Ian’s work stands out because he never lost touch with the fundamentals of drawing. His entire workflow, from the original concept sketch to the final complex vector illustration, is 100% hand-drawn. He uses modern digital tools not to replace traditional skill, but to enhance it, resulting in visuals that are expressive, dynamic, and technically flawless.
As the original Google Doodle artist and a creative whose portfolio includes The New Yorker, MAD Magazine, and Mercedes-Benz, Ian’s legacy in illustration is already cemented. If you are looking for an illustrator, cartoonist, or visual storyteller who brings decades of experience, unmatched versatility, and a truly unique, human touch to every project, look no further than Ian David Marsden."
(December 10, 2025)
P.S. Some extra features: Ian is smart, efficient and communicates fluently in more languages than I care to remember.”
(March 21, 2025)
Munchkins Restaurant • Duke’s Hideaway Bar • The Ruby Room
(March 11, 2020)
(March 6, 2020)
We were always very pleased with his work. Ian is a great guy. Thank you, Ian.”
(March 16, 2020)
Animation Cowboy Studio
Clients & Creative Partners – Illustration, Branding & Communication
I collaborate with clients of all kinds and sizes — from local charities, clubs, village cafés, corner shops, and individuals with a personal idea, to international brands, media companies, and cultural institutions. My work spans illustration, UX design, branding, packaging and graphic design, graphic novels and business comics, signage, editorial visuals, animation, motion graphics, explainer videos, and more.
International Brands
Coca-Cola, Diesel Jeans UK, Digades (Case Study), Dräger Global, Evonik Industries, Fraunhofer, Google, Henkel (Case Study), Lindt Chocolate, Mercedes-Benz Museum (Case Study), METRO, Mövenpick, Novartis, Publicis, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), RITZENHOFF, Roland Berger, Samsung, Seele (Case Study), Telekom, Universal Music Group, VISA, Volkswagen (Case Study)
Media & Publishing
1&1 Mail, Auto Bild, Blick Online, Club de la Presse Occitanie, Das Magazin, Droemer Knaur Verlag, Hauptstadt Satiremagazin, Knaur Verlag, MAD Magazine, Mac Directory, Music Scene – Das Schweizer Musikmagazin, Nebelspalter, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, NZZ am Sonntag, Punkt Wirtschaftsmagazin, Ransom Publishing, Ringier Verlag, SonntagsBlick, Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich, Tages Anzeiger, Tagi Magi, The New Yorker, Trucker TIR, U-Comix, Züritipp
Agencies, Studios & Tech
BOLD Werbung GmbH, Blocklearning.ch, Breaksru GmbH, CELSYS, Chemmedia, Curtius Lütten Werbeagentur GmbH, Dfreeeze App, Executive Learning Systems, Infospace.com, In Talent We Trust, Inspired Arts & Media, iSHEPHERD/ TRM360 (Case Study), Just Happiness Montpellier, Mail.com, Matter & Gretener Werbeagentur, Max Curious, Sens Digital, Sieber & Wolf, Strobe Solutions, Web.de, Yantramatte, YJOO, Zum Goldenen Hirschen
Wine, Food & Lifestyle
Château de Roux (Domaine de Roux), Domaine Cammaous, Domaine Les Tuileries, Hawlik Naturpilze, La Gravette de Corconne, Le Mas du Sire, Les Héritières de Bacchus, Mas de Figuier, Modicum Editions, Sapere Originis Wines, Sanafort AG, Top Source
Education, Research & Institutions
AN2V, Federal Acquisitions Institute, FIS Alpine Ski World Championships St. Moritz, Fernsehen DRS, Johner Institut GmbH, LAP-Vorbereitung.ch, Lernnuggets, Mensa (Mensa France), Sustain D (Case Study), Universität Bern, Universität Zürich
Non-Profits, NGOs & Social Impact
Municipal & Regional
Autour du Pic, Carrière Sud Pompignan (CSP), Comité des Fêtes Vacquières, La Bonne Intelligence, Mairie de Saint Mathieu de Tréviers, Mairie de Vacquières, Parc Le Duc
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Freddy Koella, Friars Club New York, HauntedHollywood, Helmi Sigg, Ja-Tail Enterprises LLC, Jay Abraham Strategy Institute, John Hennigan (Johnny Mundo, Johnny Nitro, Johnny TV), La Toya Jackson, Malibu Creek Docents / California State Parks, Marktrezept.de, PILLAGE Autour du Pic Board Game (Case Study), Steve Gerlach
E-commerce & Product Brands
GMX Glückwunschkarten, Hairloss.com, Hermes Germany GmbH, KHW, Künzli Optik, Plushland, Rock Brasiliano GmbH, Take the 55, Top Source Wines, Weber SAS
Teaching & Mentoring
Since 2025, I have been a part-time faculty member at ESMA (École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques) in Montpellier, an internationally recognized higher-education network specializing in applied arts, design, filmmaking, photography, and 3D animation.
ESMA and its affiliated schools (including CinéCréatis and IPESAA) form one of the most established creative-arts education groups in France, with campuses in Montpellier, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, Nantes, and Toulouse.
Within ESMA’s five-year Master’s-level 3D Animation & VFX program (RNCP Level 7 – Bac+5), I teach three distinct courses:
Illustration, Visual Arts, and Image Analysis (Semiotics and Scénario).
These courses explore visual culture, art history, photography, cinema, animation, visual semiotics, and narrative systems.
My focus is on developing students’ visual literacy, analytical thinking, and storytelling skills — bridging theory, aesthetics, and contemporary creative practice.
