I create original hand-drawn explainer videos, whiteboard animations and illustrated learning films for companies, institutions, educators and organizations that need to explain products, services, processes or complex ideas clearly.
For more than a decade I have developed explainer and learning films for clients in the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, France and other international markets, working across corporate communication, government training, healthcare, education, technology and nonprofit subjects.
I can work from a finished script, develop an existing draft or write from your brief and source material, then take the project through storyboard, illustration, animation, editing and final delivery.
You do not need a finished script to get started. A short explanation of the subject, audience and intended use is normally enough for an initial discussion.
Selected Production Experience
Explaining Very Different Subjects to Very Different Audiences
The common thread is not an animation style. It is the need to understand a subject, decide what the viewer needs to grasp, and build a visual sequence that makes that information easier to follow.
United States · Federal Training
Federal Acquisition Institute
Illustration, concept art, storyboards, character design and animation-ready vector scenes for a multi-part federal acquisition training initiative, commissioned through Coley & Associates for the Federal Acquisition Institute.
New York · Nonprofit
All Stars Project
The World Is Not Flat translated an abstract human-development philosophy into a hand-illustrated whiteboard narrative with custom portraits, characters and sequential visual explanation.
United Kingdom · Education
52 Lives / School of Kindness
An illustrated learning film explaining neuroscience, empathy and emotional wellbeing to younger audiences through character-based visual storytelling.
Healthcare · International
Dräger
A series of medical explainer films addressing Infection Prevention and Control, patient safety and the design of clinical equipment.
Technology · Technical Communication
Graph Database Explainer
A complete illustrated explanation of a graph-database workflow, following architects, data modelers, developers and database administrators from concept through deployment.
DACH · Multilingual Production
Mycotrition & Hawlik
Longer-form production relationships in health and medicinal-mushroom communication, including multilingual work and substantial series production. These projects are covered in more detail on the German-language explainer page.
Selected Work
Explainer Video Gallery
Corporate explainers, government and professional training, educational animation, healthcare communication, illustrated learning, whiteboard-style films and technical visual storytelling.
Hand Drawn elegant Explainer Video in Whiteboard Style featuring magazine quality illustration artwork
Triangulation - Men Harvesting Wisdom
The Science of Kindness – Explainer Video for 52 Lives / The School of Kindness
A hand-drawn explainer video created for UK charity 52 Lives and their educational initiative The School of Kindness. This 3-minute animation introduces young viewers to the science behind kindness — including its effects on the brain, heart, and social connections — through the story of “Sam,” an ordinary child whose kind actions quietly transform the world around him.
Illustration, animation, and design: Ian David Marsden
🎬 Created using custom-drawn storyboard, character design, and visual development.
🧠 Topics: Dopamine, oxytocin, empathy, stress reduction, and social connection.
All visuals are hand-drawn and animated in-house.
52 Lives - The Science of Kindness - 2025
Dieses animierte Erklärvideo wurde für LAP-Vorbereitung.ch produziert und zeigt einen humorvoll gezeichneten Bill Gates, der dem Zuschauer mit einem Augenzwinkern begegnet: „Hi, ich bin Bill! Egal, ob du mich kennst oder gut findest – an meinen Lösungen kommst du nicht vorbei.“
Mit handgezeichneten Cartoon-Porträts und klarer Didaktik werden Tools wie Microsoft Office 365 und digitale Arbeitsmethoden vorgestellt – ideal für Berufsschüler und BYOD-Umgebungen. Die Serie Lernnuggets wurde speziell für den mobilen Einsatz konzipiert, mit verständlicher Sprache, witzigen Charakteren und professioneller Animation im Print-Cartoon-Stil.
Konzept & Leitung: André Schelter, Solid Steel GmbH, Zürich Kunde: Blocklearning.ch Storyboard, Illustration & Animation: Ian David Marsden (Nebelspalter, Google Doodles, The New Yorker)
Lernnuggets – „Hi, ich bin Bill“ (Office 365 & Tools)
This motion-graphic timelapse video showcases the creation of a custom motivational poster for IN TALENT WE TRUST, a Paris-based consultancy specializing in human transformation. Inspired by the iconic “Uncle Sam” design, the hand-drawn illustration unfolds from sketch to finished artwork, with brush-colored textures, animated graphic elements, and sound design.
This format demonstrates how editorial-quality illustrations can be enhanced through motion design — ideal for presentations, training tools, digital campaigns, and strategic communications.
