Digital Illustration Pipelines

Great key art looks effortless, but it ships on a spine of process. Start with a brief that pinpoints audience, emotion, and composition keywords. Build reference boards to align on lighting, materials, and gesture. Thumbnails come next—tiny explorations that test focal hierarchy and rhythm before a single detail steals attention.

Block in values to confirm readability at a distance. If the grayscale sings, color will follow. Use a limited palette tied to the brand and the scene’s energy. Keep layers organized by function—character, FX, background, typography—so late changes don’t unravel the piece.

Finally, test the artwork in context: storefront crops, social banners, and dark/light UI themes. A reusable checklist saves time: export sizes, safe areas, and localization notes. With a lightweight pipeline, artists stay in flow and marketing teams stay on schedule.