Technical Illustrators.org Forum

Hi All,

I am just inquiring how the state of the technical illustration industry is. I know that there are people doing many different illustrations for many different industries, but as a whole, are tech illustrators struggling to find work and make ends meet, or is the work plentiful and opportunities abundant?

Before switching to focus on a career in TI, I was focused on the architectural illustration field. Many of the big wigs I talked to (those that had the decency to reply back) told me that their industry was changing in an uncertain way. Work was heading over seas to Asian markets to be done cheaper. Teams of European and local in-house arch-vis specialists were also in high demand because they could get many drawings done in a short time. Essentially, the days of the freelance arch illustrator working in his/her own small studio and making a decent living are numbered.

Is this the same for the technical illustrator? I know that technical illustration is an umbrella term that overshadows many different types of illustration and information graphics, from arch-illustration to medical images, to automotive, sports equipment, owners manuals, etc...

It would be interesting to hear how everyone on this forum is faring. Maybe some type of questionnaire or survey would be an interesting and valuable exercise. Sorry to keep going back to the arch-illustration field, but one site does a state of the industry survey every couple of years or so.

Thoughts?

I've participated in the 3x3 Magazine Surveys, and found the reports pretty informative. However, 3x3 targets the (larger, more generalized) editorial illustration community. Despite that larger pool, they only got 600 or so respondents in their latest survey. 3x3 found it hard to extrapolate meaning or trends from such a small dataset.

I really don't think TI.org has the reach needed to get any useful data.

The Society of Technical Communication sells a salary survey for $49. You might find some answers there?

From personal experience I have noticed that the people with skill seem to be doing just fine. It's the people who just got by, calling themselves illustrators, who actually had very little skill that seem to have lost their jobs to low cost countries. I actually had to make a tough decision recently between one company that was offering me a job for better pay or staying where I am now. I stayed where I'm at because I like the work and the environment better. Look around, you see illustrations EVERYWHERE, practically every company that makes a product needs illustrations in some form. It seems to me that there must be plenty of work out there. Just trying to stay positive.

Lyle, I checked out your architectural illustration and it is really good. Maybe the guys in that field didn't want you as competition? I think you need to follow your passion and love and the work will follow no matter what it is.

jhatch wrote:Lyle, I checked out your architectural illustration and it is really good. Maybe the guys in that field didn't want you as competition? I think you need to follow your passion and love and the work will follow no matter what it is.

Thanks Jim for the compliment! Your work is truly amazing and definitely an inspiration.

Sorry to be a bit touchy-feely but I guess it is true what some people say:

1. Follow your passion and the work will follow you.
2. Do what you love and you won't have to work a day in your life.

I guess its time to heed those words!