Technical Illustration Schools/Programs

[JamesProvost]

I've received a few emails asking where one could get an education in technical illustration. I tried to research it without much success...

Every school calls their program something different — visual communication, information design, technical graphics, visualization, media arts, 3D studies, etc.

Does anyone have a list... or does anyone have a friend or family member that's a guidance counsellor?

For the record, I took Technical & Scientific Illustration at Sheridan College near Toronto, Canada.

[jhatch]

Hi James,

I went to Otis/Parsons that is now Otis in Los Angeles and studied under the Illustration major. This was before computers did much so we were taught by hand and basically drew and painted the entire time. Looking back this was very helpful as I still consider myself a painter.

Good Luck,

Jim

[matt_lorenzi]

Tough one. I think other than where James studied there are few schools/programs dedicated just to technical illustration. I think it is something you have to do for yourself in some ways. A good mix of graphic design, drawing, 3D modeling, perhaps CAD/drafting skills....put in a blender and there you go. Other than that, practice, practice and more practice. Oh yeah, and visit this forum often!

[Mike A]

I really don't know of any specialist technical or engineering illustration courses in the UK.

Blackpool and the Fylde College used to offer an 'engineering illustration' course many years ago - but looking at their site today leads me to think that is no longer the case.

I think the area falls through a gap between general illustration courses - which are focused almost totally on expressive / interpretive work - and product / architectural / automotive design courses that might include some element of design illustration or visualisation work.

There are some 'visual communications' masters degree courses that are loose enough that the student could pursue technical illustration as 'negotiated course of study' - but I guess it would be a pretty much 'self taught' course of study!

Other than formal education in general drawing / painting / illustration here in the UK - I think the only way is self teaching.

It would be great to be able to gather together the tips, techniques and methods of some of the great technical illustrators that are still around - before their skills are lost. That would make a good book...

[JuanCal123]

I went to a community College school for Architecture and got introduced to AutoCAD, then decided to go to ITTEchnical Institute and studied Computer Aided Drafting. I did pencil and we were introduced to Windows 95 then windows 98 and did AutoCAD 1st in DOS then later on went to Windows an amazing time as the transitioning was happening.
I can still remember looking outside the window of our Computer LAB uncertain as to where I was going to be in two years, well when I graduated Boeing came did a speech and I went to apply in their San Diego Company and got hired as a TEchnical ILlustrator has no Idea what that was, so I ended up falling into it.
After a few years I realized 3D was the future went back to a University in San Francisco and got my BA in Computer ARTs Modeling and Character Animation and the rest is history.
Now Im looking to learn 3D printing and CNC machining for the furture of Space Exploration

[Jeff L.]

This discussion is very timely for me.
I teach mechanical design at a 2-year technical college and we are in the process of creating a technical illustration degree program. We are working with our local business and industry advisors to establish the need for this skillset but could use some help on what exactly those skills are. I did a little bit of TI when I worked as a drafter but that was a long time ago (in a galaxy far away
Would anyone in here care to answer a few questions as to the skills required to be successful in your career?
Thanks,
Jeff

[JuanCal123]

Jeff post away. I will do my best as IM sure everyone else will chime in.

as a well off Artist I have to say a few things that I have noticed in me and others that are sucessfull is Motivation and determination if it doesn't go your way that one time find another way to get there.
have a clear idea of that goal or goals that are related, because if you have no idea where one is going then the main goal wont be reach. To many path to nowhere will waste time and oneself will never see good results wich can be a downer.

but ask away Jeff I answer most things, but post question for us all cause everyone takes different paths to get to the same goal.

[Jeff L.]

Thanks JuanCal123,
Our students get jobs with local manufacturers that are using products like, CATIA, Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, Pro-E (Creo), and AutoCAD to do their mechanical design. The TI students that would come out of our program would be working for these companies. All of those software products (and we teach most of them) have the capability of creating the views needed for manuals and catalogs, etc. but it is impossible to require our students to learn all of them.
Do you feel that it would be more beneficial for our students to concentrate on importing the 3D and 2D models from these software products into another program for illustrating? Something like Adobe Illustrator? Or 3DViaComposer? Or even Autodesk Alias Design?
Are there any other products that you use that I should be aware of?
Jeff

[JuanCal123]

Hi Jeff your right on the money.

As Ive gone through Some of the Aerospace and Automobile companys thats about whats going on the models are been imported into another software like 3D Via Composer, Adobe Illustrator as an EPS file, SAP formerly known as Right Hemispehere, and may two other ones Ive heard of. But I would defenetly recommend at least a familarity in Solidworks or CATIA which is the big one if they want to make a good living. They dodnt need to know ins and outs just be familiar with the interface of CATIA and solidworks, and believe me in the group of students someone there always wants to excel and go further those are the one that take the other courses in 3D modeling.

BUt yes concentrating on exporting them and importing them into another software seems to be where the industry is going. 3D via Composer has a lot of promise, not just 2D illustration wise but creating animation and making it available for manufacturing. Creating HTML format is quite cool by the way. I write HTML and some CSS and boy were actually at that point where we can sort of make Start Trek type of interaction for tablets and have MKanufacturing use them. so 3D via Composer has a lot of potential, it just depends on the Employer if they want to invest. But if your students learn the ins and outs of 3D via Composer, Adobe Illustrator or SAP,(formerly known as Right Hemispehere), which sort of resembles 3D via composer, they should be in a good place.

[JuanCal123]

also I would recommend them to learn about Assembly breakdowns and how they break down part number in BOM (Bill of materials).

Maybe also one semester of Animation, yes Animation may not seem a big deal, but I think it is. As a Character Animation Artist Ive had the pleasure to be LEader of teams for Technical illustration because all of my knowledge and ive had to fix or correct or help others on creating better animation for the INeractive portion of 3D Via composer. My goal is to make the best possable product out there for the future of Space exploration or Automobile interactive videos.

so maybe one semester in Animation course is always good so they can learn about timelines and the 12 principles of animation. They don't have to be Disney or Pixar Animators just have an understanding of Animation, because they will come into contact with it at the higher paying jobs.