How to Become an Illustrator: Career Roadmap
Illustrators are artists who use paintings and drawings to impart a message, story or idea to an audience. Illustrators may work on creative projects, such as children books, technical projects, such as medical diagrams or a combination of both, such as commercial illustrations. These professionals typically choose a career path and then work towards earning the necessary education before obtaining employment.
Step One: Choose a Career Path and Medium
Different career goals within this profession require varying levels of education, so illustrators may benefit from choosing a professional objective early on. Medium is also a factor; some illustrators work with pen and paper, while others work exclusively in a digital format. Illustrators who work by hand may be employed in creative, artistic fields, while digital illustrators who work with computers and illustration software may find employment in the entertainment or marketing industries.
Step Two: Obtain the Necessary Education
Illustrators with high school diplomas may qualify for some entry-level positions; however, some employers require illustrators to possess associate's or bachelor's degrees. These degree programs are designed to enhance illustrators' natural talents while providing a technical education.
Illustrators can obtain core skills like drawing, painting and computer-aided design in associate's degree programs in illustration; however, illustrators in advanced fields, such as medical illustration or graphic design, typically hold bachelor's degrees. These artists may also wish to minor in specialties that match their chosen career field, such as advertising.
Step Three: Create a Professional Portfolio
Professional portfolios consist of completed works that show off artistic strengths. Educational programs typically instruct students in portfolio development, helping them choose the most impressive works to showcase, like those of senior projects. Portfolios may feature examples of all the major illustration styles, including painting, drawing and computer art work. Employers tend to look at professional portfolios closely to ensure they hire the most talented illustrators.
Step Four: Attain Work Experience
Along with education and a strong portfolio, work experience is an important factor in obtaining employment. For this reason, bachelor's degree programs often incorporate internship opportunities, which allow students to develop work experience and bolster employability upon graduation. Illustrators may find also find relevant experience with media companies, software developers and advertising agencies.
Step Five: Display Artistic Works
Displaying illustrations and artistic works online or in local galleries may provide professional exposure and, in effect, additional employment opportunities. Potential employers can search for illustrators by attending art shows or browsing online portfolios. Illustrators with websites may advertise their work in order to attain freelance assignments while seeking full-time work.
A Career in Illustration
For a career in the hot field of medical illustration, you must complete training in both art and biology to create educational materials that detail human anatomy, surgical procedures and forensic diagrams for textbooks, court cases and 3-dimensional training models. Employment for medical illustrators is expected to grow by up to 25% by 2010.
Related to Become an Illustrator
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
Telling Beautiful Stories: Education Portal Speaks with the Illustrator of Seeds of Change
Sonia Lynn Sadler recently won the 2011 Coretta Scott King Award for new talent in children's book illustration for...
Artist Vs. Illustrator: What's the Difference?
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between artists and illustrators? Technically, an illustrator is an...
Fashion Illustrator: Job Description, Duties and Salary
In the world of fashion, concepts need to be conveyed through drawings and illustrations. Fashion illustrators, also...
Book Illustrator: Job Description and Career Roadmap
A book illustrator creatively tackles art projects that are used in the publishing world. Aspiring illustrators may...
Become an Architectural Illustrator: Step-by-Step Career Guide
- How to Become a Graphic Illustrator: Career Roadmap
- Become a Children's Book Illustrator: Career Roadmap
- Greeting Card Illustrator: Job Description, Duties and Requirements
- Diploma in Dessert and Pastry Making
- Master of Geriatric Health: Degree Overview
- Associate of Therapeutic Massage: Degree Overview
- Associate of Industrial Engineering Technology: Degree Overview
10 Popular Schools
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Georgia (1 campus)
- Texas (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
-
Bachelor
-
- Bachelor of Fine Arts - Visual Communication: Illustration
-
-
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (3 campuses)
- California (16)
- Colorado (3)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (5)
- Illinois (7)
- Indiana (2)
- Kentucky (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Missouri (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- New Jersey (3)
- Nevada (1)
- New York (2)
- Ohio (4)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (5)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (7)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (3)
- Washington (3)
- Wisconsin (2)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
-
Bachelor
-
- Bachelor's - Multimedia Design and Development: Graphics and Multimedia Management
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applications from Texas residents
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MBA Dual Concentration: Business Mgmt & Project Mgmt.
-
- Bachelor
-
Associate
-
- MBA Dual Concentration: Business Mgmt & Project Mgmt.
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Florida (1 campus)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
School locations:
- Alabama (3 campuses)
- Arkansas (1 campus)
- Arizona (3)
- California (12)
- Colorado (2)
- Florida (7)
- Georgia (3)
- Idaho (1)
- Illinois (3)
- Indiana (4)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (2)
- Louisiana (2)
- Maryland (1)
- Michigan (4)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (3)
- Mississippi (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- Nevada (2)
- Ohio (8)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (1)
- South Carolina (2)
- Tennessee (4)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (4)
- Washington (3)
- Wisconsin (2)
- West Virginia (1)
Classroom-Based Programs
-
Bachelor
-
- Bachelor in Graphic Design
-
-
Associate
-
- Associate in Visual Communications
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must live within close proximity to school locations
- Must be graduated from high school by 2011
School locations:
- Virginia (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
- Bachelor
-
School locations:
- Texas (1 campus)
Online Programs
-
Associate
-
- Associate's of Applied Art - Digital Graphic Art
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Distance Learning Programs
-
Non-Degree
-
- Certificate - Adobe Illustrator
- Certificate - Adobe InDesign
- Certificate - Adobe Photoshop
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 17 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Non-Degree
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Associate
