Illustration.
Sorted creates illustration that gives a brand something only it owns. Custom artwork, icon systems and characters that say what photography and stock never could. Cape Town based, drawing for brands worldwide.
What is illustration?
Illustration is custom imagery made for a single purpose. Where stock is borrowed and generic, illustration is built for your brand, your story and your tone, and belongs to no one else.
Concept
The idea before the drawing.
Style
A look that is unmistakably yours.
Character
Faces and figures with personality.
Detail
The craft that rewards a closer look.
Ownership
Imagery only you can use.
Where illustration works
Illustration earns its place where a photograph cannot go: explaining the abstract, picturing the imaginary, or simply giving a brand a warmth and wit that stock imagery flattens out.
Editorial
Bringing articles to life.
Icons
Small marks doing big work.
Packaging
Artwork on the shelf.
Campaigns
A visual world to own.
Digital
Illustration that moves and scales.
Idea and craft, together.
A clever concept drawn badly falls flat. Beautiful drawing with no idea behind it is decoration. Illustration works when the thinking and the craft arrive together, when the picture is both well made and worth making. At Sorted we start with what the image needs to say, then draw it in a style that could only belong to your brand.
Illustration, in practice.
All work
Frequently asked questions.
How much does illustration cost?
It depends on the brief: a single spot illustration is a very different job to a full character set or an ongoing illustration system. We quote after understanding scope, style and how many pieces you need, so there is no guessing.
Where are you based?
We are based in Cape Town and illustrate for clients across South Africa and across the globe.
What does the illustration process look like?
We start with a brief and reference gathering, move on to rough concepts, then refine the chosen direction into final artwork. You see and approve the work at each stage, not just at the end.
How long does an illustration project take?
A single illustration can be ready in a week or two. A full character set or brand illustration system takes longer. We give you a realistic timeline once we know the scope.
What file formats do I get at the end?
You get production-ready files in whatever formats you need, typically vector such as AI, EPS or SVG for scalable use, plus high-resolution PNG or JPG for print and web.
Can you match an existing illustration style, or develop a new one?
Both. We can extend an established style so new pieces feel consistent, or develop a completely new illustration language if your brand needs a fresh look.
Let's draw it.
Tell us about the idea you want pictured, the brand you want to give a visual world, or the story stock imagery keeps failing to tell.