Summary
- Edison College offers a one-year applied arts illustration diploma that methodically prepares students for careers in illustration.
- Applied arts illustration is a creative field, and those who are drawn to it enjoy drawing and using their ideas to create things.
- People with an applied arts illustration diploma are likely to work in industries such as book publishing, fabric design, marketing and advertising agencies, etc.
- Some of the skills that make an illustrator exceptional include design skills, creativity, the ability to use different software, networking and social media skills, entrepreneurial and marketing skills, etc.
What is the Applied Arts Illustration Diploma?
Applied arts refers to how artistic skills and ideas are applied to useful or functional projects and products. Applied arts serve a functional purpose, whereas fine arts are created for aesthetic expression.
Applied arts include industrial design, graphic design, interior design, fashion design, animation, ceramic arts, automobile design, visual and promotional materials, and many crafts.
Applied arts illustration is a creative field, and those who are drawn to it enjoy drawing and using their ideas to create things.

A diploma or degree in illustration can certainly strengthen your inherent talents and increase your employability, but what counts most is what you hope to achieve from your career in this profession.
There are several institutions and colleges that provide diplomas in illustration. However, many of these programs incorporate animation, graphic design, and other features. If you want to combine two or more topics, consider a dual program.
However, if you’re looking for an illustration diploma, check out Edison College’s Applied Arts Illustration Diploma. This one-year, all-inclusive diploma prepares students for careers in illustration. If you can’t attend in person, you can complete this diploma online.
What Kind of Jobs Do Applied Arts Illustrators Do?
People with an applied arts illustration diploma are likely to work in industries such as book publishing, fabric design, marketing and advertising agencies, automotive design, periodicals, animation industries, film production, online and digital distribution, and so on.
They employ CAD software to generate realistic or representational images for a variety of industries. Illustrators also create hand sketches based on industrial requirements.
They develop or assist in the creation of storyboards when working in the television, cinema, multimedia, and other entertainment-related sectors.

Some of the skills that make an illustrator exceptional include:
- Design skills
- Creativity
- Ability to use different software
- Networking and social media skills
- Entrepreneurial and marketing skills
Some illustrators also learn the skills of graphic and multimedia designers so that they can increase their income. Others do short courses in IT and learn new software to work on different kinds of projects.
How Much Can You Earn as an Illustrator?
As an illustrator, you can earn a median salary of $30 per hour in Canada, according to the Job Bank.
While the starting pay is $19.50 per hour, it can go up to $51.92 per hour.

Ontario ($32.21 per hour) and British Columbia ($31.25 per hour) have higher median salaries compared to other provinces in Canada.
Conclusion
People who do the applied arts illustration diploma also work freelance. This is the reason why entrepreneurial and marketing skills can be very helpful in establishing a business.
It is a rewarding career. But it is also important for students to properly channelise their energies and select a good diploma program.
Join the Applied Arts Illustration Diploma at Edison College
The Applied Arts Illustration Diploma curriculum is a one-year comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for careers in illustration.
The program employs both analogue and digital approaches, allowing each student to perfect their individual skill, build a marketable style, and improve their creative voice all while learning the ins and outs of the illustrating profession and how to flourish in it.
This diploma in art illustration will teach students the technical, conceptual, and professional methods required to navigate a variety of illustration fields, including editorial art, picture books, comics, graphic novels, and concept art.
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