Illustrators combine art, design and creative skills to develop ideas and produce original visual images for a wide range of products. These include:
books and book jackets
educational, training and reference materials
instruction manuals, leaflets and sales brochures
greetings cards, giftware and packaging
advertising materials, posters and catalogues
magazines and newspapers
television and film animations and storyboards
computer games, websites and mobile phone visuals.
Most illustrators specialise in a particular style. There are various different stages in their work, including:
discussing client needs and identifying the target audience for the work
agreeing the brief and contract, including payment and deadlines, with the client
developing visual ideas that suit the brief
seeking client approval for ideas with rough visuals - this stage may involve going back to the drawing board several times to rework sketches
using drawing, sketching, painting and photographic skills to produce illustrations
increasingly, using computer packages to scan in their own visual images, and then refine and develop the ideas on screen
continuing to work with the client, seeking approval at all stages of development and making any changes as required, right up to completion of the job.
There are specialist areas of illustration, including fashion, medical, scientific and technical illustration. For more information, see Medical Illustrator and Technical Illustrator.
Self-employed illustrators need to be proactive in finding work. This includes promoting themselves to employers and keeping their portfolio up to date. Some illustrators use agents to do this work. They also need to keep their own records and accounts.