Illustration & Design

Bachelor Degree
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Overview
 
 
 
  EXPRESSING IDEAS THROUGH VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Illustrators express visually what they see, what they imagine, or what they understand. Applying skills from design and the fine arts, they create images to communicate ideas. Illustrators are trained as artists, but they lend their skills to the editorial efforts and advertising pages of books, magazines, and newspapers.

What you’ll study
* Build a foundation through studying history, theory, and trends in the illustration field.
* Develop functional skills in illustration through drawing, painting,
photography techniques, and problem solving.
* Develop the related skills needed to execute ideas and design projects, including using computer design programs, constructing Web pages, evaluating appropriate production technology, and developing communication skills.
* Create a portfolio to show prospective employers.

Special features
Students develop and produce illustrated images for both print and media using skills from both graphic design and the fine arts. The program emphasizes business acumen, ethics, marketing and self-promotion, communication, and career planning. Students also learn production, pre-press, and layout skills, which are essential to illustration and employability.

Career opportunities
The illustration program teaches the appropriate computer programs and pre-press and production skills, backed up by creative and design competencies, to create desirable employees. Many illustrators undergo a sort of apprenticeship, beginning their careers working primarily in pre-press or production. Graduates may work providing production services, pre-press, or illustrations for design studios, print production houses, advertising agencies, corporations, department stores and other retail stores, magazines, newspapers, publishing houses, entertainment media companies, and greeting card and paper product companies. Entry-levels positions include production assistant, layout specialist, pre-press assistant, desktop publishing assistant, and production artist. In three to five years, graduates might work full-time as an illustrator or graphic artist, freelance, work on a contract basis as an illustrator or graphic artist, advance into a position as an assistant art director or an art director, or become a supervisor or manager.

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