Where can I find a science illustrator?
Science communication is often thought of as one of the most important duties of researchers, but many researchers feel pressed for time to perform these duties when the pressure to publish is very intense. Funding opportunities for science dissemination projects is often lackluster. This is where a collaboration with a science illustrator can be immensely helpful in saving time and helping researchers communicate with a non-academic crowd. The majority of science and medical illustrators have advanced degrees in science or biomedical communication, providing seamless communication between you - the domain expert - and the audience.
So, let’s say you’ve got some real juicy research you want to get out there and you’ve decided to partner with a science illustrator. Where might you find these elusive creatures?
Here’s a big list of where one might find a science illustrator for their domain.
Professional organizations:
There are a handful of professional organizations for medical and scientific illustrators across the globe, many of which have high professional standards of membership. This is an excellent place to start.
Social Media
Lots of scientific and medical illustrators are active on social media, and this can be a great place to make an introduction.
Seek out #sciart #scicomm #illustrator hashtags
Post a call for #sciart; someone will know someone who can help you
LinkedIn Groups
Facebook Groups
Artist Portfolio Sites
Artist portfolio sites like Behance make it easy to find the best artist and designer for your project. While not specific to science illustrators, you can often find sci art nuggets in these sites. They also show the artist’s proficiency in certain software and techniques.
And that just about covers where you can find scientific and medical illustrators online. While not a comprehensive list, it should get you started!
What do you think; did I leave anything off the list? Let me know in the comments!