Page updated 2025
I've had a few illustration designs recently that had very tight deadlines, mostly to get the artwork to the printers and meet submission deadlines. You might think commissioning original illustration work on a quick turnaround might sound a little crazy, but in truth, it might be just what's needed.
With a tight deadline, preparation is everything. From the concept design to the final piece, it's easy to fall into certain traps.
"We don't have time, just use AI or some stock photography".
With AI images, you don't have any copyright and can;t make subtle changes. Stock photography can help, but if you don't allow for enough image sourcing time in your concept pitch, an hour or more can be quickly lost downloading half a dozen images that almost but don't quite get the right message across. They then need to be approved by the client, and if not accepted, it's more time lost.
Illustration offers a far greater level of flexibility than stock photography. Sketch proposals can be generated quickly, and then refined to get a very specific message across.
Full figure drawings, detailed backgrounds and tight accurate light and tone all take time to get right, there' no arguing that. There is no shortcut for good artwork.
Creative and resourceful thinking on the other hand, (that elusive part of the process that looks very much like sitting still and doing nothing) can really save time. Again it's in the prep.
See also Live Scribing
