01
What international art directors look for
Art directors look for a recognisable voice and the ability to deliver a commission on deadline, not just technical talent.
Free digital resource · Illustration
Career guide: Editorial and Advertising Illustration
Build a style of your own that you can sell internationally.
Format
Guide + checklist + roadmap
Plan duration
12 months in 4 phases
Price
Free · no sign-up
02
How to build a series with judgement
A series with judgement demonstrates thinking: same universe, same palette, same narrative logic across every piece.
03
How to reach publishers and agencies abroad
The editorial and advertising circuit is reached through personalised submissions, consistency and a clean presentation of your work.
04
A 12-month roadmap
Months 1-3: define your series. Months 4-6: a coherent body of work. Months 7-9: submissions to outlets and agencies. Months 10-12: recurring commissions.
Diagnosis
What the international market values
Relative weight of each skill in selection processes and in your rate.
Recognisable voice95/100
The universe gets hired, not the technique
Coherent body of work84/100
A series with judgement beats loose pieces
Reliability with deadlines74/100
What earns the second commission
Submissions and contact66/100
Editorial consistency
Roadmap
Your 12-month plan, phase by phase
Phase 1 · Months 1-3
25% of the planDefine your series
- Audit what you already have and discard 70% of it
- Define the professional profile you're aiming for
- Block out 5 fixed hours a week for your own work
Deliverable: A written diagnosis and work plan
Phase 2 · Months 4-6
50% of the planA coherent body of work
- Build the centrepiece of your new positioning
- Document your method step by step
- Get feedback from two professionals above your level
Deliverable: One complete, publishable, defensible case
Phase 3 · Months 7-9
75% of the planSubmissions to outlets and agencies
- Go to market: contacts, processes or proposals
- Prepare a 3-minute presentation of your work
- Track responses and adjust the message every two weeks
Deliverable: Portfolio and pitch validated outside your circle
Phase 4 · Months 10-12
100% of the planRecurring commissions
- Raise your rate or level of responsibility
- Select projects aligned with your specialism
- Set a professional goal for the next 12 months
Deliverable: A new position or a newly negotiated rate
Progression
Where you start and where you end up
30%TodayYou execute briefs with your own judgement
52%Month 4Your method is visible and repeatable
76%Month 8You compete in international processes
100%Month 12You lead, choose your clients and charge for value
Checklist
Tick off what you have already sorted
Portfolio and evidence
- Three projects told as cases: problem, decision, result
- One piece that demonstrates your judgement, not just your technique
- A measurable or verifiable result in every case
- All material in English, ready for international review
Positioning
- One sentence explaining who you serve and with what judgement
- A professional profile updated with that same sentence
- A 3-minute presentation recorded and reviewed
- Clarity on why Illustration and nothing else
International market
- A list of 20 target studios, brands or teams
- Five real contacts started this month
- A rate or salary band defined per project and per month
- Availability and working hours agreed in writing
Training and next step
- A training gap identified in a single sentence
- A realistic weekly calendar compatible with your job
- An instalment payment plan reviewed
- A profile assessment completed to validate the programme
Actions for this week
- Define the thesis of your next series in two sentences.
- Edit down to 15 images or pieces.
- Prepare a personalised submission to three outlets or agencies.