Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Work

Technical/scientific illustrators prepare drawings and diagrams to help people understand scientific or technical information. These may be for:  
 

• Instruction or maintenance manuals and wall charts (for example, a booklet showing how to service a central heating boiler)

• Circuit diagrams (which show the flow of electrical current in electronic devices)

• Training films

• Slides for use in presentations and lectures

• Reference and general interest books

• Publicity materials

• Cartoons

Technical/scientific illustrators first find out what information the user needs to get from the illustration. They then make sure that they have all the information they need to produce an accurate illustration. This may involve:  

• site visits

• talking to technical authors, engineers and/or designers

• looking at engineering drawings, diagrams and plans

 
They then decide what the illustration should look like. The tools they use vary and may include pens, pencils, paints and airbrush techniques. Many illustrators use computer graphics and photographic techniques in their work.

A Medical illustrator creates drawings, paintings, diagrams, and models of medical or biological subjects in fields such as anatomy, histology, pathology, physiology, or in surgical procedures, for use in research, publications, exhibits, consultations, and teaching activities.

Four specialist areas apply:

• Clinical photography
• Graphic design
• Medical art
• Videography

The Medical Illustrator/Animator uses traditional image editing software, 2D, 3D animation and modeling software to build visual stories that are educational as well as relate to the health care needs of consumers. 

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Determine sise and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and sise of type.
• Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
• Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
• Use computer software to generate new images.
• Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
• Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.
• Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.
• Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
• Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

The usual entry route to a career as an illustrator is to complete a degree or diploma course. Appropriate subjects include Graphic Design, Art and Design or Design in Visual Communication. The National College of Art and Design (NCAD), among other providers countrywide, runs relevant courses.

A strong knowledge of anatomy and science is a prerequisite for the profession of Medical illustrator. Typical to have a degree or diploma in areas such as Graphic Design, Art and Design or Design in Visual Communication. Medical illustrators usually go through a pre-med program in addition to art studies in college. Some (international) art schools offer medical illustration as a major.

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship Animation, Graphic Digital Design, CAD/ CNC in an FET centre NFQ level 5 Search FET Traineeship

FET Centre PLC Post leaving cert course: Graphic design, Animation & Art Portfolio prep courses around Ireland at NFQ level 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses 

Animation / CGI artistry Apprenticeship NFQ level 9 

Higher Education CAO entry: Art-portfolio, Animation, Illustation, Graphic & Digital design & production courses at NFQ level 7-8  Search CAO courses  

A degree at level 8 NFQ is typically required. Relevant subject areas such as illustration, 3D/graphic design or computer/computer-aided engineering may be an alternative gateway into the profession for Careers in Screen or alternaitves illustration roles in line with other industries of design. 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €65k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, duties, role, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
Lincoln/ Sigmar/ Morgan McKinley/ Talent.com/ Indeed

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.

New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.

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• Health and Safety Executive

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