illustrationmundo
n8w.com

illosaurus on Portals
An interview with Nate Williams

illustrationmundo has grown to become one of the most influential and respected illustration sites on the web, providing a unique blend of editorial and user-led news from all corners of the illustration world. illosaurus gets to the bottom of life at the top.

illosaurus: Almost every illustrator I meet seems to namecheck illustrationmundo. Has the site's success exceeded your expectations?

Nate Williams: Yes. I guess there was really a need for something like illustrationmundo.com. I think every industry is starting to figure out how to leverage the web now.

How do you manage to balance the demands of such a successful site alongside running your own illustration business?

Lately, it’s been hard. I am busier with my own work and illustrationmundo just gets busier. I'm actually backlogged on lots of submissions right now. But I think the best fix is to delegate some of the maintenance and get the community more involved in running the site. 

Has the profile of illustrationmundo influenced your own profile as an illustrator?

I'm sure it has ... I think lot of people know about my work through illustrationmundo, but I designed the site in such a way that if anyone submits good content they are associated with that content with their name and a link. And if you like what a particular users submits you can view all their submissions.

Was self-promotion one of the original aims behind the site?

Part of my intention was to create a platform that would enable me to ask the experts in the industry. If I just decided to write to a famous illustrator and ask her a bunch of questions she might not have the time or desire to respond. But when I do it for an interview that will benefit many more new illustrators and also the interviewee they are more willing. Everyone wins.

illustrationmundo is particularly popular in Europe and South America. Do you think being based in Argentina has given the site a more global outlook?

Well with the web every site seems local, so I think it’s more influenced by a shared interest rather than geography.

The articles on illustrationmundo are a fantastic showcase for the illustrators concerned. How do you decide who to feature?

I look at their work and if I like it from a gut level and I think it’s unique.. I ask the illustrator if they’d like to be featured.

Do you think commissioners are in a different frame of mind when they visit site like illustrationmundo than when they visit a paid for portfolio site?

Yes .. I think it’s very easy to tell the difference. The problem with paid sites, from my perspective, is that if you are an illustrator, why would you send a client to a site with 6000 plus people competing against you? When illustrators ask me if they can I’d like them to link to illustrationmundo.com I say that “I wouldn’t” but of course if they still want to they can.

That said, you're very generous in the way you give space and publicity to other illustrators on illustrationmundo.

I think sharing is important. The only reason I learned how to program and do a lot of the things I know is because people were very generous with their knowledge and shared it with me. Some people hoard information because they think it gives them a competitive advantage and personally benefit from it .. but that mentality is a bit depressing to me and I think it hurts society in the long run. Aids research is a perfect example. 

Finally, what are your ambitions for the future of illustrationmundo?

I would really like to get the community more involved in running the site so the burden is shared and there can be more editorial voices. But that will be on hold until things calm down!