As an artist myself I know what it is like to have your work stolen and reposted online or used in a fashion you did not intend it for. So when people credit and source artists properly it is very refreshing and shows respect for the artist in question. If I were to use an illustrated piece in my design I would properly credit the artist, source the link it came from, or ask the artist directly. I have used two out of the three methods and it’s the proper way to credit the artist because you did not create this piece yourself. Artists usually work freelance and work off of commissions and if i were to commission the artist will most likely want to keep the copyright of their artwork. In the book Guide to Copyright, it states that “If a partner wants rights to what he or she has created, a special contract will be necessary. Also, a salaried employee may request or negotiate a written contractual agreement that allows the employee to retain some copyright ownership.” I have seen many artists get their work stolen by companies, singers, etc and they have nothing to protect themselves because they never claimed copyright to their work even though they are the ones who created the art. So as a creative myself it’s good to keep in mind that you need to put contracts in place that protect you and your art. 

In my recent magazine layout assignment I used an illustrated piece but could not find the artist. I instead sourced the image that was originally on the website. Illustrations can amp up a design in ways that photography cannot. In the book Use of Illustration, it states that, “Each illustrator brings a different perspective, vision and idea to play that, when married with great design, becomes an original art form. Illustration brings spontaneity, freshness and a unique point of view to the design of content.” I am biased to the art form of illustration because it has an edge that photographs do not. The work of someone who made it by hand makes the design more precious.

Sources: 

“Guide to Copyright” AIGA. (2009). PDF. New York City; Tad Crawford, AIGA.

“Use of Illustration”, AIGA, (2009), New York City; Brad Holland et al.