See more:
Business & Branding Illustration
Animation & Explainer Videos
Cartooning & Character Design
Live Illustration & Visual Facilitation
I WANT YOU TO CHANGE THE WORLD – Timelapse Poster Animation
This hand-drawn crowd scene unfolds in a high-speed timelapse video, showcasing expressive character design and detailed linework. Created entirely with digital ink, the piece reflects my approach to high-quality live drawing, explainer visuals, and editorial illustration. A great example of visual storytelling and handcrafted technique in motion.
Crowd Scene - Wimmelbild Cartoon Illustration
Dieses animierte Erklärvideo gibt einen detaillierten Einblick in die Kultivierung und Verarbeitung von Vitalpilzen. Der erfolgreiche Anbau erfordert nicht nur optimale klimatische Bedingungen, sondern auch viel Fachwissen, Erfahrung, Geduld und Platz. Saubere Luft und reines Wasser sind dabei essenzielle Voraussetzungen für ein natürliches und hochwertiges Wachstum.
Die gesamte Illustration, Animation und Gestaltung wurden von Ian David Marsden umgesetzt. Der visuelle Stil kombiniert handgezeichnete Aquarelltexturen mit digitaler Klarheit – für ein hochwertiges, verständliches und ansprechendes Ergebnis. Die deutsche Sprachfassung wurde von Kaspar Eichel eingesprochen, einer renommierten Stimme aus Film, Fernsehen und Hörbuch – unter anderem bekannt als Synchronsprecher von Ian McKellen und Donald Sutherland.
Das Video ist Teil einer mehrsprachigen Serie, produziert in Deutsch, Englisch und Französisch.
Verwendete Tools: Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, Clip Studio Paint
Voice-Over: Kaspar Eichel (DE)
Mycotrition – Kultivierung der Pilze: Vom Anbau zur Verarbeitung
Ce film d’animation illustre de manière claire le processus de fabrication des produits finis à base de champignons médicinaux. Chaque produit commence par une recette spécifique, conservée dans une base de données centralisée. Celle-ci est imprimée, puis utilisée pour doser précisément les matières premières nécessaires. Les ingrédients sont ensuite transférés dans la zone d’hygiène de l’usine de production, où commence la fabrication proprement dite.
Réalisée intégralement par Ian David Marsden, cette vidéo combine des illustrations numériques dessinées à la main avec un montage fluide et professionnel. Elle fait partie d’une série multilingue commandée par Mycotrition, présentant l’ensemble du processus — de la culture à la distribution.
La narration en français est assurée par Daniel Beretta, célèbre voix du cinéma français et notamment connu comme la voix officielle d’Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sa prestation apporte autorité et clarté au message.
Outils utilisés : Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Clip Studio Paint
Voix-off : Daniel Beretta (FR)
Mycotrition – Fabrication des Produits Finis : De la Recette au Conditionnement
Wie ein guter Wein oder ein fein gereifter Käse benötigt auch ein hochwertiger Vitalpilz genügend Zeit, um seine volle Kraft und Wirksamkeit zu entfalten.
In diesem animierten Erklärvideo zeige ich, wie Hawlik Gesundheitsprodukte konsequent auf eine schonende Reifung setzt – vom ersten Wachstum bis zur optimalen Ernte.
Die klaren Linien und die gezielte Kolorierung betonen Natürlichkeit, pharmazeutische Sorgfalt und hohe Qualität – in einem Stil, der Vertrauen schafft.
Sprache: Deutsch
Kunde: Hawlik Gesundheitsprodukte GmbH
Illustration, Storyboard, Animation: Ian David Marsden
Hawlik Vitalpilze – 005 – Wir lassen dem Pilz die volle Zeit zur Reife
Dieses Erklärvideo veranschaulicht die Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedenen Darreichungsformen im HAWLIK Vitalpilzsortiment: Pilzpulver, Extraktkapseln, Pulver+Extrakt-Kombinationen, Flüssigextrakte, getrocknete Pilze und Pilzschrot. Je nach Anwendungsziel und Verträglichkeit bieten diese Formen unterschiedliche Vorteile hinsichtlich Bioverfügbarkeit und Konzentration der Wirkstoffe.
