Careers in Design & Illustration

Looking to break into the Design & Illustration industry? Join Mary Winkler in our on-going series on "So you want to be a..." where we ask those in the industry, how they got the jobs they're in and how you can increase your chances.

Preview image credit: Nikki Radan

Posts in this series

So You Want to Be a Game Artist?
Games of all sorts are a part of everyday entertainment for many of us. The artists involved in the creation of video games, card games, mobile games and...
Mary Winkler
18 Sep 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be an Apparel Designer?
Whether you're aiming to design for a specific company or brand, or license your work as a freelancer, knowing what it takes to be an apparel designer is...
Mary Winkler
21 Aug 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Gallery Artist?
Fine artists and commercial artists alike often exhibit their work in a gallery setting. What does it take to become a gallery artist, curator, or owner?...
Mary Winkler
24 Jul 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Print Designer?
An insightful look into the career of print designers from a variety of industries. Graphic designers in the industry of print design find themselves working...
Mary Winkler
19 Jun 2015
Design & Illustration
How to Become an Art Director
Today we’ll take a peek behind the curtain at the career paths of Art and Creative Directors. I spoke to several artists who have worked or are currently...
Mary Winkler
21 Apr 2017
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be an Animator?
Get the behind-the-scenes lowdown on art careers within the animation industry from professionals with the industry itself. We'll go through what it takes to...
Mary Winkler
27 Apr 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Freelance Graphic Designer?
Design and Illustration careers are as varied as the artists that inhabit them. Today we’ll explore the world of freelance graphic designers. As in previous...
Mary Winkler
27 Mar 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Freelance Illustrator?
Wondering how to become an illustrator? This post is your guide if you want to be a freelance illustrator. Learn about daily tasks, clients, and more!
Mary Winkler
2 Sep 2022
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be an In-House Graphic Designer?
Design and illustration jobs vary widely across disciplines. Today, we’re going to take a look at what the role of an in-house graphic designer entails. I...
Mary Winkler
16 Jan 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Convention Artist?
Whether it's a game, comic, anime, or another special-interest convention or art show, you may want to know how artists who regularly sell their work at...
Mary Winkler
9 Oct 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Comic Artist?
Whether it's a web comic, comic book, or graphic novel, the artists of the comic world have a variety of roles within a comic's creation, and all of them are...
Mary Winkler
27 Nov 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Children's Illustrator?
The power of a good children's illustrator can stay with us well into adulthood and is often something shared from parent to child. Children's illustrators...
Mary Winkler
29 Dec 2015
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Packaging Designer?
Regardless of the product, most everything needs some sort of packaging, and the more well designed that packaging is, the more likely a consumer will be to...
Mary Winkler
20 Jan 2016
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be a Fashion Illustrator?
From sewing patterns to advertising to editorial work and beyond, fashion illustration has a long history in the illustration world. What about fashion...
Mary Winkler
16 Feb 2016
Design & Illustration
So You Want to Be Represented by an Agency or Agent?
How does an artist come to be represented? What does their representation do? What’s it like working with an artist’s agent or agency? I interviewed several...
Mary Winkler
22 Mar 2016
Design & Illustration