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| Illustration examples |
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| Editorial and Reportage examples |
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| Character and Narrative examples |
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| Retail and Merchandise examples |
Notes from studio session
Context of illustration- where it is
Product- What it is
Function - Why/what does it do?
What do we mean by "Context"? For instance can a product be the context? Think in terms of:
Physical context
Conceptual context
Disciplinary context
The context of illustration in the creative industries:
- Publishing and Book Design
- Editorial and Reportage
- Product and Packaging
- Retail and Merchandise
- Object and Environment (e.g film sets, 3d, graffiti)
What is illustration?
"Drawing": A process. An investigation. Translating and documenting. Exploration of media and the world around you. Drawing is an activity.
"Image making": Visual language in terms of considering compositional techniques such as shape, colour, frame. The construction of images.
"Illustration": Has a purpose. Centres around communication and solving a problem. Illustration is in response to a brief and has a job to do (communicate/problem solve)
Worries regarding illustration, my own practice and industry:
- Limitations of style (What styles of illustration are in fashion and being asked for? This may be vastly different to my own.)
- Being exploited (Please do this amazing work for free. It will look great in your portfolio.)
- Getting work
- Not your work (Work being asked for is not the work I want to be improving.)
- Stuck in a rut (Producing work for the means of money and being unable to progress own practice.)
These worries are all external and to do with the world around me, e.g "Them". At least 50% of what we define as illustration is defined by people out there - not me. I should make the rules and in order to progress as a practitioner, I need to ask questions of myself and of those around me. Asking questions is about wanting to inform yourself - this is a positive thing. Intelligent people ask questions:
WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN? You ask questions because either:
- you don't know the answer
- you aren't happy with the answer you have been given
Level 5 is all about individualising my own practice.
What do I need to learn?
How do I know that I've learnt it?
Whats driving/informing me?
Anything can be illustration DEPENDING on what you do with it.
Study Task 2: Product, Context, Function
Visual examples of Retail and Merchandise
Product: Album artwork, vinyl sleeve
Context: Vinyl stores, homes, gigs
Function: To advertise, stand out, tell a story, be aesthetic
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| Illustrator: Roger Dean http://www.rogerdean.com/picture-database/ |
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| Illustrator: Roger Dean http://www.rogerdean.com/picture-database/ |
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| Context: Vinyl Store |
Product: Poster, movie advertisement
Context: Cinemas, homes, public transport, bus shelters, adverts
Function: To advertise, promote, be aesthetic and eye catching, collectable
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| Illustrator: Olly Moss http://ollymoss.com/ |
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| Illustrator: Olly Moss http://ollymoss.com/ |
Product: Skateboard
Context: Stores, walls, homes, streets, competitions
Function: To advertise, stand out and be aesthetic. Collectable
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| Illustrator: Mr Gauky http://www.mrgauky.com/ |
Product: Clothing, jacket, apparel
Context: To be worn
Function: To be worn, advertise, entertain, be aesthetic and eye catching. Collectable
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| Illustrator: Mr Penfold x Supreme Being - White Canvas Project |
Product: Mug, egg cup
Context: Kitchen stores, home stores, homes, cupboards
Function: To use/drink/eat out of. Advertise, be aesthetic, be part of a collection
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| Illustrator: Rob Ryan http://robryanstudio.com/ |
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| Illustrator: Rob Ryan http://robryanstudio.com/ |
Visual examples of Character and Narrative
Product: Graphic Novel: "Sin City" - Frank Miller
Context: Book stores, comic stores
Function: To create a story, tell a story, give visuals to a story, to merchandise (late with movie)
Product: Illustrated Novel: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" - Bernie Wrightson
Context: Book stores, comic stores, galleries
Function: To create a story, tell a story, give visuals to a story, to reinvent a story
Product: Character concept design for Studio Ghibli's
"Hals Moving Castle" movie
"Hals Moving Castle" movie
Context: Animation studio, later published in book to be sold as merchandise
Function: To design and create a story based character for movie
Product: Comic book "The Incredible Hulk" - Marvel
Context: Book stores, comic book stores, comic book conventions
Function: To entertain, tell a story, merchandise
Product: Character design for video game Tomb Raider
Context: Game animation, motion graphics studio.
Function: To create a relatable, functional, likeable character and main star of new game. Merchadise
Visual examples of Editorial Illustration and Reportage
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| Ana Albero for The New York Times |
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| David Sparshott for the Guardian Weekend magazine |
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| Theresa Berens for the Omaha World-Herald |
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| Olivier Kuger |
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| Kelsey Heinrichs for Wired magazine |
Visual examples of Product and Packaging
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| Kate Forrester - Moonstruck Chocolate Co. http://www.kateforrester.co.uk/ |
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| Lacy Kuhn - Beehive Honey Squares Cereal http://www.lacykuhn.com/ |
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| Simon Laliberté "Poilu", a set of packaging concepts for paintbrushes. |
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| Alexandra Istratova - Kiss Fruit and Vegetable puree |
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| Hiromi Hirosaka - Kokeshi Matchsticks |