A foot in the door: helpful links and tips for aspiring illustrators and designers
Getting your foot into the creative industry has always been a challenge, but with the added difficulties of the pandemic this has left many feeling isolated and lacking support. It can also be hard to find exactly the right help, especially as creative work is so variable and there is no one set path to success (sigh!). Though times may feel a little uncertain, there is help available – you just have to know where to look. To save you hours trawling the internet for opportunities and guidance, I’ve done the hard work for you. Here’s a list of links, tips and useful resources to help you find your feet in the creative industry.
Job opportunities
It is often a frustration that work experience is required for getting a job, but getting work experience in the first place can be a challenge. For that reason, don’t dismiss opportunities just because they aren’t perfect. Learning lots of skills will broaden your outlook and help you to experiment with avenues you may not have thought of. Be realistic that a dream job may take years to achieve – be patient and learn, setting yourself personal projects where paid roles are lacking. Personal projects also demonstrate where you want to take your work and help potential employers to see how you think. When writing to companies and individuals for opportunities, show you’ve taken the time to research their work and be clear and concise about what you are looking for. Always attach a link to your work (this is the main thing a potential employer will need to see) and if you are attaching a CV make sure it is well designed – don’t be afraid to be different! When seeking out opportunities, be wary of any unpaid internships unless you are simply shadowing or gaining short-term work experience – more intensive placements should always pay you a living wage. Be equally wary of job application processes that require you to fulfil lengthy briefs unless they’re essential for demonstrating specific skills that can’t be seen in a portfolio or through an interview. Expecting a large amount of unpaid labour from everyone who applies to such opportunities may indicate further issues with unpaid labour and overtime in employment. Below are some links you may find helpful for seeking out opportunities:
The Kickstart scheme has enabled many employers to provide placements for young people through government grants. Search for the hashtag #kickstartscheme on social media to see what opportunities are available.
https://www.kickstartsimple.com
Check out these job lists that are regularly updated with creative opportunities
Creative Lives opportunities board
https://www.creativelivesinprogress.com/opportunitiesboardArts jobs
https://www.artsjobs.org.ukGuardian jobs board
https://jobs.theguardian.com/jobs/creative/UAL creative job board
https://creativeopportunities.arts.ac.ukThe Dots
https://the-dots.com/jobs/searchPenguin Random House also advertise a number of internships and have a scheme to help with accommodation costs for anyone travelling to London
https://thespareroomproject.co.uk
Don’t take social media for granted either - regularly search for terms relevant to what you’re looking for, such as ‘illustrator needed’ or 'illustration commission’ and see what comes up. Don’t overlook platforms like Linkedin for jobs and commercial commissions - although it may seem a bit stuffy, many art directors use it to connect. If you’re after private commissions or selling products online, platforms such as Instagram can work better. Think about the audience you are trying to get work from and tailor your posts to appeal to them.
You may also find these articles helpful
CV and interview prep written by the Ideas Foundation
https://www.ideasfoundation.org.uk/content/resources/educator-resources/cv-and-interview-preparation/Finding work in the creative industry
https://www.ideasfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/7-Getting-a-Job-in-the-Creative-Industries_designed.pdfHelp for aspiring illustrators
https://www.lisamaltby.com/blog/so-you-want-to-be-an-illustratorKnowing when to work for free
https://www.lisamaltby.com/blog/working-for-free
Portfolio development
As well as trying to reach potential clients or employers, working on your portfolio is key to making sure you have a strong body of work. Don’t sweat it if you don’t have any commercial commissions yet, use your folio to show the best of what you can do and your processes. A website is important, but if you don’t have one use platforms like instagram or Behance to reference your work. Think about what your ideal briefs would be and set yourself some mock projects to complete. If you’re stuck for ideas, check out these creative briefs:
https://www.ideasfoundation.org.uk/resources/creative-briefs/
For further tips on building a portfolio, check out this helpful article and links on the UAL site:
https://www.arts.ac.uk/students/student-careers/career-skills-and-support/how-to-build-a-portfolio
Competitions
Competitions can be helpful to reach a wider audience with your work. Be wary of competitions that set a high fee to enter, or ask you to ‘pitch' work that will be used commercially. Such competitions are usually exploitative and exclude giving a platform to those that can’t afford to enter. If you do enter competitions, check the terms - make sure you retain all copyright to your entry and that you’re happy with the way the work will be used. The best competitors also enable you to enter existing work rather than create competition-specific work. If you do create work for competitions, make sure it is work that benefits you and will help to strengthen your portfolio.
