Prospects.ac.uk ... Illustrator Job Roles Research

Below is the description of an Illustrator that I found on prospects.ac.uk. Reading through it reminds me why I am doing this course, because it really does describe the type of work that I want to be doing when I graduate.

Job description

An illustrator uses creativity and the technical skills of painting and drawing to communicate ideas, sensations, facts, feelings and emotions. Illustrators work to commercial briefs to inform, persuade or entertain a client's intended audience, adjusting the mood and style of images accordingly.

Work is predominantly freelance. Possible markets include:

• editorial (magazines, newspapers and comics);
• books;
• advertising (posters, story boards, press);
• fashion (forecasting);
• merchandising (greetings cards, calendars, t-shirts, ceramics, etc.);
• corporate work (brochures, catalogues);
• multimedia (video games, websites, animation).

Specialisms include scientific, technical and medical illustration. In these fields, illustrators create illustrations for text and reference books that may show new products, processes or techniques.

Typical work activities

Work activities typically involve:

• liaising with clients, editors and authors in order to understand and interpret their business needs;
• building an understanding of what styles are appropriate;
• negotiating pricing and deadlines;
• analysing a brief's specification and the text to be illustrated as well as researching sources;
• thinking creatively and using imagination to produce new ideas;
• creating images and designs by using the traditional hand skills of drawing and painting, alongside other techniques, to meet design briefs;
• using computer-aided design (CAD) packages to scan images and change size, colours and other elements;
• providing roughs for approval;
• redefining a brief through further consultation with the client to include new ideas or text as appropriate;
• running the business, when working freelance;
• speculatively approaching potential commissioners to seek new sources of work;
• working to a brief within a set timescale, often to tight deadlines;
• creating original pieces for self-promotion;
• researching appropriate galleries to find suitable venues to exhibit work.