If you’re looking to add a creative, personal touch to your website or products, custom illustrations are a fantastic way to do so.
Whether you need illustrations for your blog posts, e-commerce store, or even for a product you’re selling, having something unique and tailored specifically for your brand can make a big difference. Custom illustrations can help set you apart from your competitors and elevate your brand’s look.
In this post, we’ll explore 10 different ways you can get custom illustrations for your website or products.
These options vary in complexity, cost, and the time they take to complete, so you can pick the one that works best for you. And yes, we’ll even share some great tips on how to find talented illustrators, including a simple way to do it that might just surprise you.
1. Fiverr: Affordable, Fast, and Reliable Illustrations
Fiverr is a platform where you can hire freelance illustrators offering a variety of styles and price points. Whether you need a logo, character designs, website illustrations, or product visuals, Fiverr has tons of talented illustrators ready to take on your project.
The best part about Fiverr is its accessibility. You can browse through hundreds of illustrators’ portfolios and choose one based on their style and reviews.
There are options for all budgets—whether you’re looking for a quick sketch or a detailed, full-color design. Fiverr also offers fixed pricing, so you know exactly what you’ll pay for a project, which helps keep costs under control.
The platform is simple to use, and communication with your illustrator is streamlined, which makes the process smooth and fast. Fiverr also allows you to set deadlines, so you can get your custom illustrations delivered right on time.
If you’re short on time or working with a limited budget, Fiverr’s illustrators are an excellent resource. You’ll find professionals offering high-quality work at affordable rates, making it an ideal choice for both small and large projects.
2. Work With a Freelance Illustrator
Freelancers are a great choice for getting custom illustrations, especially if you have a very specific vision in mind. By hiring a freelance illustrator, you can work directly with them to craft a design that’s exactly what you’re looking for.
Freelance illustrators usually have a portfolio that showcases a variety of styles and previous projects, so you can get a feel for their work before making a commitment. Many illustrators are happy to collaborate closely with clients, making sure that the final design aligns with your brand.
One of the perks of working with a freelancer is that you have full control over the project. You can provide detailed instructions, request revisions, and ensure the design matches your vision perfectly. This method also tends to offer a more personalized experience than using a marketplace, as you’ll be building a direct relationship with the artist.
Freelancers can be found on a variety of platforms, such as Behance, Dribbble, and even social media sites like Instagram.
However, if you prefer a quicker solution, consider Exploring Fiverr (as mentioned above) for a simple and fast way to hire freelance illustrators.
3. Use Illustration Marketplaces
If you’re looking for a quick custom illustration without hiring an individual artist, illustration marketplaces can be a great option. These sites feature vast collections of pre-made illustrations that can be purchased and customized to fit your needs.
Creative Market, Envato Elements, and The Hungry JPEG are some popular platforms where you can find illustrations that are ready to be personalized. While these aren’t entirely “custom” in the sense of being completely unique to your project, many illustrations can be easily modified with tools like Photoshop or Illustrator, allowing you to make them fit your brand’s look.
These marketplaces are particularly helpful if you’re on a tight timeline and need illustrations quickly. You can choose from a wide selection of designs and then tweak them to suit your needs, whether it’s changing the colors or adjusting the layout.
4. Post a Job on Job Boards
Another great way to find illustrators is by posting a job on a site like Upwork or We Work Remotely. These platforms allow you to create a detailed listing of your project needs and budget, after which illustrators can submit their proposals.
Job boards offer the advantage of letting you choose from multiple proposals, so you can see a range of ideas and pick the one that best suits your project. Plus, you can browse the portfolios of applicants to ensure their style aligns with your needs.
The process typically involves a bit of back-and-forth communication to nail down the specifics, but this can be great if you’re looking for a more in-depth, custom design.
5. Collaborate With Design Agencies
For larger projects or if you need a consistent style across several pieces of artwork, collaborating with a design agency can be a smart choice. Design agencies often have a team of skilled illustrators who can handle everything from conceptual sketches to the final polished designs.
Working with an agency provides the benefit of having multiple creative minds working on your project, which can lead to more refined and cohesive results.
However, keep in mind that agencies are generally more expensive than working with a solo freelancer. If you’re running a business and need custom illustrations for branding, websites, or product packaging, agencies are worth considering due to their professional approach.
6. Try Online Design Tools with Custom Illustration Options
If you want to save time or money, you can try an online design tool like Canva or Crello. These tools offer pre-designed illustrations that you can customize to fit your needs, such as adjusting colors, changing text, or resizing elements.
While these tools won’t provide fully custom designs like hiring an illustrator, they can still give you a polished look for your website or products. Canva, for example, has a wide library of illustrations that can be adapted to your brand’s style.
These tools are best for those who need simple, quick designs and want to keep costs low. Plus, they’re user-friendly, so you don’t need to be a design expert to create a polished final product.
7. Check Out Local Artists and Illustrators
Supporting local artists is a wonderful way to get custom illustrations, and you can often find talented illustrators in your own city. Many local art fairs, markets, and events feature illustrators who are open to freelance work. Additionally, local art schools are a great place to find emerging talent that might be looking for commissions.
While working with local artists can be a more time-consuming process, it’s a great way to support your community and ensure that you get a unique, one-of-a-kind design. You’ll also have the benefit of meeting the illustrator in person, which can make the collaboration process easier.
8. Hire an Illustrator Through Social Media
Social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest are gold mines for finding talented illustrators. Artists frequently post their work on these platforms, and many are open to commissions. You can search for specific hashtags like #customillustration or #illustratorforhire to find artists who fit your style.
The beauty of social media is that it allows you to see an artist’s latest work and get a sense of their current style. You can also directly reach out to illustrators via messaging or email, making the process more casual and personal.
This method is particularly good for finding fresh, up-and-coming talent and allows you to connect with illustrators who may not be as easily found through traditional freelance platforms.
9. Crowdsource Your Illustration Project
Crowdsourcing platforms like 99designs or DesignCrowd let you post a project and receive multiple submissions from illustrators. Once you’ve posted your project, designers submit their concepts, and you choose the one you like best.
Crowdsourcing gives you access to a large pool of talent and multiple creative ideas. You can even work with the selected designer to refine the design until it matches your vision perfectly. This method is ideal if you’re not sure exactly what you want and want to see a variety of approaches.
However, it can be time-consuming to sift through many designs, and you’ll need to be proactive in providing feedback to ensure you get the results you want.
10. Commission an Illustrator for a One-Off Project
Sometimes, you don’t need a long-term partnership, but instead, just a single illustration. In this case, commissioning an illustrator for a one-off project is a great way to get exactly what you need. Many illustrators offer commission-based work where they’ll create something unique based on your ideas and specifications.
This is a good option for those who need one or two illustrations, such as for a product launch or a special promotion. While prices can vary depending on the illustrator’s experience and the complexity of the project, commission work is a fantastic way to get a unique, one-of-a-kind design.
Conclusion
Getting custom illustrations for your website or products doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. From working with freelancers and collaborating with agencies to using online tools or crowdsourcing, there are plenty of options available to suit your needs and budget.
If you’re looking for a simple, affordable, and reliable way to get high-quality custom illustrations, Fiverr is an excellent choice. With a wide range of illustrators offering various styles and prices, Fiverr allows you to quickly and easily find the perfect artist for your project. So go ahead, get creative, and make your website or products stand out with custom illustrations!