Als Illustrator für medizinische und pharmazeutische Themen habe ich diese sechsteilige Videoreihe für Hawlik Gesundheitsprodukte in einem klaren, eleganten Stil gestaltet – mit gezielter Farbgebung, reduziertem Strich und wissenschaftlicher Präzision. Die Serie eignet sich ideal für erklärungsbedürftige Produkte im Gesundheits- und Nahrungsergänzungsbereich.
Ich biete individuelle Erklärvideos mit handgezeichneten Illustrationen für Unternehmen im gesamten DACH-Raum – inklusive Storyboard, visueller Sprache und professioneller Animation.
This illustrated explainer video breaks down the full workflow of building a graph database — from initial architecture to deployment. Commissioned by graph database expert Tom Geudens, the animation follows each professional involved in the pipeline, including architects, data modelers, developers, and database admins.
The video is uniquely styled using a blend of hand-drawn digital illustration and subtle watercolor textures. Scenes and characters evolve in real time through timelapse drawing, with technical and symbolic elements — like the data structures (cube, triangle, dodecahedron) — highlighted in primary colors for clarity. The supporting environments and figures remain in neutral grey washes to maintain visual hierarchy and focus.
Each character was custom-designed to represent different professional roles, emphasizing collaboration and process logic. The result is a visually elegant, conceptually clear animation that transforms a highly technical topic into an accessible visual narrative.
Tools used: Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro Style keywords: technical explainer video, graph database animation, character design, timelapse drawing, hand-drawn illustration, data visualization
Graph Database Explainer – Visualising the Data Pipeline from Concept to Deployment
The World is Not Flat is a hand-illustrated explainer video introducing the unique approach to human development practiced by the All Stars Project, a nonprofit organization founded by Dr. Fred Newman and active across the U.S.
Blending line-art drawing with red accent highlights, this whiteboard-style video walks the viewer through the All Stars philosophy: creating developmental stages for people of all ages and backgrounds by inviting them to perform, grow, and imagine beyond their current limitations. Real people, including portraits of Dr. Fred Newman, are depicted in detailed black marker linework — just as they would appear on a real whiteboard — with careful attention to likeness and visual clarity.
The drawing hand animation adds movement and rhythm to the storytelling, maintaining viewer engagement while simplifying abstract ideas through accessible visuals. The artistic tone is expressive and clean, keeping the viewer focused on the core message of empowerment and transformation.
Illustrated and animated by Ian David Marsden, this explainer video demonstrates how custom-drawn sequences can elevate educational content with warmth, clarity, and emotional resonance.
Tools used: Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro
Client: All Stars Project (U.S.-based nonprofit)
All Stars Project – The World is Not Flat: Human Development Explained
dFreeeze Standheizung per App – Lernen Sie Michael, Julia und Stefan kennen, die einen frostigen Abend erleben – aber nur einer von ihnen hat die perfekte Lösung! Mit dFreeeze aktiviert Michael seine Standheizung ganz einfach per Smartphone-App und genießt einen warmen, eisfreien Start in den Abend.
Dieses individuell illustrierte Erklärvideo zeigt die Vorteile von dFreeeze, entwickelt für hochwertige deutsche Fahrzeuge. Die handgezeichneten Charaktere wurden eigens für dieses Projekt erstellt und kamen auch in begleitenden Printmedien wie Comicstrips, Postern und Broschüren zum Einsatz – für eine konsistente visuelle Kommunikation.
Erstellt von Ian David Marsden, professioneller Illustrator und Spezialist für erklärende Animationen. Das Video nutzt einen Whiteboard-Zeichenhand-Effekt für eine dynamische und visuell ansprechende Präsentation.
Verwendete Tools: Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro
Kunde: Digades GmbH
Mehr individuelle Erklärvideos und Illustrationen:
Für LAP-Vorbereitung.ch illustrierte und animierte Ian David Marsden eine Serie von Erklärvideos im Cartoon-Stil, maßgeschneidert für Schweizer Berufsschüler. Dieses Video spielt humorvoll mit zwei ikonischen Versionen von Albert Einstein: zuerst älter, mit herausgestreckter Zunge und dem handgezeichneten Zitat „Wann endlich, wenn nicht jetzt?“, dann als junger Forscher vor einer Tafel mit E = mc² und dem ironischen Kommentar: „Das hat die letzten Jahre super funktioniert.“
Die Lernnuggets-Videos erklären Themen wie BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) und moderne Lernmethoden – optimiert für Smartphones, unterhaltsam und pädagogisch fundiert. Die Illustrationen verbinden Handzeichnung, Typografie und klare Didaktik zu einem ansprechenden digitalen Lernerlebnis.
