General Job Description

Fashion illustrators work very closely with fashion designers and art directors in order to produce unique and artistic images, with the aid of both traditional and digital media. They are responsible for developing eye-catching drawings which are aimed to attract the target audience to a specific fashion line.

 

Fashion illustrators are also assigned to the creation of sketches, layouts or images, which are commonly used in print ads, television commercials as well as online ads.

 

 

Typical Job Duties

• Liaise with fashion designers, art directors and buyers to gain an understanding of the project

• May be involved in selecting the appropriate colour, sound and animation that will accompany the existing fashion concept

• Effectively communicate the designer’s fashion ideas through illustrations

• Produce layouts and drawings that will be used in catalogues, magazines, flyers, commercials and other forms of presentation

• Sketch drawings using various mediums such as paint, charcoals, coloured pencils and computer aided design (CAD) programs

• Continuously hone drawing, sketching and illustration skills

• If self-employed, must perform business administration duties, such as marketing, budgeting, and financial management

 

 

Work Experience Needed

A good way to begin a career as a fashion illustrator is to join an internship or apprenticeship program. These programs will give you hands-on experience in key areas of fashion illustration, such as taking direction from designers. This will also allow you to make valuable industry contacts. These programs may be offered through your school, although if you are not in school these opportunities may still exist, although the level of competition is likely to be very high.

 

Although there may not be a quantifiable amount of experience you need to get a job or a contract as a fashion illustrator, gaining experience will afford you the opportunity to develop a portfolio and make valuable industry contacts.

 

Build Your Fashion Illustration Portfolio

Collect photographs and samples of your work to assemble in a physical and digital portfolio. Your portfolio will be your visible resume; you will use it to market yourself to prospective employers or clients. Without a proper portfolio, your chances of getting a job as a fashion illustrator are next to none.

 

Your portfolio may be a collection of projects you’ve completed while in school, projects you've completed during an internship or apprenticeship, freelance projects you’ve completed, or projects you’ve completed purely for practice. By the time you start applying for contract or permanent jobs, your portfolio will speak for itself.

 

Success Tip: Whether or not you gain an internship or apprenticeship program, you must continuously hone your skills, so draw and paint at every opportunity. Over time, you will see your skills drastically improve.

 

 

What Skills Do I Need?

To be effective in this profession, and perform your job duties with competence, you'll need to posses a certain set of skills. These skills are usually acquired through a combination of schoolwork, practice, career experience and natural ability.

 

Artistic Talent: At the core of becoming a fashion illustrator is natural artistic ability. If you do not have natural ability in art or creating visual graphics, this career won’t be well suited for you. Although visual artistic skills can be improved, they generally cannot be acquired.

 

Manual and Computer-Aided Illustration Technical Skills: In order to create fashion illustrations, you need to be well-versed in not only manual illustration techniques with pencil, pen, paint and other tools, you also need proficiency in computer-aided design programs (CAD), such as Adobe Illustrator.

 

Knowledge of Clothing and Fashion: It's quite valuable to have an understanding of clothing materials and proportions, including how they interact with the human form. It is also important to have knowledge of current fashion trends.

 

People Skills: Good interpersonal skills are important to have if you want to become a fashion illustrator. This includes having good listening skills and the ability to take direction, as well as the ability to maintain positive relationship with others.

 

Networking Abilities: For increasing your employment prospects and building career momentum, it is imperative that you develop and expand your professional network. Once you have worked with someone, say for a university project or on a paid project, be sure to exchange contact information and add them on your social media platforms.

 

Business Management Skills: If you plan to be self-employed as a fashion illustrator, it is important that you have working knowledge of how to start and run a business. This includes skills and knowledge in the areas of marketing, financial management, accounting and time management.

 

 

What Personal Characteristics Are Helpful to Have?

You'll need to have certain personal traits in order to enjoy the duties inherent in this career. Taking enjoyment from your daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities is important, as it helps you maintain a positive attitude towards your work, which can lead to having a long and successful career.

 

• Imagination and creative abilities

• A good sense of colour

• A capacity to work very long hours

• Able to handle professional criticism that may be delivered without tact

• Willing to keep up with industry changes

• Enjoy doing creative work that involves precision

• Enjoy advising customers and clients

• Willing to endure periods of limited financial success while building a portfolio, a client base, or finding stable employment