A Short Inspiring Grumble of An Illustrator
This is a story about the relationship between two imperfect people.
We meet for the first time at the sandwich shop near the train station. He pops up in the shop while I and my friend eating lunch. Then my friend introduces us because apparently, we are waiting for the same train to come. Both of us about to go solo travelling to the same place.
I’ve been seen a lot of expressions when I mention my name followed with a handshake and my title on the company I work for almost three years. Illustrator. The expression of amazement but mostly I guess they are thinking about what is my contribution to the company. As they always ask me right after: Where they can find my work? How do I usually work?
I start explaining how my job is offering a perception of what is the idea inside a project. I give a lot of examples such as an illustration in our internal communication, illustration as a key visual for the offline event, the illustration of how to use our app, etc.
I show my online portfolio on my Instagram account. He seems to understand or I assume he understands because of the nod several times while I explain my job.
He is a freelance writer and photographer. I always amaze by a writer, in my opinion, they are a person with a beautiful mind. He shows me his beautiful portfolio on Instagram. All of the photos are black and white. In seconds we are following each other Instagram account. We become a fan of each other works.
Until our collaboration time.
That day we meet again in the sandwich shop near the train station. He told me about a project that he wants to create. A project about an article of a travelling guide and need an illustration in it.
I ask Why you need an illustration?
He said slowly, unsure Because the illustration will make my article look cute. Then continued Creating an illustration is easy, right? I mean it won’t take a lot of time.
I can see he still doesn’t know what is the real reasons why he needs an illustration, just like my client always does when they approach me. I continue to ask Can I see your draft? So I could create a sketch of an idea for your article?
He shook his head No need to see the draft, I believe you can create an appealing illustration without a draft.
I smiled not because I agreed but I knew something is missing. Something that I thought he has understood when the first time I explained about my job.
If it is easy and you don’t think I need time to understand your article, brainstorm the idea, create a concept, then do the sketch, why don’t you just download a free illustration from the internet?
I can’t find the right illustration for the project. They just seem not fit in.
I see. That feeling when you think you can not find the right illustration it is called the idea. To get there I need a design process. And it takes sometimes.
He looks annoyed just like me. He opens his mouth to said something yet I said Take it or leave it. I can feel the tension between us. I thought maybe after the discussion we will unfollow each other on Instagram.
Honestly, I feel bad from my last sentence. If he chooses to leave it, I don’t have a chance to help him understand the process of my job and probably he will see illustration the way he sees it right now. Easy. Cute. Appealing.
After thinking for a couple of minutes he agreed to finish the draft first and send it to me.
He curious why I need to read the draft so bad. I give him an explanation of an ideal process for me. My works based on the fact that I have. The fact usually I get from the clear brief. If the brief is not clear enough I will be asked a complete brief. And I always intend to help people solved their problem with my illustration. In his case is to understand the article.
At some point, I do ask myself. Does other illustrator have the same process as me? Will they explain about their ideal process? Or asks a clear brief?
He nods wisely. Maybe trying to be a good listener for my grumble opinion about my work.
I continue The positive side of me will answer Sure! You must educate them that every illustration has a concept behind it. The negative side of me answers Hell yeah! You don’t wanna be forever everyone slave right? For the very first time, both sides begin a teammate and I agree with them.
He smiles. A kind of smile that I knew we are becoming a fan of each other again. Then said Sometimes I have the same thought as you are about mine. You should write about the ideal process from your point of view. So if there is someone who dumbs enough like me. We laugh for a second and he continues Will understand there is a process to create an illustration.
Then he said with an enthusiast tone Hey, I have an idea. What if we plan a travelling together next month! So we can create a better project! I smile to him as I agree with his idea.
I have work in the field more than enough. During all the processes, I have learned as an illustrator, I should have good communication skill and empathy to educate others about the design process.
In the end, we are just an imperfect person. Who only understand what we are good at. Sometimes we think others are stupid just because we don’t share our knowledge with them.
If you are a designer and reading this article. Would you like to do the same? Trying to help others understand the design process? Or you just pretend they are stupid and keep the knowledge only for you.
A Short Inspiring Grumble of An Illustrator
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