"I’ve had the honor of following Ian David Marsden’s career for many years, a relationship that culminated in featuring him as an official Wacom Featured Artist back in 2012 (and confirming what many already know: Ian is a creative force).

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."

Pamela Park

E-mail Marketing and Influencer Outreach Programs Manager at Wacom Technology Corp.
(December 10, 2025)

“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. He’ll think things through together with you and understand (!) what you are aiming for. He’ll point out what works (and more importantly … what doesn’t) and then execute it as agreed. Every engagement with him has worked out flawlessly.
P.S. Some extra features: Ian is smart, efficient and communicates fluently in more languages than I care to remember.”

Tom Geudens

Graph Database Expert
(March 21, 2025)

“Simply put, Ian is a visionary. He was tasked with creating all of the original artwork that would represent the multiple concepts in development within a boutique hotel setting, seamlessly blending the interior design, culture, and community of a significant, world-renowned, historically registered building. In doing so, Ian created multiple gallery-worthy pieces that perfectly embraced the heart and soul of the project. I could not possibly have been more pleased with his work. Ask him to show you his work based on the scope of this project and you will understand just how intuitively and capably he can fulfill your needs as well.”

Sam Spector

General Manager, The Culver Hotel, Culver City
Munchkins Restaurant • Duke’s Hideaway Bar • The Ruby Room

“In 2019 I redesigned my internet presence. Together with Ian, I developed a new logo, which puts more emphasis on my consulting personality. We have done this well and I am very grateful for Ian’s support. The icons we developed and the illustrations on the website www.breaksru.ch are very appealing and please me and my customers again and again. What I really appreciated about working with Ian was that he responded to my wishes and was very quick to implement them. Thank you very much, anytime again.”

Suzanne Ruf

Owner of breaksru gmbh
(March 11, 2020)

“Ian is not only a talented illustrator but also an accomplished designer and corporate identity developer. He has his own distinct style but his designs are very much customer focused and oriented. The work Ian did for iShepherd can be best described as that he understood our concept and vision from the first drawings he made. The thing that I personally admire the most about his work from an artistic perspective is the conceptual variety he comes up with, but with a constant consistency. Business with a small flair of fun or unexpected ‘Easter eggs’. I hope we are able to call upon Ian’s support for a long time coming.”

Harro Wiersma

CEO of iShepherd, Inc.
(March 6, 2020)

“I worked with Ian on several projects, such as our illustrated videos for Mycotrition GmbH: https://www.mycotrition.com/en/about-us/our-videos
We were always very pleased with his work. Ian is a great guy. Thank you, Ian.”

Sebastian Schmode-Laybourne

CEO at Mycotrition GmbH & Dronania Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Hawlik Gesundheitsprodukte GmbH
(March 16, 2020)

“Ian was my favorite Illustrator working on an animation project I directed. He supplied us with many cutting edge assets in very short deadlines. It was a pleasure working together.”

Avi Graiver

Animation Director,
Animation Cowboy Studio

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Illustration as Communication, Not Decoration

When you work with me, you are commissioning authored, hand-drawn illustration – not generated images or templates. My role is to use illustration and graphic design, visual storytelling and clear structure to help you communicate ideas that matter, not to produce disposable visuals.

Whether the project is an editorial illustration, a business comic, an internal communication series or a hand-drawn explainer, the goal is always the same: a visual narrative that is clear, human and appropriate to its context.

The sections below explain how I work, how pricing is structured, and what you can expect throughout a collaboration.

Collage showing the Software Engineering Essentials Deck case study cover and interior pages, labeled “Case Study Download.”

Working Together
Process, Pricing & Practical Info

Whether you’re commissioning a single illustration or building out a full campaign,
the process should be straightforward, creative, and clearly scoped.

From first contact to final delivery, everything is designed to support strong results —
with clarity on timelines, licensing, and expectations throughout.

View case studies →

A selection of clients I’ve had the privilege
of supporting with creative solutions:

Client Portfolio and Partners

Clients of Ian David Marsden – graphic design and illustration projects for Coca-Cola, Google, Mercedes-Benz, Dräger, Wacom, and others. — Client logos from projects in branding, packaging, illustration, and campaigns

Budgets & Scope

Clients come to me with very different project sizes and budgets. Some need a single illustration; others need a series of visuals or a longer-term collaboration. In all cases, the starting point is the same: we look at what you want to achieve and what you have budgeted for the project, then define a scope that makes sense.

I invite you to state your project budget early in the conversation. It helps me propose options that are realistic, focused and tailor-made from the outset, giving us the best chance of meeting your goals in the way you intend.

