As a Technical Illustrator, it is my responsibility to solve challenging visual problems with a simple solution. Details in drawings have to be accurate and show complexity in a simple design. I create images for newspapers, magazines and manufacturers in various industries such as automotive, aerospace and technological industries. Drawing types include phantom views, cutaways, exploded views and how-to manual illustrations.
What I Grow up – what do you want to be when you grow up?
This is what I want to be.
I want to be a Technical Illustrator when I grow up. This presentation will show more of what a Technical Illustrator can do and answer the five main questions about technical illustration – why, who, what, where, when and how.
What is a technical illustrator?
A technical illustrator who draws detailed technical illustrations.
I am at Technical Illustrator – do I have to draw it out for you?
Yes! I want to know what technical illustrator does for a living and learn more about the value of technical illustrations.
What is a Technical Illustrator?
A Technical Illustrator draws…
A Technical Illustrator draws details of various subject matter, industrial objects and manufacturing processes.
A Technical Illustrator draws complex details – accurately depicting the details to make a machine or object look exactly as it does. Sometimes simplicity of objects allows for the viewer to better understand the subject matter that they are looking at.
Who can make technical illustrations? What type of personality type would like to create technical illustrations?
Anyone who enjoys always learning. Every new illustration is an opportunity to learn about a new subject matter and research the topic in order to illustrate it accurately.
If you have a passion for both art and have a mathematic mind that is very logical, you could be successful as a Technical Illustrator.
If you like taking things apart, you may be interested in being a technical illustrator.
A technical Illustrator can take a complex challenge, break it down and simplify it into smaller steps.
Where can you find technical illustrations?
Technical illustrations can be found everywhere!
Articles in magazines include technical illustrations, line drawings, cutaways, phantom views or exploded views to help explain the article or story.
Chapters in textbooks use technical illustrations to show a process, to visually add to the story and to help explain a complex idea.
Instruction manuals illustrate how to put products, home furnishings and various objects together.
Marketing documents such as brochures and manuals can help sell a new product and technical illustrations can be used in brochures, newsletters and manufacturing manuals.
Corporate reports can contain technical illustrations to help show a design and explain a certain feature or highlight a technical defect.
Technical illustrations are featured on banners or billboards to promote a company’s products.
Package design can include technical illustrations to help feature a product’s benefits to the consumer.
Which industries use technical illustrations?
Many industries use technical illustrations to help promote a product, show how something works or simplify complex information.
The automotive industry uses illustrations to explain various new technologies such as plug-in hybrid, compressed natural gas, diesel and electric vehicles.
Industrial manufacturing shows how new products are being built, the process to create a newly manufactured device or product.
The Aerospace industry uses technical drawings, patent illustrations and detailed drawings to show new technologies in the aeronautics field.
The architectural industry uses various line drawings, AutoCad drawings, technical detailed drawings and renderings to depict building details and concept renderings.
The publishing industry including newspapers and magazines create editorial illustrations to visualize a storyline or event that has happened through the technical illustrations.
Why would you use a technical illustration?
To create images that simplify complex information.
When would you require a technical illustration?
You would require a technical illustration when details in a photograph are too complex to understand; when you want to feature a detail not usually shown in a product; when a professional illustration will help explain your product; when you have instructions to explain in a how-to manual.
About: Leanne Kroll is a Technical Illustrator with a Bachelor’s Degree of Applied Arts in Illustration (Honors) from Sheridan College in Canada. She currently resides in the Greater Toronto area.
Contact Leanne Kroll – Technical Illustrator at www.leannekroll.com and on her blog, Linked in, Facebook, Twitter and Google +.