Illustrating the modern workplace: spaces to think, connect and create
Illustrating the modern workplace: spaces to think, connect and create
Compete to create: Why creative contests are worth it
Entering a creative competition can feel intimidating — but it’s often one of the most rewarding steps you can take as a creative.
1. It Pushes You to Grow
Competitions give you a deadline, a brief, and a reason to stretch your skills. That structure forces you to move from “idea” to “finished piece.” Even if you don’t win, you’ll likely produce work that’s stronger, sharper, and more resolved than something you might have created casually. Growth happens when you challenge yourself.
2. You Build Confidence
Putting your work forward takes courage. Hitting “submit” is a powerful act of self-belief. And each time you do it, the fear shrinks. Winning is great — but simply entering builds resilience and confidence that carries into every other creative opportunity.
3. You Gain Exposure
Competitions can put your work in front of judges, industry professionals, or wider audiences you might not otherwise reach. Even being shortlisted can add credibility to your portfolio and help you stand out.
4. You Receive Feedback
Some competitions offer critiques or judging comments. Honest, external feedback is incredibly valuable. It highlights strengths you may overlook and pinpoints areas to improve.
5. You Strengthen Your Portfolio
A competition brief often encourages you to tackle themes or formats outside your usual comfort zone. That variety makes your portfolio more dynamic and demonstrates versatility.
6. You Join a Creative Community
Competitions connect you with others who share your passion. Seeing what peers create can inspire new ideas and remind you that you’re part of a wider creative ecosystem.
7. You Open Unexpected Doors
Prizes are only one outcome. Competitions can lead to collaborations, commissions, job opportunities, or media features. Many creatives trace pivotal career moments back to a competition entry.
Ultimately, entering a creative competition isn’t just about winning. It’s about showing up, stretching your ability, and giving your work the chance to be seen. The real reward is who you become in the process.
Some examples:
Creating engaging visuals for a campaign is important because they:
1. Grab Attention Quickly
People process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. In a world of information overload, compelling visuals help your message stand out and get noticed quickly, especially on social media or crowded ad spaces.
2. Enhance Message Retention
Engaging visuals help people remember your message better. When information is paired with relevant images, people retain 65% of it three days later, compared to just 10% with text alone.
3. Evoke Emotions
Visuals can trigger emotions more effectively than words. Whether it’s excitement, trust, or urgency, the right image or design can influence how people feel about your brand and message.
4. Increase Engagement and boost conversion
Posts or ads with visuals consistently get more clicks, shares, likes, and comments. They drive user interaction, making your campaign more visible and influential. Visually compelling content can lead to higher conversion rates. People are more likely to take action when the message is clear, attractive, and emotionally engaging.
5. Build Brand Identity
Consistent and well-designed visuals reinforce your brand’s look, feel, and values, helping you create a memorable and trustworthy identity.
An example:
Over the last year, I have helped Brighton Chamber with consistent visual communication for this important campaign, creating some humorous illustrations and engaging visuals for the campaign website.
The Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign is a local initiative encouraging employers in Brighton and Hove to voluntarily pay their staff the Real Living Wage - a rate independently calculated based on the actual cost of living, which is higher than the government's National Minimum Wage.
Over the last 13 years, Brighton Chamber have seen nearly 1,000 employers sign up to the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign, elevating over 5,000 salaries since the campaign began in 2012.
Each year, they send out a few questions to Living Wage employers about why they signed up to the campaign and how it’s impacted their business. You can read the full report on the Living Wage website here https://www.livingwagebrighton.co.uk/living-wage-employee-survey-results/
Freddy Fibre and Barbara Broadband
Creating a compelling character is one of the most rewarding parts of storytelling. Whether you’re crafting heroes for a novel, a game, or you create a protagonist in a screenplay, memorable characters are the heart of any story.
Creating a character for a brand is a strategic decision aimed at making the brand more relatable, memorable and engaging. It helps with:
- Emotional Connection
- Differentiation
- Storytelling
- Memorability
- Consistency and Recognition
- Targeting Specific Audiences
1. The Basics
Every character needs a foundation. Answer these core questions:
- Name: What’s their full name?
