Style Guide
A Style Guide is a detailed document that shows how characters, objects, and environments should look in a book or publication. Think of it as a rulebook that helps artists stay consistent when creating illustrations. For example, if a character has blue hair in one picture, the guide makes sure it stays blue throughout the book. These guides are especially important when multiple artists work on the same project, like in children's books or graphic novels. They're also called "art bibles," "character sheets," or "visual guidelines."
Examples in Resumes
Created comprehensive Style Guide for a 12-book children's series
Developed Style Guide and character sheets for main characters in an educational textbook series
Maintained and updated Style Guides for multiple concurrent publishing projects
Typical job title: "Illustration Style Guide Artists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Illustration Style Guide Artists
Online Communities
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you manage style consistency across a large project with multiple artists?
Expected Answer: A senior artist should discuss creating detailed reference sheets, regular team reviews, establishing clear color palettes, and maintaining a central reference library. They should mention experience in training other artists and quality control processes.
Q: How do you adapt a style guide for different age groups while maintaining brand consistency?
Expected Answer: Should explain how to modify complexity, color choices, and character details for different age ranges while keeping core design elements consistent. Should mention experience with various age-appropriate content guidelines.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What elements do you include in a basic style guide?
Expected Answer: Should mention character turnarounds (front, side, back views), color palettes, size comparisons, typical poses, expressions, and important details about clothing or accessories.
Q: How do you handle revisions to a style guide during a project?
Expected Answer: Should discuss version control, communication with team members, documenting changes, and ensuring all stakeholders are informed of updates.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's your process for maintaining consistency in character designs?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain basic character reference sheets, use of measurement guides, and how to match colors and proportions across different drawings.
Q: How do you organize your style guide files?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic file naming conventions, folder organization, and how to keep track of different versions of character designs and style elements.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic character design skills
- Understanding of color theory
- Ability to follow existing style guides
- Basic digital illustration tools
Mid (2-5 years)
- Creating comprehensive style guides
- Character expression sheets
- Multiple illustration styles
- Project organization
Senior (5+ years)
- Managing multiple projects
- Training other artists
- Advanced character development
- Art direction experience
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to maintain consistent character designs
- Poor organization of reference materials
- Lack of basic color theory knowledge
- No experience with digital illustration tools
Related Terms
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