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The illustration program equips students to tell stories, develop characters, convey ideas and craft imagery for commercial, social, and editorial projects. An illustrator's work is defined by their ability to problem solve and communicate visually with public audiences rather than their use of a particular media. Therefore, within the curriculum, Illustration majors are offered a broad-base of study, gaining exposure to foundational image-making practices and compositional strategies, historic and contemporary methods of visual communication, as well as a combination of traditional studio practices and digital production techniques. Throughout the program, students can expect to craft work physically, via a lens, and digitally as well as craft objects in 2, 3, or 4 dimensions.

Over their course of study, the curriculum prepares students to enter the market as independent artists with distinct approaches to idea generation and a honed personal vision. Whether working with paint or drawing on screen using a Wacom tablet, Illustration majors develop skills and techniques necessary for the kinds of powerful storytelling that have long served as a way of invigorating and re-igniting culture, rallying political movements, and embodying cultural values.

Faculty

The versatile faculty is made up of artists and designers who actively produce and exhibit their creative work − artists who are leaders in their various fields of discipline. They love to teach because they love what they teach. Our faculty is equipped to motivate, inspire and nurture; they become true mentors to their students. The faculty of the Department of Art and Design believe it is necessary for students to become leaders rather than followers, to become the next generation of gifted creative artists and designers and to become art professionals in the ever-growing number of contemporary art and art-related careers.

More information about the illustration major can be found on the art major admissions page.

Graduates with a BA in illustration will:

• Demonstrate the ability to write and speak about art, design, and art history with clarity and logic, and be able to form and support critical judgements about art, design and art history
• Demonstrate the technical mastery of the relevant materials and tools, and the terminology, theories, and practices relevant to the student's field of study
• Demonstrate the ability generate, support, and utilize individual thoughts and ideas
• Demonstrate the ability to do research in art, design, and art history, and the competence and knowledge to analyze and think critically
• Demonstrate expanding knowledge of historical achievements and contemporary thinking, trends, processes, and issues in art and design, and apply that knowledge to their personal work
• Demonstrate broader and deeper understanding of contemporary arts practice, grasp of how to develop and maintain studio or design practice, and ideas communicating successful cultivation of both audience, concept and goals in visual art and design