Career direction doing
something you love

The Illustration Department offers an area of study for students who want a career in professional illustration. A successful illustrator can convey emotions, interpret events, tell a story or market a product or idea through the use of artistic concepts and images.

Illustrators must master a wide range of drawing media and techniques to meet the objectives of a wide range of employers and projects.  Students in Illustration learn to produce work of high quality that is stylistically strong and reproducible. Classes emphasize flexibility, follow-through, and a high level of professionalism. Projects assigned are based on realistic job situations. Students learn to work both independently and as a team to conceptualize and complete projects. They demonstrate proficiency and versatility in producing work for publication. Consistency, confidence, and personal style are emphasized as the student develops a professional portfolio.

Illustration students cultivate professional skills that will prepare them for successful careers. Some of these skills include creating an illustration from verbal or visual instruction, following a solid work process from concept to completion, and applying marketing principles to freelance opportunities. The Illustration curriculum and faculty guide students through a series of increasingly complex illustrations for advertising and editorial use.

Students also concentrate on merging their traditional training with digital skills to prepare them for the rapid technological advances in the field. Students produce a final portfolio that exhibits personal illustrative style and abilities in design, page layout, and art direction.

Illustration Outcomes

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• Apply artistic methods and techniques to create a cohesive illustration portfolio with personal or varied styles.
• Conceptualize creative visual solutions, independently or as part of a team, in a range of settings.
• Apply professional practices to the illustration field including social media, marketing, and business skills.
• Demonstrate industry skills in illustration, typography, and design.
• Demonstrate conceptual and visual thinking of how you work from sketch to final art

Career Opportunities