"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 visual work shaped for a specific purpose. Whether the project is editorial, educational, strategic or motion-led, the aim is always the same: to communicate clearly, appropriately and with a distinct visual voice.

This page explains how I work, how pricing is approached, and what you can expect from first conversation to final delivery.

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 planning a broader campaign,
the process should be clear, well scoped and straightforward from the start.

From first contact to final delivery, I aim to keep timelines, licensing,
deliverables and expectations transparent throughout.

Case Studies

A selection of clients and collaborators I’ve supported across illustration, design and visual communication.

Client Portfolio & 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, a motion piece, or a longer-term collaboration. In each case, the starting point is the same: what you want to achieve, what you have budgeted, and what scope makes sense.

I encourage clients to share their budget early in the conversation. It helps me propose options that are realistic, focused and appropriate from the outset.

Free Initial Consultation

The first conversation is free of charge — a practical chance to discuss ideas, format, timeline, audience, usage and budget without obligation.

Some clients arrive with a full brief, others with only a rough concept. In either case, the aim is to establish a clear path forward and a sensible scope for the work.

Send me a message

Clear Process, Transparent Rates, Thoughtful Collaboration

Every project begins with a conversation, not a sales routine. Whether the commission is a single illustration or a wider visual campaign, the goal is the same: clear communication, fair terms and a process suited to the brief.

With more than two decades of experience across art direction, editorial illustration, branding and motion, I work with clients ranging from local businesses and cultural initiatives to international publishers and global brands. The process is structured but flexible, always grounded in clarity, responsiveness and mutual trust.

Based in France and working regularly with clients in Switzerland and Germany as well, I bring both regional understanding and international experience to each commission.

Case Studies

Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Professional Standards & Industry Alignment

Pricing and licensing are based on recognised professional standards, so that terms remain fair, transparent and predictable for both sides.

I refer to frameworks and guidance from organisations such as 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-based work, I also keep an eye on current benchmarks and production expectations within the wider industry.

Approach & Collaboration

Much of my work comes through referrals and returning clients — publishers, agencies, international brands, startups and cultural organisations. I often collaborate as part of a wider creative team and remain involved from first discussion to final delivery.

My role is to turn ideas, messages and complex content into purposeful visuals that serve a real need: grounded in the brief, mindful of the audience and coherent with the wider communication around them.

Illustration, Branding & Motion

I offer illustration, visual storytelling and selected design support tailored to the goals of each project. This includes editorial work, satirical and sequential illustration, character and mascot development, internal communication visuals, and concept-driven material for print and digital use.

For branding-related projects, I also develop illustration-led identities, packaging visuals, print materials and interface support graphics. For motion, I create full hand-drawn explainer videos, character animation and custom motion graphics for educational, editorial and brand use.

All visuals are developed specifically for the brief — no stock imagery, templates or generated shortcuts.

Event Illustration & Graphic Recording

For live events, I offer visual scribing and live illustration, either onsite or remotely. These real-time drawings are used during keynotes, workshops and webinars to capture ideas, improve recall and encourage engagement.

Deliverables can include timelapse recordings, finished artwork for sharing or print, and tailored post-event assets. Rates are usually day-based, with preparation, travel and accommodation agreed transparently in advance where relevant.

Industries & Project Types

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

From editorial illustration and business comics to SaaS visual systems or public information storyboards, each project is shaped around audience, context and purpose.

Project Inquiries

If you would like to discuss a project, feel free to get in touch. Whether you have a detailed brief or only an early-stage idea, I can help shape a practical path forward.

Email: [email protected]

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

Services

Project-Based Pricing Explained

Every project is different, from a single editorial illustration to a sequence of images, a visual system, or a hand-drawn animated piece. Pricing depends on scope: the number and complexity of visuals, the style required, the intended usage, the delivery formats and the timeline.

Licensing terms — including territory, exclusivity and duration — are defined at the outset. Quotes normally include agreed revision rounds, production time and delivery of final files in the required formats. The aim is transparent pricing that matches both scope and intended use.

Many clients come with a defined budget and a clear sense of what they want to achieve. My role is then to shape a proposal that works intelligently within those parameters. In practice, there is often more than one good way to structure a project well.