Illustrator KPIs
Episode #326
How do you know if you’re succeeding as an illustrator? Jake Parker, Sam Cotterill, and Lee White discuss key performance indicators to determine if you’re growing or stagnating.
SHOW LINKS
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Deep Questions with Cal Newport: How to Build A Cognitive Training Plan
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Success is personal; define it for yourself, then create a plan to achieve it.
Busyness and success are not the same thing. Making quality work for a few hours a day is much more productive than trying to force creativity long after your focus has waned.
Develop your taste. Expose yourself to many kinds of art, remembering that popularity and quality are not always the same.
Are you reliable? Learn to judge how long a project will take you and then follow through on the timeline you promise.
Some metrics don’t matter. Awards, recognition, income, and Instagram likes are not worth chasing when you could focus your efforts on skill development and rewarding projects.
Amid all your growth, remember to make time to live.
SUMMARY
What makes a successful illustrator? How do you know if you are one?
There are as many answers as there are artists; your personal definition might not match the next person’s. However, several metrics point towards success for almost everyone. We’ve assembled a list of KPIs (key performance indicators) to help you evaluate where you’re growing, where you’re stagnant, and where to put your focus next. Assess your status, add your own indicators if you like, and let us know how you fare.
1. Creative Judgement: Do You Know What to Make?
This one has a lot to do with taste and imagination. Can you identify a good idea over a bad one? Do you run with the first concept that comes to mind, or give yourself multiple options and select the best one?
Rather than challenging their initial ideas to produce something more unique or well-designed, the beginner jumps to making final art as fast as possible. The successful artist pushes beyond the first, second, and even third concepts. By routinely developing multiple thumbnails, they train their brain to make interesting connections, discover hidden possibilities, and work from abundance rather than scarcity.
Having good taste makes the ideation phase much easier. Ensure you fill your creative bank account with a variety of quality art, remembering that popularity and excellence are not always the same thing. The more good art you consume, the better you’ll become at identifying what makes a successful illustration, and you’ll be able to apply this discernment to your own work.
2. Craft and Execution: Can You Make It?
All the good taste in the world won’t help you if you haven’t developed physical art skills. Your necessary skill type and level will depend on what you need to create the style you’re going for, but having a solid grasp of drawing from imagination; perspective; light, color, and value; and your tools of choice are a good starting point. For some artists, drawing realistically isn’t the goal. If you’re chasing a folksy, naive look, you might focus more on color theory, design, and composition.
No matter your style, seek to execute it effectively to elicit the desired visual and emotional responses.
3. Professional Output: Can You Do It Consistently?
You know how to draw, you’ve got immaculate taste, and you can ideate all day long. Now the question is, can you deliver? When a project opportunity arises, can you accurately quote how much time it will take you (and then meet that deadline)? Being able to manage your schedule, complete pieces within a reasonable time, and follow through on your word are just as important as being able to draw well or tell stories effectively.
If projects take you an age to complete, you might need to reassess your workflow (or simply make more until your speed naturally increases). Take note of how long your work typically takes so you can give your clients realistic estimates. Ensure your workflow is practical and allows you to maintain a healthy schedule.
Final Thoughts:
Don’t burden yourself with false definitions of success. Awards, likes on social media, and even income aren’t inherent indicators of accomplishment. Instead, focus on taking steps in the direction of your goals: finishing your personal project, improving your reliability, or honing your drawing abilities.
While these KPIs are generally helpful, your list might look different. The important thing is to define your goals, figure out what is required to achieve them, and evaluate your performance honestly. You’ll be amazed what consistency and time will do!