The magazine 'Advanced Photoshop' (Dutch version) interviewed me about setting up an online portfolio. To make the four-page article more visually appealing, I was asked as a Freelance Illustrator to create an illustration for the cover.

Conceptual and technical

Software knowledge and concept
How do you make an illustration for a magazine with photo editing experts as the target group? It was important that the image simultaneously shows the experience and knowledge of the software and that it was of a sufficient conceptual level. Obviously, I focused on the concept first.

Concept
Finding (and keeping) customers is similar to matchmaking. To flirt. Or dating. Call it business flirting. The flowers and the bees, that story. In addition, a Freelance Designer grows professionally over the years. And his or her portfolio is likely to 'grow' as well. It becomes more extensive, more beautiful and more specific. And attracts new bees (customers) with beautiful 'flowers' (projects).

Metaphor for successful portfolio
The illustration shows a plant with flowers as a visual metaphor for a successful portfolio that attracts customers (represented as bees). The flowers are screens and the plant grows on an island as a reference to a special portfolio. The forest shows the (overcrowded) market of Freelance Illustrators and Designers. The socket is a reference to digital design.

Plant based metaphor
Later I would again use such a plant-based metaphor for an illustration/painting for KPN.

Interested in having an illustration made?

I'm happy to help! Let me know what kind of illustration you need.

Related articles