Storyboard artists play a crucial role in visual storytelling for various creative projects, including films, animations, video games, commercials, and more. Their ability to translate ideas into visual sequences helps directors, writers, and production teams visualize the narrative flow, plan shots, and anticipate potential challenges.
Who or what is a storyboard artist?
A storyboard artist is a specialized illustrator who plays a pivotal role in the pre-production phase of creative projects. They are skilled visual storytellers who bring scripts, screenplays, or ideas to life through a series of illustrations, capturing the sequence of events and essential moments in a visual format.
Andrea Piga
Their primary task is to translate the written narrative into a visual representation, providing a blueprint for directors, production teams, and other creatives involved in the project.
Key Responsibilities of a Storyboard Artist
Visual Interpretation – The storyboard artist interprets the script or concept and translates it into a sequence of drawings that represent the scenes, camera angles, and character actions.
Narrative Flow – They ensure that the storyboard maintains a smooth narrative flow, enabling the team to understand the progression of the story.
Shot Planning – Storyboard artists plan the shots and compositions, helping filmmakers and animators to visualize how scenes will be captured.
Collaboration – They work closely with directors, writers, and other team members, taking feedback and incorporating changes as the project progresses.
Time and Cost Efficiency – Storyboards help identify potential issues and avoid unnecessary expenses during the production process.
How to find and hire the right storyboard designer
Mark Mitchell
Whether you're a filmmaker, game developer, or marketing agency, hiring the right storyboard artist can make all the difference in bringing your vision to life.
Understand the Importance of Storyboarding
Before diving into the hiring process, it's essential to grasp the significance of storyboarding. Storyboards serve as a blueprint for your project, allowing you to visualize the scenes, camera angles, and overall composition. They help communicate ideas efficiently, saving time and resources during production and minimizing errors or misinterpretations. With a well-executed storyboard, you can create a cohesive vision that aligns with your project's goals.
Define Your Project Scope and Goals
Start by defining your project's scope, genre, and overall objectives. Clarify what you expect from the storyboard artist and the specific deliverables you need. Consider the project timeline, budget, and artistic style you're aiming for. Understanding these parameters will help streamline the hiring process and attract the right talent.
Research and Identify Suitable Candidates
Conduct thorough research to identify potential storyboard artists who have experience in your project's genre and style. Seek out portfolios, websites, and online platforms where artists showcase their work. Consider reaching out to professional organizations, forums, or social media groups where artists may share their work and experiences.
Review Portfolios and Past Projects
Once you've shortlisted potential candidates, review their portfolios and past projects. Look for artists with a diverse range of work and styles that align with your project's needs. Assess their storytelling abilities, attention to detail, and the capacity to convey emotions through their illustrations. Pay attention to consistency and coherence in their work, as these traits will be vital for a successful storyboard.
Check for Collaboration and Communication Skills
Effective communication and collaboration are crucial in creative projects. A great storyboard artist should be able to understand your vision and work with you to enhance it. Look for artists who can articulate their ideas and actively participate in discussions. Reach out to their references or previous clients to gain insights into their teamwork and communication skills.
Discuss Creative Input and Flexibility
During the hiring process, discuss the level of creative input you expect from the storyboard artist. Some projects require strict adherence to the director's vision, while others may allow for more artistic freedom. Finding a balance between creative freedom and project guidelines is essential for a successful collaboration.
Negotiate Rates and Contracts
Before finalizing your decision, negotiate rates and contracts with the selected storyboard artist. Clearly define the project scope, deadlines, and payment terms. It's essential to agree on ownership rights, non-disclosure agreements, and any other legal aspects relevant to your project.
Test Projects and Assess Adaptability
For larger projects or long-term collaborations, consider offering a paid test project to assess the artist's adaptability and compatibility with your team. This step can give you valuable insights into their working process and how well they can incorporate feedback.
