Starting out in medical illustration
There are many options for you starting out your journey to become a medical illustrator and/or animator. We thought we’d put together this page for you to start your exploration in the field.
If you have any questions or suggestions on how to improve this resource, do get in touch. Let’s help each other out.
Pathways to becoming a medical illustrator
There are many pathways to becoming a medical illustrator and not everyone takes the same journey. Like with any creative field, the most direct route is to go to an undergraduate or graduate program that teaches you medical illustration. You will most likely get training and exposure to industry best practices that can increase your chances of getting employed.
Not everyone goes this route though. There are many scientists and doctors who have self-taught artistic skills that have made the shift between careers.
Then there are other cases, those who are talented artists who have worked commercially for general illustration or animation and have found that they really like working in the medical sector and have pretty much learnt on the job as they progressed through their careers.
These people might not have the science training but they have successfully worked within medical agencies for a while. They know the industry lingo, the regulations, and procedures.
So what we’re trying to say is: there are lots of options and pathways in entering this field. You are more than capable of carving your own journey.
So what can you do?
We've worked with talented people from many backgrounds and it's difficult to identify what is the perfect journey for others to replicate.
What’s our main takeaway? People who want to work as medical illustrators need to have scientific knowledge plus artistic/design skills.
Here are some suggestions on where you can go next >>
If you have no science training and no art training
An undergraduate or graduate degree in medical illustration might be an option for you.
If you have the science training but no art training
A graduate program might be an option for you OR you can try and learn the art/design stuff on your own.
If you have art training but no science training
A graduate program might be an option for you OR you can try and learn the science stuff on your own, but this is a lot harder without medical expertise.
If you have art training and are already working in the field commercially
Your skills might mean that you could get a job with a studio and you work hard to get up to speed with the rest of the industry.
I have no science training and no art training…
If the above statement applies to you, then an undergraduate or graduate degree in medical illustration might be an option for you. Let’s explore this option further…
Useful links for you
Here are some useful links to help you get started on your journey
Study medical illustration
If you want to study medical illustration, this page is a good place to start to figure out your next steps and prepare for your application to a medical illustration school.
Medical illustration schools
There are a lot of schools that offer medical illustration around the world. The best thing to do is to familiarise yourself with all of the courses available and see if this is a path that you want to take.
Student tips
A lot of the schools have resources for their current and future students. Check out the resources we’ve found for this and get familiar with the student medical illustration network.
I have science training but no art training…
If the above statement applies to you, then a graduate program might be an option for you OR you can try and learn the art/design stuff on your own.
Useful links for you
Here are some useful links to help you get started on your journey
A job in medical illustration
If you’re a student or planning on shifting careers, this page will help you step towards finding a job in the medical illustration and animation industry.
Study medical illustration
If you want to study medical illustration, this page is a good place to start to figure out your next steps and prepare for your application to a medical illustration school.
Medical illustration tutorials
If you’re planning on learning the art and design stuff on your own, then consider checking out some medical illustration and animation tutorials created by professionals in the industry.
I have art training but no science training…
A graduate program might be an option for you OR you can try and learn the science stuff on your own, but this is a lot harder without medical expertise…
Useful links for you
Here are some useful links to help you get started on your journey
A job in medical illustration
If you’re a student or planning on shifting careers, this page will help you step towards finding a job in the medical illustration and animation industry.
Study medical illustration
If you want to study medical illustration, this page is a good place to start to figure out your next steps and prepare for your application to a medical illustration school.
Medical illustration tutorials
If you’re planning on learning the art and design stuff on your own, then consider checking out some medical illustration and animation tutorials created by professionals in the industry.
I am currently working as an artist / designer / animator…
Your skills might mean that you could get a job with a studio and you work hard to get up to speed with the rest of the industry.
Useful links for you
Here are some useful links to help you get started on your journey
A job in medical illustration
If you’re planning on shifting careers, this page will help you step towards finding a job in the medical illustration and animation industry.
Medical illustration organizations
If you want to study medical illustration, this page is a good place to start to figure out your next steps and prepare for your application to a medical illustration school.
Medical illustration tutorials
If you’re planning on learning the art and design stuff on your own, then consider checking out some medical illustration and animation tutorials created by professionals in the industry.