Portfolio reviews and creative mentoring
There are many organisations and professionals that offer coaching and portfolio advice which can be invaluable when putting together your first portfolio or seeking direction. Should you want to invest in paid mentorship, try to get an initial chat or intro to see if you are a good fit before paying for any sessions. Be realistic about what level of mentorship you need and how much you are willing to spend. Always have a set goal in mind and outline these at the start of coaching sessions.
Free mentoring
Creative lives in progress offer free, monthly online portfolio reviews for creatives taking their first steps into industry.
https://www.creativelivesinprogress.com/articles/portfolio-reviewsYoung Creative council offer contacts with creative professionals who are happy to give portfolio crits
https://youngcreativecouncil.com/agency-contacts/Birmingham Design Festival connect design mentors and mentees through their BFFs scheme
https://birminghamdesign.co.uk/birmingham-design-bffs-scheme/Illustrator Taaryn Brench offers mentoring slots to people from underrepresented backgrounds. Sign up to her newsletter to find out more
https://taaryn.com/newsletterArts Emergency connect creative mentors with mentees from underrepresented backgrounds https://www.arts-emergency.org/young-people/get-a-mentor
The AOI offer a yearly mentorship scheme for people from underrepresented backgrounds
https://theaoi.com/membership/mentorship/aoi-mentorship-2/You can apply for free mentoring with The Arena. Find out more here:
https://www.thearena.org.uk/mentoring
Paid creative mentoring
Please note, these are mentors I can personally endorse, there are a lot out there so ask for recommendations!
The AOI offer paid portfolio reviews and business planning consultation for illustrators for £30+
https://theaoi.com/product-category/consultations/Auriel Majumdar is a creative coach accredited by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) at Master Practitioner level – she facilitates safe, confidential spaces for people to think, dream, decide what they want from life or business and work out how to get there.
https://www.aurielmajumdar.comIlise Benun is a professional mentor specialising in marketing guidance for creative professionals. She also writes resources and speaks. You can book an initial free chat with her on her site https://www.marketing-mentor.com/pages/about-ilise-benun
Supportive community
Having a supportive community of peers will help considerably for getting feedback on your work, discussing relevant issues, passing on work opportunities and getting support. If you are a recent graduate I would strongly advise setting up a slack group with your peers to offer one another support and sharing contacts and advice along the way. I’ve been able to pass on work to my peers in this way during busy times and equally have had work passed on to me (don’t be competitors, be allies!). You will of course benefit from finding communities that enable you to connect with more established professionals too so look out for communities that appeal to a mix of creatives.
Below are some communities and events you may want to get involved in:
The Arena Slack community provides networking, opportunities, advice and feedback
https://www.thearena.org.uk/join
CreativeMornings is the world’s largest face-to-face creative community - check their site to see if they have events in your area.
https://www.creativemornings.comLadies wine design have meet-ups for women and non binary communities working in design. See if there is one in your area:
https://ladieswinedesign.com/#citiesAOI meet-ups are national groups for illustrators to meet up and support one another
https://theaoi.com/membership/meet-ups/Glug provides online and in person events to inspire creative community. Check out their site for events and talks
https://www.glugevents.com
Resources to build skills
Although creating your own learning schedule takes commitment and motivation, there is a wealth of information online in order for you to develop skills, Youtube is a great platform for free learning, but make sure you have specific goals in mind. Take the time to research different educators who have relevant content – you may find it easier to follow a series of lessons by the same creator. https://www.youtube.com
Skillshare is a great way of learning without the heavy cost or time commitments of full time courses. You can dip in to courses that are relevant to areas you’d like to develop. Prices start at £10.25/mo
https://www.skillshare.comDomestika offer ad-hoc courses in a wide range of creative skills at very reasonable prices. Courses start from just £10!
https://www.domestika.orgSuperhi offer courses to help you learn how to code, design, and manage projects. Prices range from free to $500.
