly.
As an experienced character designer for over 20 years, I have had the great pleasure of accompanying my clients in their search for a dynamic ambassador for their brand or event and creating a design that fit like a glove.
Character Design, Mascot Design, Avatars, Layered People Illustrations for Animation
High quality, professional business illustration and advertising illustration for sales communication, presentations, pitch decks, powerpoint presentations and more. Design of marketing and merchandising articles. Ian David Marsden. www.marsdenillustration.com
“Sergei turned to marketing manager Susan Wojcicki, who found illustrator Ian Marsden and put him to work.
In May 2000, Ian created the first Google doodle. It featured—surprise, surprise—aliens making off with our logo.”
Exciting News and Updates from Illustrator Ian David Marsden
I am a freelance illustrator, designer, cartoonist and I also produce and animate whiteboard and explainer videos.
You can sign up for my newsletter in the box on the right. I send a newsletter roughly four times a year.
My artist portfolio, biography, client list and referrals/testimonials can be found on my homepage at: https://marsdenillustration.com
I hope you enjoy these latest updates including some exiting news about my graphic novel project, new clients, new YouTube drawing video tutorial and more.
Dear visitor to my blog,
2016 started off in a very active, busy and fun way for me.
Publishing
Some very exciting news for me personally, is that a graphic novel project I have been developing has been accepted and is now being represented by a New York literary agency. I look forward to telling you more about this very soon. Below is a little teaser sample:
Object Design / Licensing
RITZENHOFF
will be unveiling two new cappuccino cups with saucers, which I designed, at the Ambiente trade show in Frankfurt (12th to16th February 2016).
Ambiente is the world’s most important consumer goods trade fair, which boasts a globally unrivalled range of products in the Dining, Giving and Living areas.
The cups will be available in retail stores world-wide and also in the Ritzenhoff online shop here: LINK
New Projects
I regularly consult as an artist and designer on projects where I am bound to contractual discretion. This means that I am not at liberty to display or reference my work in my portfolio, blog or newsletter even for self-promotional purposes. Nevertheless, without divulging any further information or details, I am thrilled to have worked on projects for the following new clients.
Logos
Mensa
, the international High IQ Society has awarded their 2017 International Board of Director’s meeting (IBD) to the town of Nice, France. Out of a selection of proposed graphic solutions, I am delighted that my design was chosen as the official logo and CI for the event. (Logo horizontal landscape version below)
Design for the new logo for WO magnetic water purification devices.
Character Design
One of the departments of the University of Bern in Switzerland commissioned me a while ago, to design a series of likeable bear characters that should also be appealing to children. I added some new bears to the ever-growing family in January.
Another fun character design project I have been involved in for a few years is this one for the company Si. I was originally tasked to take their existing “Pfiffikus” mascot and give him a more dynamic and modern appearance, all the while retaining his work clothes and color scheme.
Over the years, several poses and applications of the character have been created. All versions are created as fully-scalable 100% vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator.
Labels / Packaging
I am currently designing a series of labels for exclusive, high quality oils and vinegars.
Leisure Projects
In-between projects or just to take a break (yes, I take breaks 😀), I like to relax doodling in my sketchbooks or on loose scraps of paper around my studio (or tablecloths or whatever I can get my hands on). Some of these scribbles end up on my Facebook and other social media. (Another favorite source of distraction) Links at the bottom of this e-mail. in case you feel like joining me.
Here is another personal, non-commissioned art project. A modern interpretation of a moon symbol. (digital print on canvas 80 cm x 60 cm)
Printed media
I recently received a package with my copies of the printed Digades Dfreeeze app brochure featuring a multi-page comic I drew. I am very pleased with the result. You can read the whole booklet here: LINK
I designed and implemented several catalogs and price lists for my very good customer Sanafort, a producer of high quality vital mushrooms, teas and health supplements. http://www.sanafort.ch
Video / YouTube
My latest video on my YouTube channel is of me drawing the little bird for the header of this newsletter. I hope you enjoy it. LINK
Well, that’s all for now. I hope one or the other item might have been of interest.
Can you believe that it’s November again? It seems like the months have just flown by since I last sat down to write you a few lines from my illustration studio.
I’ve been having a lot of fun doing freehand sketches between projects. Here are some glimpses into my sketchbooks and Moleskines.
I’ve been posting some of my doodles to my Facebook page and sometimes I also upload short videos of my sketching to my YouTube channel.
