Illustration
Illustration Course
Illustration courses are designed to prepare the student for a range of careers in the field of Illustration and Graphic Communication.
However, unlike many other online illustration courses, IDI’s Illustration course is specifically designed to cater for the serious student who wants to study illustration with the intention of achieving a degree and embarking on a career in the design industry.
As a student with IDI, we will provide you with extensive experience in the use of a wide range of traditional and digital media. You will have the opportunity to develop work towards a variety of projects including book and magazine publication, editorial work, children's book illustration and advertising.
As you continue to study illustration, the emphasis will increasingly be on project work based work, and you will be working within the constraints expected of a professional practitioner in the creative industries.
Throughout your illustration degree, you will continue to gain experience of working on live projects, and will develop your knowledge of design production. In doing so, you will benefit from shared experience with other students within the UK and worldwide, and from our collaboration with overseas partners.
The final part of the course is focused around the professional portfolio with an emphasis on professional standards of working and support from staff whose experience best matches student interests. It is intended to provide an experience from which you can emerge as a creative designer able to work to professional standards.
*Please note: The Interactive Design Institute currently delivers this course to the level of Certificate in Higher Education (Cert.HE) and Diploma in Higher Education (Dip.HE) online. Subject to approval, students will have the option of completing their Degree either online or through attendance at the University of Hertfordshire.
This programme specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the course and the intended learning outcomes that you might be expected to achieve..
Module Descriptions Level 4 (Year 1 of Degree) click here
Visual Skills 1B
In this second Illustration module students pick up and develop skills of illustrating and work towards outcomes within a graphic setting, such as a book. There is an emphasis on conceptual imagery and students are encouraged to be adventurous in their approach.
Visual Skills 1B Document
Directions 1B
This module explores the wider design process, focussing on editorial and layout design. Again there are two final outcomes in which students interpret a themed topic to design two magazine pages for two distinct magazine formats. Emphasis is placed on the importance of research as a starting point for design.
Directions 1B Document
Critical and Cultural Studies 1
This module deals with the history and context of graphic design. Students are introduced to some of the main themes running through design and are asked to explore a chosen theme in detail.
Critical and Cultural Studies L4 Document
Visual Skills 1A
The second module is centred on illustration and the use of this within a graphic framework, such as a book cover. Students are taught a series of methods for generating ideas.
Visual Skills 1 A Document
Thinking about Ideas 1A
The first module teaches the basic approaches of looking at graphic design, research, typography and computer skills. Learners undertake the design process as problem solving exercises. There are two project briefs based upon typographic investigation and application. The first is a guided brief during which learners are led through the process. The second is more independently undertaken.
Thinking About Ideas 1A Document
Module Descriptions Level 5 (Year 2 of Degree) click here
Visual Skills 2A
In this module students are encouraged to investigate specific areas of the graphic design and illustration industry in which they may wish to pursue a career path. They then create pieces of work that are geared towards that area in both media and direction.
Visual Skills 2A Document
Professional Development and Employability
Students make further in-depth explorations of the areas of the industry that are appropriate to their chosen career paths. They will develop skills of portfolio building, presentation and c.v. writing necessary for seeking employment in design, illustration or associated industries.
Professional Development and Employability Document
Critical and Cultural Studies 2
In this module theories of visual communication are introduced or refreshed so that students may use these to evaluate their practical work. Moreover, a written piece allows students to demonstrate their specific areas of interest and show their ability to research and theorise on a chosen subject.
Critical and Cultural Studies L5 Document
Visual Skills 2B
This module aims to develop more advanced levels of their image making skills. It also reinforces good practice, and experimental and accidental approaches to the development of design, illustration, storytelling and interactivity
Visual Skills 2B Document
Visual Communication 2A (Illustration)
In this module students develop work that reflects professional standards as well as demonstrating an individual approach to image making. Students also present work using appropriate mediums in answer to a live brief. Students also examine their strengths and weaknesses with those practicing in the field of graphic design. By the completion of this module and the 'The Commission' module, students have an understanding of the commissioning process and how to interact with clients.
