HAND DRAWN EXPLAINER VIDEOS Magazine Editorial Quality Drawings

Hand-Drawn Explainer Videos & Whiteboard Animation

I create hand-drawn explainer videos and whiteboard animations that turn complex topics into clear, structured narratives. Every scene is custom illustrated by me – no templates, no stock elements, no AI-generated artwork.
Contact me for an informal chat about your project.

These films are typically used for internal communication, change management, employee training and public information. My background in editorial and educational illustration helps to keep content intelligible, specific and memorable: the goal is to reduce complexity without trivialising the subject, so that viewers genuinely understand and retain the message.

For information in German (including Swiss and DACH projects), you can also visit my German explainer video page.

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For a quick, shareable overview of my illustration range, download my illustrator portfolio PDF.

Cartoon of smiling boy with labeled brain releasing dopamine, drawn in soft colors.
This illustration explains how kindness triggers dopamine release, creating a “helper’s high.” From the explainer video “The Science of Kindness” by Ian David Marsden. November 2025.

Featured Project: The Science of Kindness (52 Lives, UK)

The Science of Kindness (November 2025) is a hand-drawn explainer video for the UK charity 52 Lives and their educational initiative The School of Kindness. The film explains the “science of kindness” — effects on the brain, stress regulation, and social connection — through the story of “Sam”, whose small actions ripple outward.

Illustration, animation, design: Ian David Marsden
Voice-over: Matt Abbott
Client: Jaime Thurston / 52 Lives (52-lives.org)

Delivered as a complete production: story and script support, storyboard and animatic, character design, final hand-drawn animation and web-optimised exports.

Full service — from concept to final export

Full-service means you get concept development, story and script support, storyboards, an animatic (so timing is approved before final production), illustration, 2D animation / motion design and delivery for web, social media, internal platforms, presentations or events. I work in English, German and French, and can coordinate professional voice-over production where needed.

No templates — genuine illustration

No stock assets. No off-the-shelf icons. No AI-generated imagery. Every character, scene and transition is drawn specifically for your project. You work directly with the illustrator rather than through layers of intermediaries, which keeps the process focused, efficient and coherent. This approach has been used successfully for clients across the UK, Europe, Switzerland, and internationally.

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Planning & budget — transparent and predictable

Projects are usually priced as a fixed project fee, defined upfront through clear deliverables and milestones. The intention is straightforward: no surprise additions and no open-ended overtime logic. If the scope changes along the way, this is discussed early and adjusted transparently.

In many cases, usage rights are structured so that the final illustrations can also be reused as static assets – for example in print, pitch decks, internal documents, posters, web graphics or social media. The agreed usage rights are always specified clearly in the written proposal, so you know exactly what is included.

What is a Program Manager
Collection of custom icons and business-themed editorial illustrations, featuring creative designs by Ian David Marsden.

Visual styles

  • Hand-drawn illustration (digital with an analog feel)
  • Whiteboard-style animation (with optional digital “drawing hand”)
  • Character-led storytelling or clean infographic narration
  • Artistic timelapse drawing shows the drawings unfold

Full-service production

  • Concept development and message clarity
  • Script support (or working from an approved script)
  • Storyboard and animatic (timing approved early)
  • Hand-drawn illustration and animation
  • Music integration and sound mix
  • Multi-Language client support (EN / FR / DE)
  • Delivery in all pro formats (MP4, ProRes and other outputs as needed)

Working style

  • Direct collaboration with the artist (no outsourcing)
  • Clear approvals at script, storyboard and animatic stages
  • Hand-drawn visuals designed for readability on screens
  • Consistent character design and a controlled visual system
  • Delivery-ready outputs for websites, social media, training platforms, and presentations as well as print assets
Hand-drawn whiteboard explainer video examples by Ian David Marsden, featuring educational and corporate explainer animations for international clients.

Selected examples

Clients of Ian David Marsden – graphic design and illustration projects for Coca-Cola, Google, Mercedes-Benz, Dräger, Wacom, and others.
Some of the clients I have had the pleasure of assisting creatively – CLIENTS

Planning an explainer video? We can quickly shape a clear plan together.

If you are considering an explainer video, please send me a short email with the essentials. A few sentences are enough to start: what the video needs to explain (for example a product, an initiative, a process or an event), who it is for (customers, internal teams, decision-makers, students, children, or a clearly defined niche audience), and where it will be used – homepage or landing page, social media, presentations, seminars, internal training, e-learning modules, or screens at conferences and trade shows.

From there, I usually suggest a brief, no-obligation call or online meeting so we can confirm the style, length and production steps. Based on this, I prepare a concise written project outline and proposal package, typically as a flat rate. It brings everything together in one place: deliverables, milestones, timeline, file formats and usage rights.

MushroomVideo  006 In a nutshell

Fees are usually agreed as a flat project rate that covers concept, illustration, animation and the agreed usage rights. Payment is typically split into two or three bank transfers – for example a deposit at project start and a final payment on delivery of all approved assets. For longer assignments, a clearly defined milestone can serve as an intermediate payment point.

Once you approve the proposal, production moves forward in clear stages. We start by defining the core idea and visual approach, then develop the script (if you do not already have one or wish me to adapt it), followed by a storyboard and, where useful, an animatic. From there, we move into final artwork and animation based on the approved frames. Each stage includes a review and revision phase, so adjustments can be made calmly and deliberately. All illustration and animation is produced in-house, and if you wish, I can also oversee voiceover, music and sound production so that everything aligns with the approved script and your preferences.

The result is a video tailored to your message and your audience – clear, well-paced and designed to communicate your idea in an engaging, human way.

animated gif of a Cartoon Santa claus with an amazing Xmas guitar and falling snowflakes by Ian Marsden

Common Questions

Why choose a hand-drawn explainer video over stock footage?

Because it supports attention and information retention. The drawing appears step by step in front of the viewer, which helps to keep people engaged while the message unfolds. Whether with a visible drawing hand or an elegant timelapse, this dynamic style feels more personal and crafted than generic stock footage, and it is well suited to topics that need to be remembered, not just watched.

Do you produce explainer videos in German or French?

Yes. I am fluent in English, German (including Swiss German) and French. I can produce the same hand-drawn explainer videos for the Swiss and wider DACH markets, synchronising the animation with different language voice-overs where needed. For a German-language overview, please see my dedicated page: Deutscher Link: https://marsdenillustration.com/handgezeichnete-erklaervideos/

Can I use the illustrations for my presentation or website?

Yes. Many projects are structured so that you can license the underlying high-resolution drawings as static assets. This allows the same visuals to be used in pitch decks, brochures, internal documents, training materials or on your website, alongside the finished video.

To get started, email me at  [email protected]

For a quick, shareable overview of my illustration range, download my illustrator portfolio PDF.

Download Ian David Marsden’s portfolio showcasing hand-drawn explainer videos, whiteboard animation, and illustration styles.

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