How to order an illustration and get what you imagined: a one-page brief

Most disappointments with illustrations start before any drawing: the brief was too vague. "Something bright for the cover" can be drawn in a hundred ways, and only one of them is in your head. A good brief fits on one page and makes the first version close to what you imagined.

1. What it is for

Say where the picture will live: a book cover, a website header, a social media post, packaging, a children's book page. The purpose decides almost everything else: the size, the amount of detail, the space for text.

2. Size and format

• Proportions: square, horizontal, vertical, or exact dimensions in pixels.
• Space for text: if a title or logo will go on top, say where, so the important parts of the picture are not under it.
• Set or single image: if you need several pictures, say they must look like one series.

3. What is in the picture

Describe the scene in a few sentences: who or what is in it, what is happening, the setting, the time of day, the mood. Name the one thing the viewer must notice first.

Example: "A fox in a yellow raincoat reading a map at a forest crossroads, early autumn morning, calm and curious mood. The fox and the map are the focus."

4. Style

Words like "modern" or "simple" mean different things to different people. Be more specific:

• Technique: flat vector, watercolor, pencil, 3D, paper cut, pixel art.
• Colors: a few key colors or your brand palette, warm or cold, bright or muted.
• Detail: minimal shapes or a rich, detailed scene.

5. References

Two or three pictures you like, with a sentence on what exactly you like about each: the colors, the line, the composition. References say more than any description. Use them to show the direction, not to ask for a copy.

6. What to avoid

A short list of what must not be in the picture: colors that clash with your brand, elements your competitors use, anything inappropriate for your audience. This saves a whole round of revisions.

How to give feedback

When the first version arrives, be specific: "make the fox larger and move it to the left" works, "something is missing" does not. Collect all your comments in one message, so each revision moves the picture forward.

In short

A one-page brief with the purpose, format, scene, style, references and what to avoid makes the first version close to the target and the revisions few. Once it is ready, order a custom illustration: attach the brief and get one image or a whole series in one style. Payment is released only after you approve the work.