Konzept & Leitung: André Schelter, Solid Steel GmbH, Zürich
Kunde: Blocklearning.ch
Illustration & Animation: Ian David Marsden (Nebelspalter, The New Yorker, Google Doodles)
Lernnuggets – „Wann endlich, wenn nicht jetzt?“ (Albert Einstein)
A hand-drawn explainer film introducing J. H. Parker’s framework for men navigating change, transition and purposeful self-leadership. Illustrated, animated and fully produced by Ian David Marsden in a refined, symbolic visual language built around journeys, thresholds, reflection and legacy.
Men Harvesting Wisdom — The 10 Heroic Dimensions of Transformational Self-Leadership
Providing an exceptional hygienic standard to fully disinfect and sterilise clinical devices without compromising surface structure.
This animated medical explainer video highlights how Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) principles are integrated into the design of clinical devices. By enabling complete sterilisation while preserving material integrity, it supports both patient safety and long-term equipment performance.
Dräger – 02. Infection Prevention by Design: Medical Explainer Video Series
In diesem Erklärvideo erfahren Sie, wie bei Hawlik Gesundheitsprodukte jede einzelne Charge unserer Vitalpilze streng kontrolliert wird – für ein sicheres und reines Endprodukt. Nach der Ankunft in Deutschland werden Proben jeder Charge vom unabhängigen, staatlich akkreditierten AGROLAB-Labor in Bruckberg bei Landshut analysiert. Getestet wird auf über 250 Parameter: darunter Schwermetalle, Pestizide, PAKs, Radioaktivität und mikrobiologische Belastungen.
Die gezeigte Illustration stammt aus einer sechsteiligen Serie, die ich als Illustrator speziell für Hawlik Gesundheitsprodukte gestaltet habe. Der klare Strich und die dezente Farbgebung spiegeln das hohe Qualitätsversprechen des Unternehmens wider.
Ich biete handgezeichnete Erklärfilme und medizinische Illustrationen im hochwertigen Stil für Kunden im gesamten DACH-Raum – von Konzeption über Storyboard bis zur finalen Animation.
This whiteboard-style explainer animation showcases a tech-forward Click & Collect service designed for a consulting firm based in Montpellier. It illustrates how streamlined app-based pickup enhances the customer journey — a valuable solution for SaaS platforms, e-commerce businesses, and modern retail.
🖌️ Custom hand-drawn characters, smooth transitions, and clear narrative flow highlight the convenience and simplicity of digital-first retail solutions.
🔗 Learn more: www.marsden.fr
Click & Collect – Whiteboard Explainer Animation for Digital Retail
This whiteboard-style explainer video illustrates the many responsibilities of a Contracting Professional in the U.S. federal acquisition system. Commissioned by Coley & Associates for the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI), the project called for clear, human-centered visual storytelling to support onboarding and training across U.S. government agencies including NASA, GSA, and the Department of Energy.
All artwork was illustrated by Ian David Marsden and delivered as structured, animation-ready vector files. The video is part of a multi-part training series developed to explain complex procurement roles and acquisition processes with clarity and character.
More case studies by Ian David Marsden https://marsdenillustration.com/case-studies-page/
New Federal Training Video – Contracting Professional (FAI Series)video
This animated explainer video introduces the fundamentals of mycotherapy — the medicinal application of mushrooms — and presents an overview of Mycotrition’s entire production process, from cultivation and harvesting to packaging. Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2000 years, mushrooms are gaining increasing recognition in Western research for their therapeutic benefits.
Commissioned by Mycotrition GmbH, the video was designed, illustrated, and animated by Ian David Marsden. The visual style blends hand-drawn watercolor textures with clean digital composition, ensuring accessibility and clarity across all audiences. The project was delivered in three languages (English, German, French), each version carefully adapted to the local market.
Tools used: Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, Clip Studio Paint
Mycotrition – In a Nutshell: Medicinal Mushroom Overview
Showcase of high-impact, branded animated eCards designed for large digital audiences. Created for 1&1 Mail & Media Applications SE (GMX, WEB.DE, mail.com), these animations were distributed directly within their portals to millions of users.
Each piece combines custom illustration, character design, and limited animation — developed in-house to support seasonal campaigns, internal communications, and user engagement strategies.
