Commercial Projects
Commercial Projects
Illustration for Brands, Campaigns, and Product
Custom illustration work by Auckland-based multidisciplinary artist James Dean.
Available for freelance illustration, commercial artwork, and commissioned projects across branding, music, apparel, and design.
Working with both private clients and commercial projects, he creates bold, adaptable visuals suited to real-world use — from digital campaigns to print and product.
“I create custom hand-drawn illustration work for commercial, branding, and creative projects. My work combines traditional techniques with a contemporary visual approach, making it suitable for advertising, editorial, and product-based applications.”
Commercial Campaign Illustration
Likeness-Based Tattoo Illustration
Overview:
Commissioned to create a tattoo-style illustration for a international commercial campaign, designed to replicate the look and placement of real tattoo work on skin.
Approach:
The artwork was developed to feel authentic to tattoo culture while remaining controlled enough for production. Focus was placed on line weight, flow, and placement so the design would read convincingly on the body and on camera.
Outcome:
The final piece translated cleanly on screen and worked as part of a broader campaign rollout. The project required balancing realism with adaptability for production, ensuring the design held up under close visual scrutiny.
Selected artwork shown. Created for use within a commercial campaign. Client and campaign details withheld.Available for similar commercial projects.
Custom hand-drawn illustration created for commercial, branding and editorial projects.
Auckland Card Show Promotional Illustration
Overview
James was commissioned to create the promotional artwork for the Auckland Card Show, one of New Zealand’s largest trading card and collectibles events. The brief was to produce an eye-catching illustration that celebrated anime, gaming and pop culture while promoting the event across digital platforms.
Approach
Using dynamic composition, bold colour and expressive hand-drawn line work, James created an energetic illustration that brought together a range of pop culture influences while ensuring the event branding remained the focal point.
Outcome
The project demonstrates James’ ability to create engaging commercial illustrations that communicate a clear message while capturing the energy of a live event.
Client work shown with permission.
Available for similar commercial projects.
Custom hand-drawn illustration created for commercial, branding and editorial projects.Packaging Illustration
Overview:
Illustration created for a craft beer release, designed to work within the constraints of can printing while standing out on shelf.
Approach:
The design focused on bold composition and clarity at small scale. Consideration was given to how the artwork would wrap around the can and interact with branding elements.
Outcome:
The final artwork reproduced cleanly in print and maintained strong visual impact in both physical and digital formats.
Client work shown with permission.
Available for similar commercial projects.
Illustrated Landscapes — Commercial & Concept Work
Overview:
A series of landscape illustrations developed for potential commercial use across print, product, and large-scale applications.
Approach:
These pieces explore structure, depth, and atmosphere while maintaining a clear, graphic style. Each composition is designed to scale — from small print formats through to larger applications like murals or packaging.
Outcome:
The work demonstrates versatility across subject matter while maintaining a consistent visual language suited to commercial use.
Self-initiated project.