Credit Points: 22.5
Study Time: 225 Hours

This unit is intended to allow you to extend your awareness and understanding of contemporary Illustration practice. Through a broad and experimental creative process you are encouraged to develop your own individual responses to a theme. This practical work will underpin a process whereby you will be introduced to a wide range of creative strategies and techniques delivered through a series of workshops, seminars, lectures and critiques. You will be asked to reflect, not only on the things that you have learned, but also on the ways that you set about learning them and you will share ways of making and thinking which will support your progression through Level 4 and beyond. You will be encouraged to develop your own critical reflective process which will continue throughout the course.

Outline Syllabus
(An indicative guide to the content covered in this unit.)

• Workshops, critiques and tutorials and what we mean by them. 
• What is Illustration? Critique of contemporary practice 
• What is research? What forms can it take? 
• How to engage with critiques and tutorials.
• Documenting your creative journey. 
• Independent study and its uses. 
• Exploration of different media, materials, methods, and processes. 
• Workshop clusters including experimentation, visual development and outcome. 
• Digital assemblage and creative use of digital media. 
• What constitutes a "body of work"? 
• What is a sketchbook?

Methods of delivery
Problem solving, individual and group work, lectures, seminars, workshops, critiques and themed project work, study trips and events.

Aims

A1 To extend your awareness and understanding of contemporary illustrative practice.
A2 To begin to develop a broad visual vocabulary and an understanding of the uses of a range of media and techniques.
A3 To develop awareness, experience and understanding of a wide range of learning and teaching strategies; critiques, tutorials and discussion forums.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1 Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of contemporary Illustration.
LO2 Utilise your knowledge of a wide range of the methods, media, and techniques available to the illustrator.
LO3 Demonstrate your practical skills in the handling of media, techniques and tools employing creative risk taking and experimental practice.

Reference Material

Key
Berger, J. (1972). Ways of seeing. London: Penguin
New, J. (2005). Drawing from life: the journal as art. New York: Princeton Architectural Press

Recommended
Bierut, M. (ed.) (1994). Looking closer: critical writings on graphic design. New York: Allworth Press.
Bierut, M. (ed.) (1997). Looking closer 2: critical writings on graphic design. New York: Allworth Press.
Bierut, M. (ed.) (1999). Looking closer 3: classic writings on graphic design. New York: Allworth Press.
Bierut, M., Drenttel, W. and Heller, S. (eds.) (2002). Looking closer 4: critical writings on graphic design. New York: Allworth Press.
Bierut, M., Drenttel, W. and Heller, S. (eds.) (2007). Looking closer 5: critical writings on graphic design. New York: Allworth Press.
Heller, S. and Arisman, M., (eds.) (2000). The education of an illustrator. New York: Allworth Press.
Le Gun. (2010). Le Gun 1-3: Magazine of International Illustration. London: Mark Batty.
Rees, D. (2008). How to be an illustrator. London: Laurence King.

Also recommended
100 journals // 30gms // Varoom magazine (AOI) // Images annual (AOI)