Concept, design, and animation: Ian David Marsden
More animated videos |
Cartoons & Comics |
Business & Branding Illustration
GMX.de Custom Animated eCards & Cartoons
Guiding, assisting, and understanding Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) challenges worldwide.
This animated explainer video communicates the global importance of consistent IPC protocols and how healthcare providers can improve safety and efficiency across facilities.
Dräger – 03. Infection Prevention and Control: Medical Explainer Video Series
Dieses hochwertige Timelapse-Erklärvideo zeigt, wie eine lebendige Marktplatzszene live gezeichnet wird – von den ersten Linien bis zur kolorierten Illustration. Die Zeichnung stammt von Ian David Marsden, einem international publizierten Illustrator und Cartoonisten, und wurde in digitalem Aquarellstil koloriert. Zuerst entsteht ein charmantes historisches Rathaus, danach ein farbenfroher Bio-Gemüsestand. Im Zentrum befindet sich ein leuchtend gelber, voll ausgestatteter Beratungsanhänger, der mobil von Stadt zu Stadt fährt. Zwei freundliche Mitarbeitende mit offenem Laptop begrüßen Bürger:innen. Ein älteres, sympathisches Rentnerpaar – der Mann sitzt im Rollstuhl – wartet entspannt bei Kaffee und Zeitung. Der Film kommt ganz ohne Text oder Voiceover aus – ein Beispiel für wirkungsvolles visuelles Storytelling und barrierefreie Illustration in der öffentlichen Kommunikation. Erklärfilm produziert für eine deutsche NGO Storyboard, Illustration & Animation: Ian David Marsden Mehr zu Live Illustration & Graphic Recording hier https://marsdenillustration.com/hand-drawn-video-animation/
Bunter Marktplatz – Zeichentrick-Erklärfilm mit mobilem Beratungsanhänger
An illustrated explainer video developed for the U.S. Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI), this segment introduces the role of a Program Manager (PM) in government procurement. The artwork and visual storytelling were created by Ian David Marsden for Coley & Associates, translating complex federal acquisition policies into clear, engaging animation assets.
Part of a broader training initiative for civilian acquisition professionals at agencies like NASA, DOE, GSA, and VA, this project showcases whiteboard-style scenes, custom characters, and strategic visual metaphors to improve clarity and retention in learning environments.
Marsden’s role included concept art, storyboards, character design, and delivery of clean vector scenes for animation.
https://marsdenillustration.com/case-studies-page/See more case studies
What is a Program Manager – Explainer Video Illustration video
Dieses 40-sekündige Zeichenvideo zeigt die Entstehung eines gezeichneten Porträts des Schweizer Komikers und Autors Helmi Sigg – von der Skizze über Tusche bis zur digitalen Gouache-Kolorierung. Der Clip demonstriert mein handgezeichnetes Erklärvideo-Design und eignet sich als Beispiel für Live-Zeichnen, Scribing, Graphic Recording und individuelle Porträtillustration in hoher Qualität.
Mehr Infos: Logo- & Maskottchen-Design | Case Studies
Helmi Sigg – Cartoon-Porträt im Zeitraffer
This timelapse video showcases the creation of three high-quality digital portraits: Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and a client character. Hand-drawn in an elegant, editorial illustration style using fine line art and digital gouache coloring, the video demonstrates the potential of custom illustration for explainer videos, graphic scribing, and live event drawing.
Ideal for use in keynote presentations, conferences, digital storytelling, and product launches, this video highlights the range and precision of Ian David Marsden’s tailored visual communication. Each portrait is crafted for clarity, impact, and versatility across formats.
See more at marsdenillustration.com/video-gallery/ or view full case studies here.
Providing an exceptional hygienic standard to fully disinfect and sterilise clinical devices without compromising surface structure.
This animated medical explainer video demonstrates how Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices are essential in increasing patient safety. It showcases how thorough disinfection protocols help maintain hygienic conditions while protecting sensitive medical equipment.
Dräger – 04. Increase Patient Safety: Medical Explainer Video Series
Enjoy a soulful timelapse as a dynamic blues duo comes to life, hand-drawn from scratch in Procreate on iPad Pro. This expressive illustration captures the energy of a smoky nightclub: a guitarist in fedora and tie, and a powerful vocalist in a flowing evening dress — all lit by moody hues of pink and blue.
