Commissioning a bespoke window illustration can be a great way to tell passers-by about your high street business in a way that’s fresh and unique to you.
If you’re considering working with an illustrator to bring your windows to life, I’ve outlined a few reasons to give it a go, and some things to bear in mind to get the most out of your window art budget.
Why Window Art Boosts Your Business
Let’s start with why commissioning window illustration can be a great idea:
Being original: window art can be completely personalised to your business, giving you an instant opportunity to stand out.
Giving people a taste of what’s inside: show a bit of personality, tell people why they should pop their heads in and take a closer look.
Showing your support for local artists: it’s a great way to demonstrate your commitment to your local community and support artists working within your local area.
Generating content for your other channels: window art isn’t just about standing out on the high street. You can share it on your social channels too - process videos always go down well.
Need more convincing? You can read more in my article on 5 ways window art can boost your business.
How to Brief a Window Artist: Essential Tips for Business Owners
Your artist will take you through the process of planning your window, but it’s always good to be prepared by thinking about what you want to achieve. Here are a few things to consider that will help you plan your window art commission more effectively.
What to include in your window art brief
What’s the one thing you want people to take away? For example, do you want to highlight a specific in store event, or make people aware of a special offer? Perhaps you’re looking to capture a seasonal mood. Or maybe you want to tell a story about your brand that will resonate with your customers, like this example for a refill store’s Autumn windows.
How do you want people to feel when they look at your window? Should it be warm and welcoming, or maybe it’s more about sparking curiosity, or putting a smile on people’s faces.
How should it tie in with your other marketing activity? What messaging and visuals are already being used in store or on social media that you’d like to see echoed in your windows?
Consider any specific colours you’d like to be used - getting the colours right will help it feel like you and set the right tone. Do you have a set colour palette for your brand? Or specific colours that you typically include in your marketing?
Provide references: Share examples of other window art you’ve seen and loved. What did you like about it? Have a look at your window artist’s previous work and let them know anything you especially like.
Common Briefing Mistakes to Avoid When Commissioning Window Art
Try not to leave it till the last minute to book your window artist, especially at busy times like Autumn and the lead up to Christmas. Last minute commissions do happen, and we’re accustomed to turning things around quickly, but the best results come when there is time to plan it properly.
Do bring your ideas to the discussion but try not to be too fixed in your expectations. Part of the magic is seeing how the artist will interpret your brief.
Don’t try and cram too much in: consider the viewing distance and readability and remember less is more. You want your window to be vibrant and engaging and catch people’s attention, but you don’t need to tell them everything about you. The idea is to get them to step inside the shop to find out more.
Ready to Commission Window Art for Your Business?
I work with businesses in Sussex, London and across the southeast to elevate their storefront with window art. If you’d like to find out more about how we could work together, feel free to contact me on daniellebrooksillustration@gmail.com for a no-obligation quote.
If you’re looking for more information, you might find it useful to take a look at this article on frequently asked questions about window art.
window art gallery
Need inspiration? Take a look at some of my previous window art commissions