Where to find illustration jobs

An illustrator’s role is to use his skills in a creative way to communicate messages through drawings, art and design. An illustrator will work in accordance with design briefs specified by his client and will customise the images accordingly. Illustrators predominantly work in a freelance capacity. This article details out where to find jobs as illustrators.

Duties of an illustrator

- Working with clients to ascertain design briefs and ensuring that the business requirements are met. - Ensuring that a document is styled correctly and that it is correct for the type of document. - Undertaking negotiations and setting prices. - Analysing the brief and researching sources of images. - Being creative and imaginative to generate new ideas. - Using appropriate computer design software to edit images. - Provide drafts for approval. - Speculatively approaching companies to enquire about work.

Skills required to work as an illustrator

Skills - Ability to meet deadlines. - Marketing ability to be able to effectively market your skills. - Professionalism. - Imagination and creativity. - Knowledge of Computer Aided Design Software and graphics. - Ability to undertake research.

Entry requirements

In order to work as an illustrator, a degree qualification or an equivalent workplace experience is essential. Degrees in the following subjects will be extremely beneficial: - Graphic design or illustration,
- Fine Art and visual art,
- Fashion and Printmaking.

Markets where illustrators can find work

Editorial publications such as newsletters, magazines, newspapers and comics books, both fiction and non-fiction. Advertising on posters, storyboards, in newspapers or brochures or in other forms of media. Fashion forecasting merchandise and promotional material such as calendars, cloth bags, ceramic products, greeting cards, T-shirts and baseball caps. Corporate documents such as promotional brochures or catalogues. Multimedia images in video games, on websites or in animations. Where to find work As many illustrators work as freelance artists, designers or freelance illustrators, they will be responsible for finding and maintaining their own work, and commonly approaching illustrator agents, advertising consultancies and perhaps a design agency to obtain work. The following sources can be consulted for vacancies: - Creative Review - MediaBugs - Mad - Creative Opportunities - The Artists Information Company - Children’s Illustrators Design and Art Direction - Children’s Writers and Artists Yearbook - Medical Artists Association of Great Britain - Guardian Jobs