Created by Ian David Marsden – expert in hand-drawn illustration, character design, and visual storytelling.
Classic Blues Duo – Hand-Drawn Timelapse Illustration
Zur Feier von 20 Jahren Tatort Münster: Dieses hochwertige Zeitraffer-Video zeigt die Entstehung einer detailreichen, farbig kolorierten Karikatur von Hauptkommissar Frank Thiel und Prof. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Börne – zwei der bekanntesten Fernsehfiguren Deutschlands aus der ARD-Krimireihe Tatort.
Die Zeichnung entsteht Schritt für Schritt – vom ersten Skizzenstrich bis zur finalen kolorierten Illustration im Stil hochwertiger Editorial-Zeichnungen à la MAD Magazine oder NZZ am Sonntag.
Diese Art von Illustration eignet sich nicht nur für redaktionelle Beiträge, Social Media und Webpräsenzen, sondern auch hervorragend für animierte Inhalte oder als Blickfang auf Messen und in Präsentationen.
Ich biete diese Qualität auch als Live-Zeichnung bei Veranstaltungen oder als visuelle Begleitung bei Remote-Meetings via Zoom/Visio an – ideal für:
• Kongresse & Konferenzen
• Team-Workshops & Design Sprints
• Strategie-Meetings & Webinare
• Vorträge, Panels, Keynotes
• Innovations- & Change-Prozesse
• HR- & Schulungsformate
• NGOs, Bildungseinrichtungen, Kulturprojekte
Mehr zu meinen Leistungen im Bereich Live Illustration & Graphic Recording:
Tatort Münster: Karikatur von Thiel & Börne – Editorial-Illustration als Zeitraffer
Cappuccino or Flat White? This humorous editorial illustration playfully compares the café culture favorite with its frothier cousin. Featuring a stylish woman sipping her trendy brew beside her unimpressed companion, the artwork captures the charm and satire of modern coffee obsessions.
Originally published in Nebelspalter Magazine, this hand-drawn cartoon by Ian David Marsden showcases a distinctive visual style — full of personality, elegant linework, and a sharp eye for detail. Perfect for editorial spreads, magazines, and commentary pieces.
🖋️ Editorial illustration by Ian David Marsden – cartoonist and graphic artist with over two decades of professional experience.
🌐 Portfolio: www.marsdenillustration.com
Flat White – The Chic Coffee Choice
A peaceful drawing of a gentleman enjoying a glass of Pic Saint Loup red wine by the fireplace. This timelapse video showcases my hand-drawn editorial illustration style using digital gouache and ink in Procreate. Ideal for explainer videos, custom storytelling, wine branding, and hospitality content. Created by Ian David Marsden.
Quiet Moments by the Fireplace – Wine & Illustration Timelapse
Optimising IPC standards, reducing time wasting, and enhancing patient and staff safety.
This animated explainer video series illustrates key Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols in hospitals and clinical environments.
It is designed to support staff training, reduce inefficiencies, and improve healthcare outcomes.
🎨 Medical illustration and video production by Ian David Marsden — professional illustrator, animator, and creative director based in France.
Dräger – 01. Break the Chain of Infection: Medical Explainer Video Series
This timelapse illustration video showcases the creation of a personalized caricature from photograph: a joyful couple on their boat, proudly holding a giant pike they just caught on a peaceful lake. From initial sketch to expressive inking and watercolor-style digital coloring, follow the artistic process behind this thoughtful birthday gift.
🖌️ Commissioned artwork by Ian David Marsden – specializing in custom caricatures, illustration, and hand-drawn visual storytelling.
This is an example of my high-quality, light-hearted illustration style — fully hand-drawn, coloured, and suitable for live applications. Originally published in Nebelspalter Magazine (2025), this editorial cartoon shows a cheerful Bavarian raising a beer with a slightly nervous Swiss tourist at Oktoberfest.
Just like in this video, I can create drawings in this quality live — either in-person on iPad Pro during events, conferences, or presentations, or remotely via Visio, Zoom or Teams, using a professional setup with pre-layered illustrations, timelapse exports, and print-ready deliverables.
This video serves as a showpiece for my live drawing, visual scribing, and graphic recording services — perfect for keynotes, workshops, hybrid events and digital communication.