https://www.superhi.comThe School of motion offer a range of intensive tutored courses, specialising in animation but also covering courses for learning Illustrator and Photoshop. I can highly recommend the courses and worth paying for if you have a design or animation programme you’d like to learn proficiently. Courses start at around $997
https://www.schoolofmotion.com
Resources for freelancers
Free templates and checklists for running a creative business
https://www.creativechamps.co/free-downloadsThe Design Trust is the online business school with a wealth of information for creatives starting out in their field: https://www.thedesigntrust.co.uk (£25/month)
My own course offers aspiring illustrators to prepare for all the things they don’t teach you in art school about making a living from your work (£30 for lifetime access)
https://lisamaltby.thinkific.com/courses/how-to-be-an-illustratorThis is Intern offer a short course on how to charge for your work (£49.99)
https://intern.teachable.com/p/the-price-is-right/My pricing guide consists of extensive research into illustration fees from illustrators, commissioners and illustration agents (£5 download)
https://www.lisamaltby.com/shop/pricingguideIllustrator Taaryn Brench has written an e-book about the lessons she’s learned as a freelance illustrator
https://taaryn.com/shop/freelance-illustration-business-ebookThe Good ship illustration is an 8 week intensive course with live teaching to help illustrators find their creative voice (£375)
https://the-good-ship-illustration.mykajabi.comAOI membership
If you are aiming to become a freelance illustrator, joining the AOI may be valuable to you. They offer help with contracts, negotiation, promotion and much more:
https://theaoi.comThe AOI also have a free download that you can send to enquirers to help explain licensing and why commercial use of work increases fees
https://theaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LicensingIllustration_GlobalResource.pdf
Help for the underrepresented
It’s a sad fact that the creative industry has a much lower percentage of workers who are working class, women, LGBTQ+ or people of colour, despite the fact that the industry thrives where there is diverse work. Below are some organisations that specifically seek to give underrepresented groups a platform.
Fuse is a Manchester-based creative platform elevating the voices and work from creatives of colour; dedicated to creating change.
https://fusemcr.com
Blacks Who Design highlights all of the inspiring Black designers in the industry.
https://blackswho.designA curated database of the best black illustrators that companies can leverage to hire talented black illustrators
https://www.illustratorhub.comQueer Design Club is a community where LGBTQ+ designers can celebrate queer contributions to the design industry and visual culture, share their work, and connect with each other. https://queerdesign.club/directory/
Common People is a slack channel for people from Working Class backgrounds to elevate one another and share resources and opportunities.
https://www.thebookseller.com/news/network-creative-industry-s-working-class-members-launches-1259524Arts Emergency is a mentoring and support charity who help young people get a fair start in the creative industry.
https://www.arts-emergency.orgKerning the Gap is a community aimed at getting more women into leadership roles within the design industry.
https://www.kerningthegap.comAgents for change are an assembly of illustration agencies working together towards a more diverse industry:
https://diversifyingillustration.comLadies Wine and Design is a network for women, non-binary, agender and gender non-conforming people, with the mission is to see more diversity in the creative industry, especially within leadership roles.
https://ladieswinedesign.comBrixton Finishing School offer a FREE 10-week programme for 18-25s from diverse backgrounds which delivers a premium learning experience for our students through a mixture of lessons and real-world advertising experience.
https://brixtonfinishingschool.orgAIGA Worldstudio Scholarships benefit underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students who are studying photography, illustration, and design disciplines in colleges and universities in the United States. They also have a lot of online resources https://www.aiga.org/professional-development/aiga-worldstudio-scholarships
Create is the UK’s leading charity empowering lives through the creative arts. Our passion for having a positive impact on the lives of society’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people
https://createarts.org.uk
Helpful articles and resources
Creative Lives have a wealth of information for young talent searching for creative careers.
https://www.creativelivesinprogress.comCreative Boom have a wealth of inspiration for creatives
https://www.creativeboom.comThe Design Trust publishes many helpful articles, particularly for those wanting to grow a creative business
https://www.thedesigntrust.co.uk/articles/My own blog consists of my own honest experiences of working as an illustrator and the things I’ve learned
https://www.lisamaltby.com/resourcesAIGA: Eye on Design is bursting with design inspiration and interesting articles
https://eyeondesign.aiga.orgAiGA also have a wide range of resources
https://www.aiga.org/resources
Helpful instagram accounts to follow:
This is intern
https://www.instagram.com/thisisintern/Creative lives
https://www.instagram.com/_creativelives/Creative mentor network
https://www.instagram.com/creativementornetwork/Creative cheerleader - community for makers
https://www.instagram.com/creativecheerleader/Creative jobs in the music industry
https://www.instagram.com/creativecommission/Outspoken - kickass creative women
https://www.instagram.com/weare_outspoken_/Young creative council
https://www.instagram.com/youngcreativecouncil/
I hope that helps to open up some doors for you! I will keep adding to it as I find other resources. If you have other recommendations and links feel free to comment on this post.