- Age: How old are they?
- Appearance: How do they look? Include unique features that set them apart.
- Occupation/Role: What do they do and how does it define them?
2. The Backstory
A rich backstory gives characters depth and informs their actions. Consider:
- Origins: Where were they born? What’s their family like?
- Key Events: What experiences shaped them?
- Relationships: Who matters most to them? How do these bonds shape their decisions?
3. Define Their Motivation and Goals
Every character needs a driving force. Ask yourself:
- What do they want? (Goal)
- Why do they want it? (Motivation)
- What’s standing in their way? (Conflict) Characters with clear motivations feel more authentic and relatable.
4. Give Them Flaws and Strengths
Perfect characters are boring. Balance their abilities with weaknesses:
- Strengths:What are they good at?
- Flaws:What holds them back?
- Internal Conflict: How do their strengths and flaws clash?
5. Craft Their Personality
Use tools like the Big Five Personality Traits to explore their temperament. Think about:
- How do they react under pressure?
- What are their quirks, mannerisms, and habits?
- How do they speak?
6. Visualise Them in the World
Place your character in different settings. How do they interact with their environment?
- Do they feel out of place or right at home?
- How do they engage with other characters?
- What’s their relationship to the story’s theme?
and now... Iterate and Refine
Characters grow as your story evolves. Keep refining them all the time.
Final Tip: Let Them Surprise You!
The best characters often take on a life of their own. Don’t be afraid to follow where they lead, even if it deviates from your original plan. The unexpected twists will make your story even richer! What kind of character are you creating today?
An example:
With the help of Lightning Fibre, I have created Freddy Fibre and Barbara Broadband. We also created this character for an advert. You can read more about character creation here.
Icons are visual shortcuts; they convey information quickly and clearly. So they need to be precise and clear and convey a message in seconds. Understanding the purpose and the message of the icons is critical, but at the start, it's also good to sketch freely and have fun!
I often get asked to create icons for websites, branding, brochures, newsletters and workshops. An example would be producing icons for a workshop and a card game for managers to help them recognise required management competencies and find their unique management styles.
Doodling VS final product
Creating an icon involves both design skills and technical steps. Determining the purpose and defining the style for consistency is important, but don't underestimate the creativity involved, as there are many cliché icons out there from stock libraries etc. And we need to do stuff differently.
In the initial mood board phase, I recommend experimenting, sketching, doodling and drawing freely - like a child - and without constraints to avoid cliches.
Telling a story appeals to the audience; an intriguing scene can catch the audience’s attention. So get going: time to have fun and play and not to think of the outcome - yet! Connect with your inner child and experiment.
However odd these first ideas are, there is no right or wrong. Make sure you keep those initial sketches as they may aid the progression of the ideas later.
What are icons?
Icons are visual shortcuts; they convey information quickly and clearly. So they need to be precise and clear and convey a message in seconds.
Understanding the purpose and the message of the icons is critical, but at the start, it's also good to sketch freely. We can hone in on the purpose and their intention later - and simplify the visual. This allows you to brainstorm without limitations, laying the groundwork for a polished icon.
‘Icons should be simple and recognisable in various sizes. Avoid excessive details that may get lost when scaled down.’
We need to aim for a design that is clean, with a strong, identifiable shape. But again, in this initial sketch phase, that is not the focus; just doodle away and let your creativity flow.
At the end of this phase, we may have a favourite, and that’s good, but be sure to test it with your audience. Do they grasp the message quickly? Fresh eyes can often spot issues you might have missed, and constructive criticism can help refine your designs.
Doodling for designers to encourage divergent thinking
We don't doodle enough, as designers. I think that it is due to years of training to solve a problem within our field of work.
Doodling ideas freely serves other purposes too:
It focuses our creativity and allows us to have fun and be innovative. It is a powerful tool for thinking, learning, and creating.
Doodling is a form of visual thinking, where abstract thoughts and ideas are expressed through imagery rather than words. This can help clarify complex concepts, making them easier to understand for ourselves and others.
The random, free-flowing nature of doodles disrupts rigid thinking patterns and encourages divergent thinking. It’s a great way to get unstuck and find fresh perspectives.
