A technical illustrator creates detailed illustrations and diagrams for assembly manuals, maintenance manuals, and other important product and machine documentation. To render the most realistic and informative figures, illustrations are drawn both by hand and with the aid of computer-aided drafting (CAD) software. Some technical illustrators work on highly specialized drawings for specific systems, such as automobile or airplane engines, while others work on consumer product instruction manuals.
A technical illustrator usually conducts extensive research on the product or process he or she wishes to depict before beginning a project. It’s critical for the illustrator to understand what each component part does and how they work together. When creating a maintenance manual for an air conditioner, the illustrator must consider fan blade movement, the components of the electrical motor, and the assembly of coolant tubes and tanks, for example. He or she can accurately depict internal structures and explain how different parts move by learning how the air conditioner works.
When putting together a manual, a technical illustrator keeps the audience in mind. Engineers and other experts’ diagrams are typically very detailed and explanatory, whereas assembly guides for consumer products, such as tables and chairs, are typically simpler and easier to understand. An illustrator may choose to sketch a drawing with a pencil or use CAD software to depict a dynamic, three-dimensional model, depending on the type of illustration and the level of detail required.
The technical illustrator collaborates with a technical writer to ensure that diagrams accompanying instructions or textual descriptions are accurate. The order in which the drawing and instructions are created is largely determined by the writer’s and artist’s preferences. Some technical illustrators prefer to draw diagrams to go along with text, while others prefer to draw pictures first and let the writer fill in the details. In many cases, the writer and illustrator collaborate to help one another. Some highly skilled technical illustrators are also writers, and they can write the entire content of a manual or guide on their own.
A person who wants to work as a technical illustrator can choose from a variety of educational options. In graphic design, art, or drafting, some professionals have bachelor’s degrees or higher. Mechanical engineers are frequently found among those who write manuals for heavy machinery and automobiles. Manufacturing plants, retail corporations, and consulting firms are all good places for a talented technical illustrator to work. Some professionals work for themselves, providing freelance drawing services on a contract basis to a variety of clients.