For the illustration student, Paris provides a rich, historical and contemporary tapestry from which to draw one’s inspiration. Moving in tandem with the great movements in art history, from the illuminated manuscripts, the great affichistes of the 1910’s, 20’s, and 30’s to les bandes dessinées and graphic novels, illustration has played and continues to play a dynamic role in European and world communication and graphic provocation. The works of Daumier, Doré, Cassandre, Topor, Sempé, Lagarrigue, Tardi, Loustal, Moebius, Benoit and JP Delhomme are part of the daily Parisian landscape. Students learn to solve current and topical conceptual illustration problems in a city that is a living textbook. The collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Musée de la Publicité, Bibliothèque Forney, Forum des Images, and the Centre Pompidou are part of this fabric.
Both traditional and digital technologies are explored thoroughly in this pursuit. Drawing on the wealth of Paris’ cinematic tradition, the student also learns to take the drawn image into space and time through work in 2D and 3D animation work. Straddling the past and future, fine arts and commerce, the illustrator will find this both a rewarding and unique experience.
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This course helps students make a connection between the world of concepts and image
making. Students strive towards finding their personal style while tailoring work to specific
assignments. Projects emphasize the process of illustration from concept to completion.
Students develop verbal skills to explain and discuss their choice of ideas and solutions.
Coursework reflects real-world projects professional illustrators are likely to receive. Emphasis
is on meeting deadlines, evoking appropriate moods, and realizing a concept that solves
visual and narrative problems.
PREREQUISITE: Foundation Core Studios
3 credits per semester
This introductory design studio for non-majors establishes the foundation of good typography,
layout and composition. Students will learn to use Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign for
effective workflow.
3 credits (Spring only)
Digital Imaging and Multimedia (See Communication Design)
3 credits (Fall only)
This year-long course is an intensive drawing studio that teaches students the language of
seeing and the poetics of line. The class will focus on drawing from observation as well as from
memory and the imagination. In addition, students work directly at sites all over Paris. Various
techniques and media will be explored throughout the year. Drawing is presented as a method
of description, expression, and documentation.
PREREQUISTE: Foundation Core Studios
3 credits per semester
The objective of this introductory painting course is to foster a student's ability to perceive and
represent form, space, color and light from observation of nature. Students apply principles of
pictorial composition while developing their analytical and critical faculties.
PREREQUISTE: Foundation Core Studios
3 credits per semester
This year-long course involves further conceptual development and problem solving skills via
the illustrative image. Projects will consider the process of illustration/design from concept
to completion. Emphasis will be placed on learning to work with professional designers and
understanding art direction through real life assignments. Working with an illustrator/designer,
students will further strengthen their communication skills in order to present ideas and find
visual solutions, learn to realize a concept, evoke an appropriate mood, and work to deadline.
PREREQUISTE: Sophomore Core Studios
2 credits per semester
This course introduces students to the study of movement and time through animation. The
animated film is presented in its historical context and analyzed with regard to its experimental
components and cultural origins. The course presents the production process, the various
animation techniques, and the literary and graphic aspects of scenario research. The end
result includes the conception, shooting, processing, sound recording and editing/exporting of
a short animated film. Both traditional and digital media are employed.
PREREQUISTE: Sophomore Core Studios
3 credits per semester
A strong narrative is essential to graphic novels and comic books. In this studio course,
the universal principles of visual story-telling are explored through drawing and painting. In
addition to refining technical skills and mastering materials learned in Drawing and Painting
1 & 2, students will tackle the conceptual challenges of using images to evoke scenarios,
characters, emotions, and events as they unfold across a specific time-frame.
PREREQUISTE: Sophomore Core Studios
3 credits per semester
This course offers a further exploration of narrative pictorial language through drawing,
painting, and mixed media. Students can select from areas of application that are of particular
interest to them: picture books, children's books, animation, video game environments or
storyboards. This course continues to address conceptual and material experimentation within
the disciplinary restraints of the publishing industry.
PREREQUISTE: Sophomore Core Studios
3 credits (Spring only)
This course focuses on digital skills for editorial illustration work, introducing students to the
potential of the electronic palette. It emphasizes the blurring of media boundaries using various
techniques in the creative process from concept to final output. The work will proceed from
sketches to illustrations and finally to the creation of a digital portfolio. Visiting professionals
will offer their perspectives and share personal experience, providing students with a realistic
overview of the profession of illustration/design.
PREREQUISTE: Sophomore Core Studios
3 credits (Fall only)
The senior year concept class is designed to further the development of conceptual problem
solving skills. Through a review and analysis of the discipline of illustration, students will decide
on a central theme for their thesis. The thesis project will begin at mid-term in the first semester
and continue until the end of the school year. In the second semester, students will produce a
thesis paper to accompany a cohesive body of artwork focusing on the chosen theme, under
the supervision of a critical studies instructor. A year-long process of reviews and one-on-one
consultations helps students to focus their ideas as they work towards this final project.
- 3 credits per semester*
Senior Studio 1 is a cross departmental studio in which Illustration students will work directly
with seniors from the Communication Design and Photography departments. The students will
collectively explore topics impacting their fields such as social responsibility, sustainability,
ethics, intellectual property, and other subjects relating to the design process. Working
alongside Designers, students will learn to integrate and expand their design methodology
through a series of assignments which include environmental graphics, corporate identity and
packaging. The second semester will stress portfolio review.
3 credits per semester
Professional Practices (See Design Management � Design Entrepreneurship)
3 credits (Spring only)
This laboratory/technology studio course focuses on the design process and technical
background required for designing effective interactive experiences, with an emphasis on design
methodology for evolving systems. HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Flash, and Web 2.0 CMS will be
introduced along with specialized web design, imaging and animation tools. Coursework will
include designing and mocking up a website.
PREREQUISITE: Foundation Core Studios
3 credits (Fall only)
Interactive Multimedia (See Communication Design)
3 credits (Spring only)
This course takes a holistic approach to an illustration project, guiding students through all the
phases of children's book production. From the initial concept through to the writing, editing,
paging, illustration, and creation of the dummy, students will experience the process from start
to finish, culminating in a presentation-ready mock-up.
PREREQUISTE: Foundation Year, Integrated Studio 1 & 2 or equivalent.
2 credits (Spring only)