The more bizarre and absurd our ideas, the better the outcome, as scaling back is always possible.
An example:
30 ICONS FOR 30 LEADER CORE COMPETENCIES
Recently I designed 30 icons for a client to help managers identify the competencies they need as leaders - and to understand who they need to be to inspire as managers. This was part of an app created online under the title 'Thrive to Perform' & Perform to Thrive'.
Thrive to Perform is an innovative, evidence-based leadership development and well-being programme rooted in positive physiology principles. It is designed to empower emerging, confirmed and senior leaders with the skills and mindset needed for personal and professional success.
The mood board phase brought us from animals and shapes to tidy, technical, intelligent icons that communicate to the audience. The initial doodles helped the client and me focus on what we needed to communicate and how.
This was one of my first sketches, Fifi the fish trying to solve a problem. This direction was evidently not used in the end product, but it made me think outside the box.
This is the progression board to establish 30 Icons. You can find out more about the work my client is undertaking here: www.positiveperformances.org.
Set a positive customer experience in a personalised Welcome Pack
A good Welcome Pack can significantly enhance the customer experience, especially when they receive it upon installation of a product or service. To create an effective Welcome Pack, consider the following components:
1. Personalised Welcome Letter
- Warm Introduction: Start with a personalised note that thanks the customer for choosing your product or service. This sets a positive tone.
- Contact Information: Include details of how they can reach customer support or their account manager.
- Next Steps: Provide a brief overview of what the customer can expect in the coming days or weeks.
2. User Guide or Quick Start Guide
- Clear Instructions: A well-designed guide that helps the customer get started with the product or service quickly.
- Visual Aids: Use images, diagrams, or videos (QR codes can be used to link to online content) to help with the setup.
- Troubleshooting Tips: Address common issues upfront to reduce customer frustration.
3. Branded Merchandise
- Practical Items: Include useful items like pens, notepads, USB drives, or tote bags. These keep your brand top-of-mind. But do think of the environment, and produce merchandise that people actually need.
- Personalised hand-drawn user-guide: A personal instruction guide to help the customer understand how to install the product is welcomed. This can be done effectively with hand-drawn illustrations.
- Quality Matters: The merchandise should reflect your brand’s quality. Cheap or flimsy items can backfire.
4. Discounts or Vouchers
- Future Savings: Offer a discount on their next purchase or a referral code they can share with friends.
- Exclusive Offers: Consider including a time-limited offer to create a sense of urgency and encourage further engagement.
5. Customer Success Materials
- Case Studies or Testimonials: Include success stories from other customers to build confidence in your product.
- Tips and Tricks: Provide advanced tips to help them get more out of the product or service.
- Upcoming Events: Mention any webinars, workshops, or events that they might find beneficial.
6. Product Samples or Add-Ons
- Surprise Gifts: If applicable, include a sample of a complementary product or a small add-on.
- Trial Offers: A free trial for an additional feature or service can encourage exploration of other offerings.
7. Feedback Request
- Survey or Feedback Form: Include a simple, easy-to-complete feedback form or link to an online survey. This shows that you value their opinion.
- Incentivise Feedback: Offer a small reward for completing the survey, such as a discount or entry into a prize draw.
8. Digital Resources
- App or Online Portal Guide: If your product includes digital components, provide instructions on how to access and use these.
- Social Media and Community Links: Encourage customers to join your online communities or follow your social media channels.
9. Packaging
- Branded and Eco-Friendly: The packaging itself should be an extension of your brand and ideally eco-friendly. This should look personal and friendly.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The unboxing experience should be pleasant and memorable, making the customer feel valued.
10. Next Steps Reminder
- Follow-Up: Mention any follow-up actions the customer should take, such as scheduling a training session or setting up an online account.
- Reassurance: Reinforce that support is available whenever they need it.
Additional Considerations:
- Customisation: Tailor the pack based on the customer’s specific purchase or subscription tier, if possible.
- Simplicity: While it's great to include many items, ensure the pack isn't overwhelming. Balance is key.
