Brand Illustration: Create Stylized, Unforgettable Imagery

Overview

Create truly original brand illustrations that stand out from the crowd with award-winning artist Roman Muradov as your instructor! Whether for a personal project or client illustrations, it can be increasingly tricky to find a style that feels truly unique to you as an artist. Join Roman as he shares his personal process for breaking free from the expectations that surround creating illustrations for brands, allowing you to create unexpected visuals that tell a cohesive and compelling story (whether for a corporation, a neighborhood business, or even a planet). From first sketch to final presentation, you’ll discover how to: * Craft a character to anchor your brand visuals * Create loose, quick thumbnails that spark creativity * Make a rough mockup to help clients visualize your work Plus, Roman shares a detailed case study of how he created the brand identity for the project management app, Notion, so you can see how to apply your learnings to real world projects. Perfect for illustrators or designers who are familiar with typical client work and are looking for a way to reinvent their creative approach, Roman’s unique point of view will unlock your ability to get a little bit weird with your next project and create a visual story that will be impossible to forget. This class is geared toward creatives with some experience working with clients and who are familiar with the common processes of client work, though students of all levels are welcome. Instructor bio: Roman Muradov is an Illustrator and cartoonist from Moscow, Russia, currently living in San Francisco. Clients include the New Yorker, New York Times, Penguin, Google and many others. Featured in the Society of Illustrators (Gold Medal), ADC Young Guns, American Illustration and numerous other shows.

Syllabus

Setting the Stage for Unique Brand Illustration

This module explores the foundational concepts behind compelling brand illustration. You'll learn why visual sameness is so common and how to avoid it by developing a distinct concept and name. You'll begin defining your creative direction, guided by principles that elevate illustration beyond aesthetics into brand storytelling.

Designing Your Stylized Brand Character

In this hands-on module, you’ll dive into character design and personal style development. From sketches to mockups, you’ll learn how to create an illustration that not only stands out but communicates brand personality. You’ll also sharpen your visual instincts through guided style refinement.

Presenting and Positioning Your Brand Illustration

Wrap up your project by learning how to present your brand illustration with clarity and confidence. This module includes strategies for showcasing your work to clients or teams, and features a real-world case study from Notion to show how stylized illustrations can powerfully impact branding.