Unlocking the Power of Custom Illustration
The advent of AI programs is both dazzling and groundbreaking. The ability to craft a simple prompt and receive an endless stream of content within minutes is a remarkable time and cost-saving feature. We, at Andrews Artistry, embrace these tools as well! However, it’s essential to recognize that these options are most valuable when viewed as ‘tools’ that provide initial inspiration or visual styles, which can then serve as a foundation for further development.
Have you ever had to contact a company to resolve an issue recently? More often than not, you’ve encountered an array of automated systems attempting to address your concerns, leaving you eager to connect with a real person who can genuinely assist you. This parallels the use of stock imagery. While it can offer quick and convenient solutions, it often falls short in delivering a bespoke answer tailored to your unique needs.
Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when relying solely on these solutions for your visual branding.
Customization
Unlike the quick fix that is clip art or AI art, illustrators can create unique, tailor-made artwork that perfectly suits your project or brand’s visual identity. They can adapt color schemes to match with your brand colors. Illustrators also take into account the underlying message you want to convey through the use of mark making, style, color and content ensuring you get the perfect, one-of-a-kind result.
Originality
Clip art is generic by design. The purpose of stock imagery is to keep the work as basic as possible so it will be purchased by as many people or companies as possible. As a result your imagery will likely blend in and your audience may overlook your brand.
Brand Consistency
This is a big one. Clip art or AI may be perfectly fine when first starting a project or business without previous visuals to match to, however as your project grows you may find yourself in a tricky situation. Mining for stock illustration is a fickle business. If you already started using one style of illustration but need to expand upon that it’s likely you won’t get the same result.
In the end your visual brand can look hodge podge and inconsistent leading to ineffective brand recognition. We’ve been called in by companies that found themselves in this predicament. They wanted to elevate their product and ensure the visual identity of their product was consistent and designed to their specifications. And they were much more pleased with the results of our work. Even little things like thickness of line for a drawing or color matching can make a huge difference. You want your project to look like it was created by the same hand and lives in the same family or universe. While you may find a beautifully crafted collection of art through AI or stock imagery, when deciding to add to that or customize the content with that style, you will run into trouble.
Flexibility
When you run into the issues previously mentioned it’s nice to have a go-to illustrator who can re-work your illustrations and imagery. We’re all familiar with projects or ideas taking on a new direction, it’s the nature of the business. When that inevitably comes about, having a designated illustrator to adjust your imagery accordingly is crucial.
High-Quality Results
If you’ve played with AI generative art before you may have noticed some simple mistakes made in the process. For example your prompt may lead AI to create a dancer with 3 legs or a horse head. We speak from experience here. While it gives us a good laugh and the overall style and look is impressive, simple mistakes are often made. While stock art is made by artists, the work is made to be simple and basic. Often the style is watered down to cartoonish and flat.
If you want a stand out logo or a set of custom, nuanced illustrations (where every person has the appropriate number of legs) hire a professional.
Exclusivity
Stock and AI imagery is cheap or free for a reason. Everyone has access to it and you’ll more than likely see the same illustrations you’ve selected for your brand in other companies further blending you in with the competition. When you hire an illustrator, you receive exclusive rights to the artwork that they create for you. No one else can use the same illustrations, not only making you stand out with exceptional, unique and exclusive imagery. Your brand will have an elevated edge.
Long-Term Value
We understand cost and convenience is the main consideration for all of these tools. While hiring an illustrator may cost more initially, the custom work can provide long-term value. It can be reused and adapted to various other projects and purposes saving you money in the long run.
Personalized Collaboration
Working with an illustrator, similar to our customer service analogy, allows for direct communication. You can provide feedback and have a say in the creative process, ensuring the final product is perfectly tailored to your vision. If you have a conceptual idea that needs to be communicated visually, the mind of a human illustrator vs an algorithm will drive your point home with clarity and creativity.
Supporting Artists
AI tools are an astounding tool, however generative artwork is built on the shoulders of artists and illustrators who’ve dedicated many hours to invent the styles you see depicted. AI ‘learns’ a certain aesthetic by analyzing thousands of images that currently exist. Without the hard work of artists, AI wouldn’t have a bank of imagery to learn from.
By hiring an illustrator, you support the creative community and contribute to the growth of artistic talent.
The world of AI programs offers remarkable capabilities that have revolutionized many aspects of our creative processes. However, as we’ve discussed, these tools are best viewed as valuable aids and initial sources of inspiration rather than as standalone solutions for your visual branding needs. When it comes to establishing a unique and powerful visual identity for your project or brand, there are compelling reasons to consider the expertise of human illustrators.
Customization, originality, brand consistency, flexibility, high-quality results, exclusivity, long-term value, personalized collaboration, and the support of artists are all factors that underscore the importance of hiring an illustrator. While AI and stock imagery have their place, they often fall short in delivering the precision, uniqueness, and tailored solutions that human illustrators can provide.
By investing in the talents of skilled illustrators, you not only enhance your brand’s visual appeal but also create a lasting, distinctive impression that sets you apart from the competition. Ultimately, the artistry and creativity of human hands continue to play an irreplaceable role in shaping our visual landscape and driving innovation in the realm of design.