Emphasize Storytelling and Emotion
A great storyboard artist not only creates visually appealing illustrations but also understands the art of storytelling. Look for artists who can convey emotions and mood effectively through their work. This skill is invaluable in capturing the essence of your project and connecting with your audience.
Trust the Creative Process
Once you've hired the storyboard artist, trust their creative expertise. Allow room for artistic interpretation and support their vision while ensuring it aligns with your project's objectives. Collaboration is about finding the right balance between guidance and creative freedom.
Where to Look for Storyboard Artists
Yavuz Ozturk
Hiring the right storyboard artist is essential to the success of your creative project. To find talented and experienced storyboard artists, consider exploring the following avenues:
Online Freelance Platforms
Websites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr host a wide array of storyboard artists who offer their services on a freelance basis. These platforms provide access to diverse artists from around the world, making it easier to find someone whose style aligns with your project's requirements.
Professional Networking Sites
Platforms like LinkedIn allow you to search for storyboard artists based on their professional profiles and previous work experiences. Networking through these platforms can also help you connect with industry professionals who can recommend skilled artists.
Animation and Art Schools
Consider reaching out to animation and art schools or universities that offer specialized courses in storyboard art. Students or recent graduates may be eager to work on projects to build their portfolios.
Industry Conferences and Events
Attend industry-specific conferences, workshops, and events related to animation, filmmaking, or video game development. These gatherings are excellent opportunities to meet talented storyboard artists and view their work in person.
Creative Forums and Online Communities
Participate in online forums and communities where artists share their work and collaborate on projects. Platforms like Reddit, DeviantArt, and ArtStation often have sections dedicated to job postings and collaborations.
Studio Websites and Social Media
Keep an eye on animation studios, production companies, and individual artists' websites and social media profiles. Many storyboard artists showcase their portfolios and availability for work on their personal platforms.
Using Creativepool to find storyboard artist
Lydia Carter
Looking to hire a top storyboard artist? Creativepool has thousands of super talented members waiting to make your projects work better for their users.
There are 3 ways for you to find a storyboard artist on Creativepool.
1. Search and Contact
Want greater control of who you work with and the process behind it? Searching for talent directly and then handpicking who you would like to work is a great way to be proactive in your talent hunting.
Simply search for storyboard artist and browse through the results. You will be able to look through projects, CVs/Resumes of the talent listed to make an informed decision on your next hire.
On Creativepool we use a series of indicators to rank our members based on job title. Looking through the top 25 ranked storyboard artists is also a powerful and quick way to view the best in talent on the platform.
Once you have found someone whose style and experience works for you, contact them directly by clicking on the message tab. Searching is ideal if you have a very specific idea on who it is that you would like to be working with.
2. Post a studiogig
Looking for a freelance storyboard artist? The quickest way to find available talent is to advertise your brief. With us, briefs for individuals are called studiogigs.
Posting your role is formulated to be quick and easy and once you have posted your role, we get busy behind the scenes selecting the best talent to send out your brief to and then post the role on the jobs board. Once you have advertised your brief then just relax and wait for applicants to come to you directly!
3. Post a job
If you are looking for a permanent hire, then advertising a storyboard artist job is the way for you to attract talent. The process is identical to posting a studiogig.
Once you have posted your role we will check the details of the adverts, send out job alerts to our community that best match your criteria and post on the jobs board. Like studiogigs applicants will apply to you direct.
Whether posting a job or a studiogig or searching for talent you are in control on who you hire. You are under no obligation to choose any of the applicants, and you negotiate with them directly on rates.
If you need any help on your talent hunt. You can chat with us or send us a message. We'd be happy to help.
Telling Your Story
Pyotr Raphael
Hiring a storyboard artist is a crucial step in bringing your creative project to life. Understanding the importance of storyboarding, defining your project's goals, and conducting thorough research will help you find the perfect fit for your team.
Emphasizing communication, creative input, and storytelling skills will ensure a smooth and successful collaboration. By following these steps and nurturing a positive working relationship, you can achieve a compelling visual narrative that captivates your audience and elevates your project to new heights.
