What to Look for in the Best Illustrator Portfolios
WORKING NOT WORKING
To make an impact, sometimes you need more than words on a page. Fortunately, framing ideas in a visual context is what good illustrators do best.
When hiring an illustrator, there's far from a shortage of talent. For hirers, this can be both a gift and a curse. Often, it's more about aligning the illustrator’s aesthetic with your goals than it is determining who is truly the best.
If you’re searching for a new illustrator, the first thing to assess is past work.
For example, if you want an editorial illustration, it’s helpful to find someone who can further clarify and support the narrative through their art. On the other hand, illustrations for packaging doesn't necessarily need to tell a story to be effective.
Sometimes, you’re looking for sophistication. Other times, you might want something fun to make a splash and catch people’s attention.
Once you know generally what you want, look for illustrators who can capture the feeling you’re chasing. The best ones can create a piece of work that adds personality, character, and artistry into the mix without disrupting your existing message.
Read on to see how fifteen of Working Not Working's best illustrators exemplify these traits through their own creativity.
Note: Are you looking for top-notch illustrators to join your team or elevate your next project? Get access to 5,000+ of the most respected illustrators around on Working Not Working today.
15 Examples of Great Illustrator Portfolios
Jane Scherbaum is the director of the design kollektiv, an interdisciplinary studio of design. For 12 years, she was the head of design at the V&A, the world's largest museum of art and design.
In a past interview, she noted her belief that great illustration should stand on its own. A good image, she added, doesn't need any explanation.
“I think illustration can create an atmosphere, so I want to feel something when I look at it,” Scherbaum said, speaking with AIGA, the professional association for design.
We think all of these creators’ work shows that they can create that ‘atmosphere’ Jane spoke of.
Priya Mistry
Priya is an independent illustrator who’s also an animator and art director. Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Priya has done it all throughout a long career. Priya’s illustrated for television as well as games and virtual reality platforms.
Due to high-quality work, Priya’s won awards, including from the Royal Television Society. The RTS is an educational charity that promotes the art and science of television.
Priya has a who’s who roster of past clients that includes brands such as Google, The New Yorker, Medium, and the BBC.
Years of Experience: 11
Featured Sample: Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
In collaboration with Conran Design Group, Priya illustrated this animated film. The piece was for the specialty hospital's "Make It Possible" campaign. Its goal was to raise awareness around the care and treatment that the hospital provides.
Jaedoo Lee
Jaedoo is a freelance illustrator, designer, and animator from New York. Jaedoo graduated from the School of Visual Arts, earning a BFA in Design with honors in 2016.
Career-wise, Jaedoo has lent illustration expertise to companies of all kinds. Jaedoo’s own portfolio includes work drawn on behalf of Google, Medium, and The New York Times. Jaedoo began working with Buck, a renowned design-creative company.
Years of Experience: 4
Featured Sample: Playstation Classic
Jaedoo illustrated this campaign for Sony. Its mission was to promote the retro release of its nineties game console. Jaedoo helped create this project as a designer/animator at Buck.
Joey Ellis
Joey has worn a variety of hats in design throughout a long, creative career. For almost two decades now, Joey’s worked as an illustrator and art director.
One of Joey’s chief interests is character design. And from children’s books to games, Joey also has a passion for illustrating for any medium.
Joey has worked with an eclectic mix of companies. Some previous clients include Disney, the NFL, ESPN, Facebook, PBS, and Lowes.
Years of Experience: 18
Featured Sample: Riverboat Ron
As an NFL head coach, Ron Rivera earned the nickname “Riverboat Ron” for his willingness to take risks. Joey collaborated with Rivera to draw this mascot based on the coach’s reputation.
Jarosław Danilenko
Jarosław is a Polish illustrator and animator. He defines his style through open and curious exploration. Some experts have described his illustration as “comic-like” in approach.
Jarosław isn’t one to shy away from pushing the limits of his creativity. In 2016, he and his friend and fellow illustrator Michal Loba shared a drawing a day on Tumblr. The daily project garnered the interest of a handful of creative publications.
Years of Experience: 10
Featured Sample: Truman Show
Jarosław drew this beautiful illustration for Viacom, one of the world’s largest media companies. He based the piece on Jim Carrey’s 1998 movie The Truman Show. Paramount Pictures, which Viacom owns, produced the film. His interpretation became a mural at one of Viacom’s offices.
Zack Rosebrugh
Zack is an illustrator from Los Angeles who’s created work on behalf of some major companies. He's landed gigs illustrating for the likes of Adidas, Snapchat, Dropbox, and others.
As an illustrator, Zack describes his approach as eccentric yet accessible.
Years of Experience: 4
Featured Sample: Quartz Ant Financial Editorial
Zack drew this for a story published in Quartz. The piece centers around Ant Financial, a multi-billion dollar fintech company in China.
Michelle Porucznik
Michelle’s playful illustrations have captured the attention of both brands and celebrities. For example, both Miley Cyrus and George Takei have taken notice of Michelle’s work.
“I'm interested in creating relatable, intelligent, and engaging content that leaves people feeling understood,” Michelle wrote. “My life's mission is to tickle even the grumpiest of hearts.”
Career-wise, Michelle’s illustrated on behalf of some amazing companies. Apple, LinkedIn, and TD Ameritrade are a few that have tapped Michelle’s services. Michelle earned a BFA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Years of Experience: 7
Featured Sample: Nestlé Drumstick GIFS
Michelle created this set of Nestlé Drumstick GIFs for GIPHY. They were for an exclusive brand page that GIPHY created for Nestlé. During the campaign, Nestlé amplified Michelle's work on social media.
