How to become an illustrator
Apply your artistry to produce original illustrations that communicate your client’s message and meaning.
Pathways to this career
- Complete a recognised qualification in design. Other areas of study include animation, graphic design, digital media, new media design, fine arts, creative arts, visual arts or visual communication.
- Create and maintain a portfolio showcasing your previous work, mock projects and illustration style. Prospective employers will use this to help them decide if you are the right fit for the job.
- Practice makes perfect. Get as much experience as you can!
What does an illustrator do?
Duties and tasks
- Combine images and symbols to create visual representations of concepts, products, stories and ideas.
- Create and design original illustrations for a variety of media and industries including video games, film or television storyboards, magazine, book covers and children's story illustrations.
- Create drawings, sketches, painting, photography or visual images of designs for clients to review, and then create polished illustrations.
- Ensure that creation of illustration production in selected media accurately depicts desired illustration, working with necessary staff such as technicians, developers, and printers.
- Use a variety of software programmes and tools to create original and creative illustrations to produce technical and aesthetically pleasing illustrations.
Industry bodies
- Australian Association of Architectural Illustrators
- Australian Graphic Design Association
- The Design Institute of Australia (DIA)
Related jobs
Discover related degrees
Undergraduate CUR-FIA-CTF
Undergraduate CUR-FIA-DEG
Undergraduate CUR-FAV-DEG
Available majors
- Level 1 Major - Fine Art
- Level 1 Major - Visual Culture
- Level 2 Major - Fine Art
- Level 2 Major - Visual Culture
- Level 3 Major - Fine Art
- Level 3 Major - Visual Culture
Undergraduate CUR-DDF-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Digital Experience and Interaction Design) (Fine Art)
Discover related subjects
Undergraduate CUR-VSW330
Related degrees
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education) (The Arts - Visual Arts)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Digital and Social Media)
- Bachelor of Arts (Digital Experience and Interaction Design) (Fine Art)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Professional Writing and Publishing)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Visual Culture)
Undergraduate CUR-VSW13
Related degrees
- Undergraduate Certificate in Fine Art
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Digital and Social Media)
- Bachelor of Arts (Digital Experience and Interaction Design) (Fine Art)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Professional Writing and Publishing)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Visual Culture)
- Bachelor of Arts (Japanese)
- Bachelor of Arts (Korean Studies)
- Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Social Media)
- Bachelor of Arts (Chinese)
- Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Publishing)
Undergraduate CUR-VSW14
Related degrees
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education) (The Arts - Visual Arts)
- Undergraduate Certificate in Fine Art
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Digital and Social Media)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Professional Writing and Publishing)
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Visual Culture)
- Bachelor of Arts (Digital Experience and Interaction Design) (Fine Art)
- Bachelor of Arts (Japanese)
- Bachelor of Arts (Korean Studies)
- Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Social Media)
- Bachelor of Arts (Chinese)
- Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Publishing)
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