Learn more about live illustration options here: https://marsdenillustration.com/live-illustration-graphic-recording/
Published in: Nebelspalter (2025) Drawn with: iPad Pro and Procreate Artist: Ian David Marsden
Oktoberfest Cartoon – Timelapse Example for Live Drawing & Scribing
This whiteboard-style explainer video presents dFreeeze, the smartphone app by Digades that allows users to remotely activate their car’s parking heater. Set on a cold winter evening, the story follows Michael, Julia, and Stephen — but only one enjoys a warm, ice-free drive thanks to dFreeeze.
Created by Ian David Marsden, the video features digitally hand-drawn characters, animated using a whiteboard effect to enhance viewer engagement. The illustrated figures were also used across supporting media, including comic strips, posters, and a printed brochure, ensuring a cohesive visual identity across formats.
The version featured here is in English. A complete German-language version was also produced as part of the campaign.
Tools used: Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro
Digades – dFreeeze Explainer Video with Whiteboard Animation
True Beauty isn't defined by TV or bestowed at a pageant. Beauty is a combination of our many individual qualities. Beauty is personality and character, health and style, integrity and sensitivity, compassion and creativity. We all want to be beautiful and while hair is important to us it's vital to remember our many other qualities that make us attractive.
So if you're one of the 2% of the population living with Alopecia remember that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and the beholder that matters most is you. Celebrate your life and have the courage to see yourself today as you are every day truly beautiful.
This compassionate message has been brought to you by HairLoss.com.
"True Beauty" - A Message About Alopecia from Hair Loss Dot Com
"Hair is important. When we lose our hair we lose more than our natural, youthful appearance. We lose our self-confidence and our self-esteem. Hair protects our heads from the cold and the heat. Hair frames our faces. Hair allows us to express who we are. When we lose our hair, it's hard to feel confident . At a dance club ... At our jobs ... On a date. Without hair, it becomes difficult to express our individuality. So refuse to make light of someone's hair loss. Hair loss is no laughing matter. Why? Because hair is important."
This compassionate message has been brought to you by HairLoss.com.
"Hair is Important" #1- A Message About Hair Loss From HairLoss.com
Explainer Video, Whiteboard Animation, Illustrated Animation — What’s the Difference?
The terminology overlaps. Different companies use different names for films whose basic purpose is the same: making something easier to understand through narration, drawing, sequencing and motion.
Explainer video
The broadest term: a short film designed to explain a product, service, process, system, idea or subject.
Whiteboard animation
Also called a whiteboard video or scribe video: drawings and visual ideas appear progressively as the narration develops.
Illustrated explainer
A film built around custom characters, scenes, diagrams, visual metaphor and illustration rather than a literal whiteboard treatment.
Other common terms include animated explainer video, hand-drawn animation, sketch animation, drawn animation, educational animation, training video, e-learning video, corporate explainer video, product explainer, visual learning film and motion-graphics explainer. I choose the visual method according to what has to be communicated rather than forcing every subject into one fixed style.
Featured Production
Men Harvesting Wisdom
An illustrated film translating a substantial self-leadership framework into a coherent visual narrative involving identity, purpose, values, change and personal transition.
The approved narration was developed into characters, landscapes, maps, symbolic imagery and recurring visual metaphors designed to give abstract ideas a consistent visual structure.
My role: creative direction, visual development, storyboarding, illustration, character design, animation, editing and final 4K delivery.
Educational Animation · United Kingdom
The Science of Kindness
Created for UK charity 52 Lives and The School of Kindness, this film explains neuroscience, empathy and emotional wellbeing to younger audiences through characters, diagrams and visual metaphor.
My role: concept development, storyboard, character design, illustration, animation, editing and final 4K UHD delivery.
They are particularly useful when viewers need to understand relationships, processes, responsibilities or abstract ideas that conventional footage cannot show efficiently.
Employee training and onboarding
Government and professional training
Learning, e-learning and microlearning
Internal communication and organizational change
Health, safety and compliance
Educational programs
Product and service explanation
Software and technical communication
Scientific and medical communication
Public-information campaigns
Presentations and conferences
Charities and mission-led organizations
Production
One Creator from Brief to Finished Film
I remain directly involved through the complete visual production rather than handing the project from account manager to storyboard artist to illustrator to animator.
That keeps the drawing, pacing, visual logic and storytelling consistent from the first sketch through the finished film.
