A cartoon designer might work for a newspaper, a comic book publisher, an advertising agency, an animation studio, or another business. Freelance cartoonists may work on a project basis for a variety of businesses. A cartoon designer’s main job responsibility is to produce high-quality finished drawings while meeting deadlines.
Traditionally, most cartoonists worked with ink and paper, but many artists who create work for publishers and advertising media are increasingly using computer technology for drawing. If a cartoon designer wants to keep his or her job, he or she must submit work that meets the needs of employers. Jobs as a cartoon designer necessitate not only artistic ability and creativity, but also the ability to follow instructions in the form of publisher guidelines.
The majority of a cartoon designer’s day is spent at a desk. They must create images that satisfy their employer’s requirements. These expectations can vary greatly depending on the employer and the job description for a cartoon designer. Comic book cartoonists, for example, must tell a story with pages of drawings. A political cartoonist, on the other hand, is usually limited to using only one image to convey a current event.
The majority of cartoonists start their projects sketching out their ideas. They can use a variety of inks, markers, or paints to do so, or they can use a computer stylus tool and sketch pad software. The best ideas are then developed into finished drawings cartoonists. Some cartoonists collaborate directly with writers, while others send their sketches to a writer to finish the next step in the creative process. Depending on the wishes of the employer, a cartoon designer may also add his or her own captions.
Advertisements, posters, brochures, newsletters, and trade show handouts may be created a freelance cartoon designer in collaboration with an advertising copywriter. Greeting card companies may hire freelance cartoon designers. Whereas full-time cartoonists for a single publication are likely to work on the same types of projects every day, freelancers are likely to have a wider range of projects. Freelance cartoon work, on the other hand, is highly competitive, and freelancers must typically spend a significant amount of time looking for markets for their talents. Freelance cartoonists are usually welcome to submit their work to online magazines, but decent-paying jobs are hard to come by.
The ability to communicate through images is central to the work of a cartoon designer. Designers should be creative thinkers who spend time each day drawing in their sketchbooks and thinking about new ideas. Cartoonists can often break into full-time design work if they have a strong passion for their craft and perseverance.