Free Initial Consultation

The first conversation is always complimentary —
a chance to align on ideas, formats, direction and budget, without any obligation.

Clarify audience, style, and goals
Discuss timeline, licensing, and usage
Review deliverables and collaboration steps
Receive a tailored quote and scope outline

Whether you’re starting with a full brief or a rough concept,
we’ll map out a clear, practical path forward.
Send me a message

Clear Process, Transparent Rates, Thoughtful Collaboration

Every project begins with a conversation — NEVER a sales pitch.
Whether you need a single illustration or a multi-part campaign, the goal is the same: clear communication, fair pricing, and creative solutions tailored to your brief.

With over two decades of experience in art direction, editorial illustration, branding, and animation, I’ve collaborated with clients of all sizes — from neighborhood cafés and cultural initiatives to international publishers and global brands. My process is structured but flexible, always grounded in clarity, responsiveness, and mutual trust.

Based in France and also working regularly with clients across Switzerland and Germany, I bring regional insight and international perspective to each commission.

For examples of real-world deliverables and timelines, visit the

Case Studies

Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Professional Standards & Industry Alignment

I base my pricing and licensing on recognised international standards. This keeps things fair, transparent and predictable for everyone involved.

I refer to frameworks and guidelines from the Association of Illustrators in the UK, the Illustratoren Organisation in Germany, Maison des Artistes in France, ProLitteris in Switzerland and the Graphic Artists Guild in the United States.

For animation and motion graphics, I also look at updated benchmarks from platforms such as Motionographer and ManyPixels. These references help ensure that fees, usage terms and expectations are in line with current professional practice.

Approach & Collaboration

Most of my work comes from referrals and long-term clients – publishers, agencies, international brands, startups and cultural organisations. I often collaborate as part of a wider creative team, and I stay involved from the first conversation to final delivery.

With over two decades of experience, I focus on structure, responsiveness and clear communication. My role is to help turn ideas, messages and complex content into purposeful visuals that serve a real need – grounded in your brief, mindful of your audience and coherent with the rest of your communication.

Illustration, Branding & Motion

I offer illustration and visual storytelling tailored to the goals of each project. This includes editorial and satirical illustration for print and online publications, character and mascot development, business comics, and sequential storytelling for internal or public-facing communication.

I also create custom packaging illustrations, visual metaphors and concept art to clarify complex or technical topics. For branding and design projects, I develop illustration-led logos, print materials, and UX/UI support graphics such as icons, personas, interface visuals and interactive elements.

For motion, I design full hand-drawn explainer videos, character animation and custom motion graphics for social, educational and brand use. All visuals are created specifically for the brief – no stock art, templates or AI generation.

Event Illustration & Graphic Recording

For live events, I offer visual scribing and live illustration — either onsite or remotely. These real-time drawings are often used during keynotes, workshops, or webinars to capture insights and foster engagement. Deliverables can include timelapse recordings, final artwork for sharing or print, and custom post-event assets.

Rates are typically day-based, with an additional preparation fee depending on complexity. Travel and accommodation, when applicable, are always arranged transparently and in advance.

Industries & Project Types

I collaborate with clients across publishing, SaaS, education, tech, non-profits, government, and the wine & gourmet sectors — supporting editorial campaigns, book illustration, explainer videos, UX and platform visuals, internal communications, and cultural initiatives.

From developing editorial illustrations and business comics to visual systems for SaaS platforms or storyboards for public service campaigns, I tailor each project to its audience and purpose — always aiming for clarity, cohesion, and visual impact.

Project Inquiries

If you’re ready to explore a project or just want to start a conversation, feel free to contact me. Whether you have a detailed brief or only an early-stage idea, I’ll help shape a path forward.

Email: [email protected]

Phone / WhatsApp:
+33 (0)6 42 49 82 11 (France, CET)

Services

Project-Based Pricing Explained

Every project is unique, from a single editorial illustration to a full sequence of images or a hand-drawn animated piece. Pricing depends on several factors: the number and complexity of visuals, the illustration or animation style, the usage across media and platforms, and the timeline. Different sectors also follow different pricing structures – for example, many publishers work with established illustration rates, which I am familiar with and respect.

Licensing terms – including territory, exclusivity and duration – are defined from the start. Each quote includes agreed revision rounds, production time and delivery of final files in the required formats. The aim is transparent pricing that matches scope and intent.

In many cases clients come to me with a defined budget and a clear idea of what they would like to achieve. My job is then to shape a proposal that fits those parameters as intelligently as possible. In practice, we almost always find a way to make it work.