Visual Communication 2A Document
The Commission (Illustration)
Students undertake a design project within this module that is not only more professionally realistic, but also more complex. Students' gather appropriate research and content from an increasingly diverse range of external sources. They also develop project and time management skills as they work through projects towards set deadlines. Students' abilities to work independently are developed alongside their growing confidence in critical analysis of their own work, that of their peers as well as that of industry. At the conclusion of all projects students are asked to make a presentation of their work.
The Commission Document
Elective Module Options click here
Level 4 (Year 1 of Degree) Certificate of Higher Education
In year 1, the emphasis is on image making using a range of drawing and graphic media – both traditional media and modern digital technologies. The aim is to encourage the development of visual language and creativity. However, the projects you work on will also have a strong industry focus, and you will be encouraged to develop commercial awareness in your response to briefs.
Although specialising in Illustration, at this level you will also work on Graphic Design projects as an essential component in building a broad based understanding of your subject area.
Level 5 (Year 2 of Degree) Diploma of Higher Education
Year 2 is the ‘professional level’ – where you gain the skills and knowledge necessary to work as a professional designer.
You will work to industry relevant briefs, and will become accustomed to working to strict deadlines and within the constraints imposed by both private and corporate clients
Level 6 (Year 3 of Degree) BA
*Please note: The Year 3 (Level 6) programme described here is that currently available through attendance based study at the University of Hertfordshire. Subject to validation, students may also have the option of completing a year 3 (level 6) programme online. However, the content and award title of this programme may vary from the one described here.
Year 3 is the ‘portfolio level’ – the emphasis at this level being on building a portfolio of work as a preparation to entering the design profession. You will have the opportunity to enter national design competitions, and will work to a series of professional briefs. You will also be able to negotiate personal projects in order to develop your personal creativity.
Illustrator tend to work in an environment that is more commercial than that of an artist and successful illustrators are expected to develop ideas and produce original visual images for a wide range of products.
Most illustrators specialise in a particular style but there are various common stages in their approach to their work, including:
- discussing client needs and identifying a target audience for the work
- agreeing the brief and contract with the client
- developing visual ideas that suit the brief
- seeking client approval for ideas with rough visuals - this stage may involve reworking ideas and sketches
- using drawing, sketching, painting and photographic skills to produce illustrations.
Basically, anywhere that prints or provides illustrations can provide a potential source of employment for a commercial illustrator as everything from greeting cards to packaging, educational and children’s books to magazines and advertising publications, provides sources of employment.
Some companies that require ongoing illustration work will employ one or more illustrators in-house on a contractual basis. Typically these are companies that require specialist illustrations, such as technical drawings and diagrams or book jacket illustrations usually produced in the “house style”
Increasingly, companies require candidates with a qualification in Illustration or Design. This may be due to the fact that many illustration courses will teach students to work in a variety of media.
However, many companies choose to source illustrative work through freelancers and this remains the most common form of employment for most illustrators. Freelance work will involve working to a client brief, usually as part of a larger team, and will certainly mean working to deadlines and within a set budget.
Salaries for employed illustrators working full time may range from around £14,000 to £40,000 per annum. Self-employed illustrators are paid a variable rate according to experience for each project or illustration.
Using Type Adobe Illustrator
Aim
On completion of this activity, you will be familiar with the capabilities of ‘Adobe Illustrator’s’ type tool
Objectives
1. During this activity you will experiment with typography using "Adobe Illustrator".
2. During this activity you will be given the option to continue with "Adobe Illustrator" typographic experiments
Duration
The suggested time allocation for this activity is 4 hours
Illustrator Type
In future modules you will be exploring some of the conventions of using type in greater depth. However, for this exercise, you will be exploring some of Illustrator’s fun typographic features and related tools to create some dynamic effects that you might consider appropriate for future use.
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