Creating a well-thought-out Welcome Pack shows your customers that you care about their experience from the very beginning, setting the stage for a positive long-term relationship.
I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: "Visual Thinking through metaphors without resorting to clichés" from Dario Paniagua!
Visual metaphors create miniature narratives that deeply resonate with the audience. They go beyond merely describing situations, instead, they analyse and dynamically transform them.
Looking back
In the past, I may have touched on skills, by attempting to create metaphors, and visuals that work hard, possibly coming across as a little absurd to draw attention. But sometimes I just drew icons - ok as part of a user interface but not to communicate a story.
Nice icons...
A nice pretty story but nothing unexpected...
New approach
Experimentation is valuable, and learning from past experiences is essential for refining a communication style. The task at hand involves incorporating this approach into my workflow: To not think clichés to try to be clever with my images and steer clear of clichés and to infuse creativity into my visuals. Upon reviewing some of my past work, I recognise the potential for enhancement, and I am enthusiastic about the prospect.
Before initiating any project, I now engage in thorough, thought-provoking contemplation, pondering whether I can employ metaphors instead of opting for the straightforward and apparent: "Could I do this with a metaphor rather than just drawing the obvious"? Let me think....
Visual metaphors that help drive attention and tickle a smile...
Going forward
Going forward, let me tell the stories cleverly, with intelligence - to grab attention and to convey a message, to help create memorable images that tickle the audience, invite a smirk or make us think.
The course has been transformative.
The course
The course outlined clear strategic tools which help in this process. So that we don't fall into the habit of simply producing icons, because we can.
We learnt of so many illustrators who do this so skillfully, https://www.joeyguidone.com/, as an example, to just name one. These magicians are becoming real heroes to aspire to. The charme in employing illustrations lies in our ability to craft a narrative through the use of visual metaphors.
The personal engagement I received on its course is admirable. I felt supported in my progress. There is a community you can be part of, encouriging you to ask questions and submit homework.
This course will suit illustrators, graphic recorders and even artists. It is a worthwhile investment, especially now that AI is at our heels - important to find ways to create visuals without resorting to clichés.
I have started a journey that will take me years to perfect.
Here is the link if you are interested: LEARN VISUAL THINKING THROUGH METAPHORS * avoiding clichés - https://www.dariopaniagua.com/.
Corporate presentations with the aim to tickle emotions
A personalised flyer or a PDF Brochure, which is bespoke, specific to your organisation AND tells your story will stay in people's minds.
When I attend a networking event and I dish out my little personalised postcards with some illustrations on them, I often get comments like "Oh that's nice", or "Oh, I will keep this as a bookmark". Why is that? Because my personalised business cards are hand-drawn and personal and they look colourful.
A nice design will create interest, but bespoke illustrations will make a real impact!
First impressions are really important when you meet a potential audience.
It will help your audience feel valued and respected. They will remember your organisation.
An example
Recently I was asked by Together Co., a Loneliness Charity if I could help them improve their presentation materials. The organisation is dedicated to connecting volunteers with individuals in need of companionship and support. By becoming a volunteer, you can help combat loneliness and isolation while fostering meaningful relationships.
One of the first areas they needed my support was to make their corporate partnership deck into a document that they could send to companies who are interested in working with them; they would then use some of the key messages and design on their website too. This is quite a bold step, and I was very pleased to accept the project. We get innodated with marketing materials and having something that looks slightly different could be very effective.
The illustration needed to be emotive and engage with the audience, warm the heart. I used the corporate colours from their branding guidelines as well as some of their visual asset.
The outcome
The outcome is a PDF presentation that shows personality. It reflects 'care' and invites the audience to read it. The amount of content is balanced with bespoke illustrations and is very digestible.
The documents are set up so we have control over the design and can amend and create a new PDF within a day.
AI make come for us. I wonder if it will be able to capture an organisation's brand, they story, their objectives whilst creating an emotive illustration that warms the heart. We will see.
About TogetherCo
"Are you tired of feeling isolated during the pandemic? Do you miss the social connections you used to have? Look no further than TogetherCo! Our community platform connects you with like-minded individuals for virtual chats, games, and activities. Say goodbye to loneliness and hello to new friendships. Join Togetherco today!"