This year we created a 12 page comic which continues the adventures of the main protagonists, Michael, Anne, Stefan and Julia and their Dfreeeze car heater remote control application.
Regular client Sanafort AG (a renowned Swiss producer of natural Reishi mushroom and other tonic herbs and food supplements) needed website and newsletter graphics for Christmas and the New Year and to advertise upcoming product launches and promotions.
As always they allowed me a lot of creative freedom and I think the results are quite elegant.
My very good personal friend Helmi Sigg, Swiss actor, comedian, writer and renaissance man has partnered with STEINER Meats to create their own delicious Swiss-made twist on New York Style pastrami.
He entrusted me to create the logo for this culinary delight which is aptly named ‘Pastrelmi’ after it’s creator.
The last few weeks have been very exciting on a personal level, as we have been preparing for my first exhibition of original drawings in quite a while.
Over 60 pieces of artwork are on display in the exhibition, organized by the Association Artistique Monet at the Espace George Brassens in St Gely du Fesc (Montpellier).
I am exhibiting together with famous French cartoonist Ptiluc and two German artists, Heike Negenborn and Carmen Stahlschmidt.
It would be my pleasure to talk to you about any new projects you might have.
Please call me at +33 6 42 49 82 11 or e-mail me at ian@marsdenillustration.com for a free consultation.
Can you believe that it’ November again? It seems like the months have just flown by since I last sat down to write you a few lines from my illustration studio.
I’ve been having a lot of fun doing freehand sketches between projects. Here are some glimpses into my sketchbooks and Moleskines.
I’ve been posting some of my doodles to my Facebook page and sometimes I also upload short videos of my sketching to my YouTube channel.
This year we created a 12 page comic which continues the adventures of the main protagonists, Michael, Anne, Stefan and Julia and their Dfreeeze car heater remote control application.
Regular client Sanafort AG (a renowned Swiss producer of natural Reishi mushroom and other tonic herbs and food supplements) needed website and newsletter graphics for Christmas and the New Year and to advertise upcoming product launches and promotions.
As always they allowed me a lot of creative freedom and I think the results are quite elegant.
My very good personal friend Helmi Sigg, Swiss actor, comedian, writer and renaissance man has partnered with STEINER Meats to create their own delicious Swiss-made twist on New York Style pastrami.
He entrusted me to create the logo for this culinary delight which is aptly named ‘Pastrelmi’ after it’s creator.
The last few weeks have been very exciting on a personal level, as we have been preparing for my first exhibition of original drawings in quite a while.
Over 60 pieces of artwork are on display in the exhibition, organized by the Association Artistique Monet at the Espace George Brassens in St Gely du Fesc (Montpellier).
I am exhibiting together with famous French cartoonist Ptiluc and two German artists, Heike Negenborn and Carmen Stahlschmidt.
It would be my pleasure to talk to you about any new projects you might have.
Please call me at +33 6 42 49 82 11 or e-mail me at ian@marsdenillustration.com for a free consultation.
I would like to give you a short update on the fun and exciting projects of the last few months.
NEW CLIENTS
A big thank you and welcome to new clients:¦
Zum Goldenen Hirschen Advertising agency
(Munich, Hamburg and Berlin – Germany) LINK
Rock Brasiliano
Communications and Corporate Creativity LINK
Coley Solutions Smarter Performance Solutions
We Develop Award Winning Training & Performance Solutions that Empower your Workforce.
(USA) LINK
A SELECTION OF RECENT PROJECTS
HENKEL
I created a series of illustrations for sanitary cleaning products for HENKEL.
The artwork needed to be visually self-explanatory without words or language.
This project was a collaboration with Rock Brasiliano
through German Illustration Agency, Die Kleinert LINK
The University of Zurich required an illustration to be printed on coffee mugs for a research team, with recognizable caricatures of the team members based on photographs.
I have the great pleasure of creating illustrations for a series of whiteboard scribing explainer videos for the U.S. Government written and produced by Coley Solutions.
This is a long-term, ongoing project to create a library of training videos and I am delighted to be part of this collaboration.
I am very experienced in the production of Whiteboard Scribing videos.
I can produce such videos for you from A to Z in various languages. Examples of my video productions can be found on my home page.
I hope you enjoyed this little update and if you would like to talk to me about any of your projects please call me at + 33 6 42 49 82 11 or e-mail me at ian@marsdenillustration.com