Concept and creative direction
Script development or complete scriptwriting
Storyboards and animatics
Character design and original illustration
Diagrams and information design
Animation and motion graphics
Editing and final delivery
Voice-over coordination where required
Subtitles and multilingual versions
High-resolution still-image assets
Process
How the Production Works
01
Brief & Script
Message, audience, use and scope are defined. Existing material can be edited, developed or written into a complete script.
02
Storyboard
Scenes, visual logic, transitions and timing are resolved before final artwork begins.
03
Illustration
Characters, environments, diagrams, objects and visual metaphors are drawn specifically for the project.
04
Animation
Artwork is animated with drawing reveals, movement, transitions and pacing suited to the narration.
05
Review
Agreed review stages keep corrections structured and predictable rather than open-ended.
06
Delivery
Final films, subtitles, language versions and high-resolution illustration assets are supplied as agreed.
Budget
What Does a Hand-Drawn Explainer Video Cost?
Many complete productions fall within approximately €3,000–€6,000.
I normally quote the complete project rather than applying a rigid price per finished minute. Length matters, but complexity, number of scenes, script development, animation treatment and illustration requirements matter just as much.
Shorter or simpler productions may cost less. More complex films, extensive scripting, additional languages or substantial extra deliverables may cost more.
The project fee can include:
visual development
storyboarding
original illustration
animation and editing
agreed revision stages
final video delivery
agreed usage rights
high-resolution still-image assets
Professional voice-over and licensed music are separate third-party costs. I can recommend and coordinate suitable voice talent, studios and music sources, while external fees are paid separately to the relevant provider.
I provide a clear fixed-price proposal before production begins. My standard payment structure is 50% at the start and 50% on final delivery.
Original Illustration, Not a Template System
There is a difference between animation that imitates a hand-drawn appearance and a film whose visual language is actually designed around the subject.
That matters particularly for technical, educational or abstract subjects where the drawing has to do genuine explanatory work rather than simply decorate a voice-over.
The artwork is made for your project
No stock character libraries. No prebuilt illustration packs. No AI-generated imagery used as a substitute for commissioned drawing.
Client Experience
Long-Term Production, Not Just One-Off Films
Some assignments are individual films; others develop into series and repeat collaborations. That continuity is useful when a client needs a consistent visual language across several subjects, audiences or languages.
“You want it done? You want it done right? You want it done on time? Here is somebody that knows his craft inside and out and doesn’t cut corners.”
Tom Geudens Graph Database Expert
“I worked with Ian on several projects, such as our illustrated videos for Mycotrition GmbH. We were always very pleased with his work.”
Sebastian Schmode-Laybourne CEO, Mycotrition GmbH
“Ian was my favorite illustrator working on an animation project I directed. He supplied us with many cutting-edge assets in very short deadlines.”
Avi Graiver Animation Director
Frequently Asked Questions
How long have you been producing explainer videos?
I have more than a decade of experience developing illustrated explainer videos, whiteboard-style films and visual learning content for clients in Europe and the United States.
Can you help write the script?
Yes. I can work from a finished script, restructure an existing draft, develop source material into a script or write the complete script from the agreed brief.
How long does production take?
Many productions take approximately one to three weeks, depending on length, complexity, review stages and how quickly approvals are returned.
Can you work within an existing brand identity?
Yes. Color, typography, illustration style, characters and graphic elements can be developed to sit naturally within an established visual identity.
Can you handle technical or specialist subjects?
Yes. Previous explainer work includes software and data, healthcare, government procurement, education, professional training, product communication and scientific subjects. Specialist source material and terminology can be reviewed before scripting and storyboarding begin.
Can the illustrations be used outside the video?
Yes. Agreed illustrations can be supplied separately as high-resolution assets for presentations, websites, training materials, reports, social media or print within the usage rights agreed for the project.
Can you produce multilingual versions?
Yes. I work directly in English, French and German. Additional language versions can reuse the approved visual production while adapting narration, titles, subtitles and timing as necessary.
Can you arrange professional voice-over?
Yes. I can recommend and coordinate professional voice talent and recording studios. Those third-party fees are separate from my production fee.
Do you use AI-generated or stock illustration?
No. The commissioned artwork is developed specifically for the project rather than assembled from AI-generated imagery, stock character libraries or template illustration systems.
Related Illustration & Visual Communication
The same visual-thinking skills also apply to editorial and educational illustration, business illustration, comics, character design and live visual recording.
Send me a short outline of the subject, audience and intended use. You do not need to have the script, storyboard or visual concept worked out before contacting me.