Andrea Mongia
Andrea is an Italian illustrator based in Rome. In 2019, He made Forbes 30 under 30 in Europe’s Art & Culture list.
Andrea’s beautiful illustrations have appeared on many different platforms and publications. Some include The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
Years of Experience: 7
Featured Sample: The Boston Globe Magazine
In a simple way, Andrea illustrated this image for a human-interest piece. He based the illustration on a story that centers on the concepts of tennis and family.
Kati Perez
Based in California, Kati is a multidisciplinary designer. From San Francisco to Los Angeles, she's illustrated for several companies and agencies.
Kati has worked for many big-name brands throughout her design career. Her client list includes Animal Planet, Disney, and Specialized Bikes.
Years of Experience: 4
Featured Sample: Loco Coco
Kati designed branding for this New York-based superfood and smoothie bowl restaurant. She illustrated logo concepts, marketing collateral, and menus, as well as the brand guide. Kati completed this project for Manufactur, a boutique agency in Downtown LA.
Amrita Marino
Before becoming an illustrator, Amrita spent almost 10 years as a software engineer. When she decided to pursue a creative path, Amrita moved to New York. There, she earned a degree at The School of Visual Arts.
Since changing careers, Amrita has illustrated for brands such as Google and Frito Lay. She’s also served for publications such as Dwell and Martha Stewart Living.
Her illustrator’s portfolio includes infographics and icons. Amirta is also adept at developing brand identities for small businesses.
Featured Sample: Air Canada Magazine Travel Illustrations
The Canadian airlines’ in-flight magazine commissioned Amrita to illustrate this four-page editorial. The illustrations focus on frequent-flyer tips based on the experiences of Olympic athletes.
Daniel Triendl
Daniel is an illustrator, artist, and animator from Kansas who now lives and works in Austria. Some of his top clients include Bud Light, Adobe, Coca-Cola, and Redbull.
As an illustrator, Daniel exemplifies simplicity by taking a bold approach to color schemes and palettes. He’s a fan of using “striking forms” to energize his work.
Daniel is also a willing experimenter, who engages his work with a playful sense of humor. He’s always trying to challenge himself by exploring different mediums.
Years of Experience: 11
Featured Sample: Airbnb Magazine
Daniel created this editorial that appeared in both print and animation formats for a story focused on the city of Boston.
Chi Birmingham
Chi is a Brooklyn-based Illustrator who hails from Southern California. Chi earned a degree in painting from the California College of Arts. Later, Chi completed an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York.
After finishing a 2-year, in-house contract with Google, Chi dove into freelancing full time. Aside from Google, Chi has illustrated for Dunkin’ Donuts, Energizer Batteries, and others.
Years of Experience: 10
Featured Sample: Dad Bods
Chi created this editorial illustration for The New York Times. Chi based the colorful piece on an article focusing on the subject of male body image. Art director Nicholas Blechman commissioned Chi for this illustration work.
Helena Covell
Helena is a freelance illustrator from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. She earned a BA in Illustration from Edinburgh College of Art. Helena prides herself on approaching her craft with a good sense of humor.
As a young illustrator, Helena has already created some memorable pieces of work. One of her early career highlights is an arcade machine she illustrated that’s on display at the V&A in London.
Years of Experience: 3
Featured Sample: AngelList Editorial Illustration
Helena drew illustrations for three articles published on AngelList’s blog. This illustration was for a post titled “Naval Ravikant’s Guide to Choosing Your First Job in Tech.” She created this piece in particular under the art direction of Shane Zucker.
Jay Fleckenstein
Based in Brooklyn, Jay is both an illustrator and brand designer. Before jumping into freelance work, Jay spent a handful of years with VICE Media.
In 2016, Jay earned a degree in Graphic Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Since then, Jay’s landed projects with well-known brands. So far, Jay has illustrated work for companies such as Rolex, Chipotle, and the New York Yankees.
Years of Experience: 4
Featured Sample: NASCAR Backroads Series
Jay put skills to work in this promotional campaign for NASCAR. Using illustration and animation, Jay made the stories of NASCAR drivers come to life.
Nancy Kouta
Nancy is an illustrator and graphic artist based in Beirut, Lebanon. As a creative, she describes herself as both a “visual explorer” and “color addict.”
Her work blends “abstract forms and organic geometric shapes with bold vibrant colors.” Nancy’s distinctive style is also a combination of “real yet surreal little stories” that mix to form a whole.
Years of Experience: 4
Featured Sample: Meadowside Manchester
Meadowside is a modern apartment complex in the growing city of Manchester, England. For this project, Nancy illustrated the dichotomy between urban development and nature. Meadowside used her work as collateral for their advertising and branding.
Alexei Vella
Alexei is an interdisciplinary artist and illustrator from Toronto. These days, most of his focus centers around commercial art.
Alexei has illustrated on behalf of companies around North America and Europe. Among them are Conde Nast and Scientific American.
Years of Experience: 13
Featured Sample: Pipe-line? More like GRIPE-line!
Alexei created this illustration for Canadian Lawyer Magazine. The piece was for an article that covered the difficulties of navigating pipeline laws. Its striking emotion earned its selection in the 35th edition of American Illustration. AI is one of the top showcases for editorial, advertising, and other kinds of work.
A Final Word on Illustration
It’s easy to take an illustrator’s work for granted. After all, we only see the end result.
But remember that the task of illustration is hard, mental work. Processing complex concepts into a visual context doesn’t arrive without creative effort.
When illustration works, it strikes a chord. Few artforms are more accessible to your intended audience.
“Illustration is the people’s art,” said Lawrence Zeegen, Professor of Illustration at Ravensbourne University London. “It’s honest. It’s available. It’s open. It’s approachable.”