Graphic Designers and Illustrators

Nature of work

Graphic designers conceptualize and produce graphic art and visual materials to communicate information for publications, advertising, films, packaging, posters, signs, and interactive media like websites and CDs. They work for advertising and graphic design firms, by organizations with advertising or communications departments, and by multimedia production companies, or they may be self-employed. Graphic designers who are also supervisors, project managers or consultants are included in this group. Illustrators conceptualize and create illustrations to represent information through images. They are almost solely self-employed.

Job duties

Graphic designers:

• Consult with clients to establish the overall look, graphic elements, and content of communications materials to meet their needs.
• Determine the best medium to produce the desired visual effect and the most appropriate form of communication.
• Develop the graphic elements that meet the clients' objectives.
• Prepare sketches, layouts, and graphic elements of the subjects using traditional tools, multimedia software and image processing, layout, and design software.
• Estimate cost of materials and time to complete graphic design.
• Use existing photo and illustration banks and typography guides or hire an illustrator or photographer to produce images that meet clients' communications needs.
• Establish guidelines for illustrators or photographers.
• Coordinate all aspects of production for print, audio-visual or electronic materials like websites, CDs, and interactive terminals.
• Coordinate subcontracting.
• Work in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Supervise other graphic designers or graphic arts technicians.

Illustrators:

• Consult with clients to determine the nature and content of illustrations to meet their communications needs.
• Develop and produce realistic or representational sketches and final illustrations, by hand or using computer-assisted design (CAD) software, for printed materials like books, magazines, packaging, greeting cards and stationery.
• Help develop storyboards for electronic productions like multimedia, interactive and digital products and television advertising and productions.
• Produce 2-D and 3-D animated drawings or computer illustrations.
• May adapt existing illustrations.
• Illustrators may specialize in a field like illustrations for children, advertising, editorials, humour, or medical, scientific, or technical illustration, or multimedia design.

Sample job titles

• advertising artist
• animation artist
• cartoonist
• computer graphics specialist
• content strategist
• electronic games designer
• graphic artist
• graphic designer
• interactive media designer
• medical illustrator
• user interface artist

Skills

• A natural ability to draw along with a good sense of creativity and imagination are beneficial. You should have an understanding of artistic principles and be able to visualize a finished piece of work from a sketch or brief description. Computer design and production skills are essential for the commercial jobs in this field. Self-discipline in meeting deadlines and a good business sense are also very important.

Job requirements

• A university degree in visual arts with specialization in graphic design, commercial art, graphic communications or cartooning or completion of a college diploma program in graphic arts is required.
• Experience or training in multimedia design at a post-secondary, college or technical institution may be required.
• In addition to the arts, training in biology, engineering, architecture or a scientific field is usually required for medical, technical and scientific illustrators.

Other considerations

• Both self-employment and contract work are common in this group. Many senior practitioners choose self-employment; they manage their own businesses or freelance. Creative ability and artistic talent, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are required for graphic designers and illustrators. Progression to management or senior design positions is possible with experience.

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