"Looking for a way to make a positive impact on your community? Consider joining Together Co, where we believe that small actions can make a big difference. Our team is dedicated to helping people connect with others and build meaningful relationships. By volunteering with us, you can help combat loneliness and isolation while making new friends and having fun. Join us in making the world a brighter place, one small step at a time."
A hand-drawn map can add a personal touch to an event - and reflect your branding.
Maps have long been the purview of the field of illustration, from imaginative maps illustrating fantastical journeys, to informative maps that guide tourists through their destinations.
A map can be filled with characteristics of a place and details to represent an area. They can access elements of storytelling.
This may look like a challenge but it is such a nice project to undertake as you can pull out certain key areas, portrays the overall 'feel of the place and adds a sense of humour to really tell a story about your event. This can create a real mood.
It is a free license to make a map less boring, more informative and assure it fits in with your organisation's visual comms.
A hand-drawn map may not be completely accurate in terms of distances and locations, but with an exciting composition, it can create a quick impact and highlight the atmosphere of the location or of your event.
Large type, hand-written titles and fun icons are a big trend right now.
A personalised map can explain a complex process too..
A visual map is an effective tool to illustrate a process or thinking path. It can be a step-by-step guide through a complex process using visual assets.
Custom-made maps, be that a process map or a location map, show that you are thinking of the user-experience.
Taking the time to commission a hand-drawn map for your website or brochure shows the audience that you care about details. It is just so personal, aesthetically pleasing and fun.
A good brief is essential to ascertain what you want to highlight and which key areas, points of interest or buildings are taking centre stage. Outlining the process in sketches is critical before starting an intricate process map. Providing your branding guidelines with the brief is key so that your new map fits in well on all of your marketing materials.
Looking back at some old (art)work helps you take your next steps in developing your own style.
©sandrastaufer 'The Cows" 1994
It's nice to see drawings you did when you were younger because you can see how uninhibited the work was, how you experimented with different styles and media.
Last week helped my mentee put together a portfolio. She is trying to get a place on a prop-making course and I helped her evaluate what her best work is - and how she can develop further some of the work she already has. I helped her identify her style and a path forward to show her brand identity as an artist. (here a link to some tips)
This encouraged me to look back into my old portfolio, some of it dating back decades. Choosing just 10 pieces for her portfolio is hard, but how would that feel for my own, if I had to do this exercise?
I distinctly remembered some artwork, others I completely forgot about, like this one - 'the cows'. Of course, this activity can cause apprehension; when I first looked at some of my old artwork I wasn't impressed. But it helped me see my growth. It's so nice to see drawings you did when you were younger because you can see how uninhibited the work was, how you experimented with different styles and methods. I love seeing my hand-drawn stuff and comparing it to my digital work. On one hand, it is nice to see how far I have come in terms of finding my style but some of it is also surprising, seeing how your current style actually developed very early on.
As a serious illustrator you have to continually look back at work short-term and in a large retrospective view too to review the journey you have made. I am quite good at throwing out old sketches or work that wasn't personal to me. At this point, I am very happy that I had not abandoned all of my old artwork, tossed it out, or completely destroyed it because now, I have a trail back to that time to see where my style developed from and why. It's a little bit like my own art history. You are a critic too and you constantly are analysing what has gone wrong and right with a body of work and what to do about it.
Of course, I often ask myself why my style has developed the way it has, and that is why this retrospective is so revealing. I feel I almost couldn't help but go down the route my hand took me. I may have had heroes and influencers that pulled me in a direction, but I feel looking back now, there were early signs of my style developing the way it has.
Your work gets judged by others on a daily basis, being your own judge feels just as important, because it helps you move forward and make decisions about your direction. You also realise that the path you took to your style is not coincidental, but there is the reason behind it.
It's critical to stay innovative, of course, and just doing the same thing isn't right (and boring too), but I do think keeping to a style you have developed over the years that identifies as you and is comfortable, is really important. I will also take on the challenge I mentioned to my mentee and rework some of the artwork I did 30 years ago. Why not?