Illustrator
Uses drawings to convey a message — for advertisements, books, magazines and packaging.
Overview
An Illustrator is someone who makes use of drawings (Illustrations) to convey a message to his or her target audience. They are commissioned to produce drawings for use in advertisements, books, magazines, packaging, greetings cards and newspapers.
Where they work
- Arts and Design Sector
- Advertising and Marketing Agencies
- Publishing Agencies
- Graphic Design, Web Design and Animation Companies
Work environment
You will typically work in an office or studio set up. Contractual jobs are available. You will be expected to meet tight deadlines and may have to put in long hours to complete a project. Entrepreneurship: you can set up your own business or choose to take up freelance projects.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have an interest in drawing
- You have a creative bent of mind
- You pay attention to details
- You have excellent communication skills
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream.
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (BFA) in cartooning
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree (MFA) in the same or related field.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Fine Arts. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Government College for Girls, Ludhiana, Punjab
- Allahabad Degree College, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
- Government College, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
- Meerut College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
- Bareilly College, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
- Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Chandigarh
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Indian Institute of Cartoonists, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- VELS Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Centre for Creative Arts and Design, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Pearl Academy, New Delhi
- Antoon's School of Animation, New Delhi
- Zee Institute of Creative Art (ZICA) Studios, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi
- Khalsa College, Amritsar, Punjab
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Junior Illustrator/Illustrator Assistant
- 2Illustrator
Related careers to explore
Cartoonist
Creates cartoons or comics, usually using humour to highlight a point of view.
Artist
Creates art — painting, sculpting, poetry, music, film — as a mode of personal expression.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Arts.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to creating.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Abhishek Singh — A graduate from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, he is an artist, graphic novelist and an animation film designer. He has worked for animation projects with Cartoon Network, a series of Virgin Comics and UTV in collaboration with Shekhar Kapoor and Deepak Chopra. He studied Animation Film Design at National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 115 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Illustrator/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.