Process · Pricing · Usage · Delivery
Commissioning Illustration & Visual Communication
A practical guide to starting a project, defining the scope, agreeing fees and usage, reviewing the work and receiving the finished files.
You do not need to arrive with a finished creative brief. Some clients do; others have a rough idea, a manuscript, a presentation, a product, a communication challenge or simply a deadline. We can establish the details together before the work begins.
35+ years professional experience · Direct collaboration · English · French · German · International projects
Starting a Conversation
A few details are enough to get started
To get a clear picture of the project and prepare an accurate proposal, it helps to know a few practical details. You do not need to have everything worked out before getting in touch — a short outline is often enough to start.
The project
A short description of what you are planning and what you would like to create — an illustration, character, comic, explainer film, campaign, live drawing project or something else.
Where it will be used
Where the work will appear — for example in print, online, in a campaign, publication, presentation, product, event, training material or internal communication.
Timing
Any target delivery date, publication date, launch, event or other milestone I should know about.
Budget
If you already have a budget or range in mind, please include it. In many cases this is the simplest way to start, as it allows me to put together a complete proposal from the outset and avoids unnecessary uncertainty around scope and cost.
Existing material
If you already have text, a manuscript, presentation, brand guidelines, sketches, technical information or useful reference material, feel free to include it.
Early-stage idea?
That is equally fine. We can establish the details together before I prepare the proposal.
The Process
From first conversation to final delivery
The exact stages vary with the commission, but most projects follow the same basic sequence.
01
Brief
We establish purpose, audience, use, format, timing and any existing requirements.
02
Proposal
I prepare a written estimate or proposal covering scope, deliverables, timing, revisions and usage.
03
Development
Concepts, sketches, storyboards or initial visual directions are developed according to the type of project.
04
Feedback
Agreed revision stages allow the work to be reviewed and refined before final production.
05
Delivery
Final artwork is supplied in the formats required for print, digital use, presentation, animation or the agreed application.
Fees
How projects are priced
Most commissions are priced by project rather than from a universal rate card. A single editorial illustration, a character system, a corporate comic, a live event and an animated explainer involve different kinds of development and production.
Scope
Number of images, complexity, concept development, length of a sequence, animation requirements, preparation and final formats all contribute to the project scope.
Usage
Where the work will appear, how long it will be used, the territory and whether exclusivity is required are established as part of the quotation.
Timing
The production schedule is agreed as part of the proposal, including any fixed publication, launch, event or delivery dates.
If you already have a budget or range in mind, please include it. In many cases this is the simplest way to start, as it allows me to put together a complete proposal from the outset and avoids unnecessary uncertainty around scope and cost.
Usage & Licensing
Clear terms before the drawing starts
Illustration fees reflect both the work involved in creating the image and the agreed use of that image. Commercial advertising, editorial publication, internal communication and a long-running brand application are different kinds of commission.
Territory, duration, exclusivity and intended applications are therefore defined in the proposal or quotation so that the terms are clear from the outset.
Revisions & Files
Feedback is built into the process
Quotes normally include agreed stages for sketches, feedback, refinement and approval, so decisions can be made at the appropriate points throughout the project.
Final artwork is supplied in the formats required for the agreed use — for example print, web, presentation, animation, social communication or internal documentation.
What Can Be Commissioned?
Different services, one direct working relationship
These are the main areas of commissioned work. Each specialist page contains examples and more specific information where useful.
Commissioned Illustration
Campaigns, corporate communication, products, presentations and explanatory visual work.
Comics & Sequential Illustration
Corporate comics, comic strips, cartoons and narrative sequences.
Logos, Mascots & Characters
Original character, mascot and identity development for brands, campaigns, publishing and events.
Hand-Drawn Explainer Videos
Storyboarding, illustration and hand-drawn animated explanation for companies and organisations.
Live Graphic Recording
Remote live visual documentation for meetings, workshops and conferences, with selected on-site work by arrangement.
Graphic Design & Creative Direction
Brand identity, packaging, information design and connected visual communication systems.
Direct Collaboration
The person you speak to is the person doing the work
I work directly with clients, agencies and project teams from the initial conversation through development and final production.
For projects involving printers, developers, voice talent, production partners or another creative team, I can work directly with those people as part of the process.
Commissioned imagery is produced personally and is hand-drawn rather than generated with AI.
International Projects
Remote collaboration is normal
I am based near Montpellier in southern France and work internationally. Projects are routinely handled through email, video calls and shared documents, with communication in English, French or German.
English
International clients, publishers, agencies and project teams.
Français
Clients en France, entreprises, institutions, associations et projets locaux ou nationaux.
Deutsch / Schwiizerdütsch
Swiss clients and German-speaking companies and organisations.
Practical Questions
A few things clients often want to know
Do I need a finished brief before contacting you?
No. A clear brief is useful, but an early conversation is also a perfectly good place to begin. We can establish the scope, deliverables and visual approach together.
Do you work directly with companies as well as agencies?
Yes. I work directly with companies, institutions, publishers and organisations, and I also collaborate with agencies and wider creative or production teams.
Are revisions included?
Agreed feedback and revision stages are normally included in the quotation. The number and timing of those stages depend on the type and scale of the commission.
Can you work remotely?
Yes. Remote collaboration has been a normal part of my work for many years. It is suitable for most illustration, comics, design and explainer projects, and is the primary format for my live graphic-recording service.
Can I see more detailed examples before commissioning?
Yes. The Case Studies section contains project context, roles, deliverables and finished applications, while the specialist portfolio pages contain broader selections of work.
Project Enquiries
Tell me what you are working on
A few lines about the project, intended use, timing and any budget range you already have are enough to begin. If some details are still open, we can work through them together.
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