Common Interview Questions for Illustrators (With Sample Answers)
It may be beneficial to prepare your responses in advance if you’re applying for the role of illustrator. In this post, we offer sample questions and sample answers for a variety of subjects, from basic knowledge to in-depth artistic abilities. Questions for Illustrators
general questions
The following typical questions for an illustration interview are possible:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why did you decide to apply for this job?
- How well do you know our industry?
- How long do you intend to hold your present position?
- What would you say are your top three commercial strengths?
- What are the worst three things about you?
- What did you enjoy best about your prior job?
- What attributes are you looking for in a company?
- What do you think makes a company culture ideal?
- Why are you looking for work?
- Why, in your opinion, are you a suitable fit for this position?
- Upon being hired by us, when can you start working?
- What salary are you anticipating getting for this job?
enquiries about education and experience
The common questions a hiring manager will ask you regarding your training and experience as an illustrator are as follows:
- Have you ever worked as an illustrator?
- Which design software categories have you used before?
- Did you go to art school or did you teach yourself to be an illustrator?
- Have you ever had a job with a company?
- Do you currently or have you ever worked as a freelance illustrator?
- Could you give an example of a time when you had to work quickly to meet a deadline?
- Which form of collaboration do you have more experience with—working alone or with a team?
- How do you keep your job projects organized?
- What is your most noteworthy professional accomplishment?
- What sources do you use for your illustration ideas?
- How do you decide which things to include in your portfolio?
- How can you get through obstacles to creativity?
- Do you use any traditional methods or instruments to create your illustrations?
detailed illustration-related interview questions
Here are some in-depth queries an employer might ask you during an interview if you’re an illustrator about your experience in the field or any difficulties you’ve faced in the past:
- Has a client ever rejected your work? If so, what tactics did you employ?
- If you discovered you needed more time to complete a task, would you ask for an extension or would you submit what you had previously completed by the deadline?
- What would you do if a digitally made illustration looked different on paper?
- What effect does your work have on the reputation of a client?
- How do you know when to start a new project and when the illustration is done?
- How do you handle a client whose needs are unclear?
- How do tables get created in Adobe Illustrator?
- How do you use the pucker and bloat tool in Adobe Illustrator?
- In Adobe Illustrator version CS6, where can you find font stylistic sets?
- How do you add transparency to an image in Adobe Illustrator?
- Which circumstances make Adobe InDesign more suitable than Adobe Illustrator?
- How are layers organized in Adobe Photoshop?
- Why is Photoshop Big different from Photoshop Document?
Typical questions and answers
Following are some often asked questions about illustrators’ work and sample responses you may use to help you develop your own responses:
What types of illustration projects do you like to work on?
Hiring managers are curious to know about the projects you value because this can inform them as to whether you might be a suitable fit for specific clients. It might also aid them in understanding the tools and techniques you favor. By citing a few of the initiatives you find appealing, you might strive to provide examples.
Example: “When I initially started out as an illustrator, a textbook publisher hired me to create scientific graphics. I wasn’t certain I would like it, but it ended up being one of my favorite project types. I like how each one is specific and thorough, and adding the information made it seem like a lesson. For my freelance clients more recently, I’ve enjoyed producing infographics and technical illustrations. The technical illustrations closely match the work I produced in my early career.”
How can one improve as an illustrator?
You can show the hiring manager that you are confident by outlining what you think makes you unique as an illustrator. In order for the interviewer to understand your skill set, be sure to address both technical and interpersonal skills in your answer.
Example: “My experience in the field is one of my strongest qualities and, in my opinion, what makes me a strong illustrator. In the more than six years since I began working as an illustrator, many of the applications we employ have advanced. As a result of these technological improvements, my methods must change, and I think my ability to adapt is a key factor in my success as an illustrator. I’ve had experience working both solo and in teams, so I can be productive anywhere.”
Which plugins for Adobe Illustrator are the most useful?
The use of Adobe Illustrator plugins may help you complete jobs more quickly. By detailing the plugins you use, you can show the interviewer how well you manage your time. List every plugin you can think of along with how it helps you complete projects.
Example: “Despite the fact that I use a lot of them, VectorScribe is my favorite plugin for Adobe Illustrator. It makes altering and customizing vectors easier than if you only used Illustrator. Other plugins I use when working on projects include CADTools for labeling and sketching, and Cineware for integrating 3D features to digital creations.”
What does a “Smart Object” in Adobe Photoshop do?
Illustrators may need to be familiar with particular software programs, especially the Adobe suite, for some jobs. Because being familiar with the basic Photoshop tools will enable you to create illustrations with greater complexity, hiring managers will want to know that you are at ease with Adobe products. If you can, give an instance of a time when you used a smart object for a project.
Example: “Layers called “Smart Objects” link back to the raster or vector image they were derived from. They enable you to make changes to a layer without removing the original. I recently used Smart Objects while working on a project for a new client who wanted to update some of his branding images. Thanks to the feature, I was able to provide the buyer many revisions of the images without compromising the quality of the originals.”
What are the key differences between Adobe Illustrator and InDesign?
Illustrators use both InDesign and Illustrator often, yet they serve different purposes. Outlining the distinctions between them will allow you to show the interviewer that you are knowledgeable about a variety of applications and understand how to choose one when working on a project. Be careful to include clear examples of how you use each tool in your response.
Example: “Since Illustrator enables you to give your images dimension, working with vectors is amazing. For instance, in a prior commercial design I created for a beverage company, I used Illustrator to make the curves of the bottles look natural. Since InDesign is superior for text-based illustrations, I use it when the primary focus of my design is a word or group of words. For instance, I routinely create magazine covers using InDesign.”
