Creative Process EXPLAINED

01. Discovery & Research

We begin by aligning on the brand’s creative goals, visual tone, and overall direction. I’ll gather inspiration and develop a focused moodboard to guide the project.

02. Concept Sketches

I’ll present rough sketches that explore composition and concept. The client will be able to provide feedback and request directional changes. Typically, one round of revisions is included at this stage.

03. Final Illustrations

Once a sketch is approved, I’ll move forward with full-color artwork — refining the linework, color, and texture to align with the brand’s style.

Asset Types Explained

  • Hero Illustration

    Detailed, hero illustrations designed to tell a rich visual story — ideal for packaging, posters, hero banners, or key brand moments.

  • Spot Illustration

    Smaller standalone illustrations used to highlight ideas or support storytelling.

  • Icons

    Minimal, graphic symbols built for clarity and repetition across the brand system — ideal for website UI, quick visual references.

  • Character Illustrations

    A signature illustrated character to bring your brand to life and build recognition — ideal for story-driven brands to help create a personable tone of voice.

  • A Joy to Work With!

    “It was such a joy working with Mandy. We had a tight deadline, but she responded quickly and provided a suite of thoughtfully designed illustrations ahead of schedule! She captured exactly what our brand stands for, and we couldn't be happier with the final result. ”

  • Conceptual, Proactive & Reliable

    “The über talented Mandy has been a consistent source of illustration for us since 2022. She is conceptual, proactive and responsive — I can always rely on her to deliver quality work reliably. ”

  • Responsive & Collaborative

    “I appreciate Mandy’s responsiveness and collaborative approach. It was a pleasure working with Mandy, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for bespoke designs and illustrations! ”

frequently asked questions

*

frequently asked questions *

  • For project-based work, I start by understanding your business goals, the number and types of illustrations needed, and the complexity involved. Based on that, I provide a tailored project estimate with a fixed price that covers all agreed-upon deliverables.

    This approach gives you clear budgeting upfront and a defined scope, so there are no surprises down the line. You’re also welcome to add additional deliverables as the project progresses; these can be included at an agreed-upon additional fee.

  • A quarterly retainer gives you a block of hours at a discounted rate. It’s ideal for ongoing or evolving needs, and it secures my availability during that time.

    It’s a flexible option when creative direction is still taking shape or new needs may arise.

  • Absolutely — illustration needs can evolve as the project unfolds. If the scope changes, I’ll provide an updated quote or hourly estimate before moving forward with new work. Open communication is key, and I’ll always keep things transparent!

  • Each illustration includes two rounds of revisions:

    • One at the sketch stage, to refine the concept

    • One at the final stage, for light polish or adjustments
      This allows us to stay collaborative while keeping things on track.

    Additional revisions can be added and are billed hourly. I’ll always check in before moving forward so you have control over the timeline and budget.

  • Unless otherwise specified, spot and full-scale illustrations are delivered as high-resolution raster files.

    If you require vector files, that’s absolutely doable — just let me know upfront, as it may shift the project scope and my creative process, and involve an additional fee.

    Icons, patterns, and decorative brand elements are typically delivered as vector files.

  • My process is collaborative and iterative — I enjoy working closely with clients through each stage, from concept to final.

    You'll see sketches before any final artwork, and we build together with two structured rounds of feedback. I value clear communication and believe the best results come from thoughtful, creative partnership.