Picture perfect – the power of illustration

Illustration has always been close to my heart, having been an avid Beano and Dandy collector as a small boy.  Its ability to share and communicate stories is, I suppose, what draws me in (if you can excuse the pun).

So, I was pleased to read a great article by Anna Richardson called ‘picture perfect’ in today’s Design Week newsletter which featured an array of beautiful packaging projects from such studios as Elmwood and Pearlfisher.

The article was a real testament to the value an illustrator, or illustrators in some cases, can bring to a project. Torben Dunn, group design director at Elmwood explains:

‘We have people who can draw fantastically well, but there are times when you know that if you gave the project to an illustrator they could add something extra. It’s important not to accept second best and get the client to invest in someone who can turn it up another 10 per cent. There’s always some magic an illustrator can bring.’

Illustration breathes personality into a project; introducing a viscerally engaging element. I personally champion the notion of words and pictures being as one, but they really connect on two distinct levels – rationally and emotionally.

We call this the ‘visual connection’ and illustration, more so at times than photography, is a much welcomed and fresh perspective within a corporate environment.

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