Certificate in Illustration
Academy of Art University
Key Information
Campus location
San Francisco, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
8 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 1,156
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
Jun 2024
Introduction
The four year certificate program provides students with a disciplined approach to the study of Illustration. Student portfolios will demonstrate the variety of skills and creativity developed. Graduates enter the field prepared for professional opportunities in Illustration. Students take electives and art history courses to round out their experience. Unlike the BFA program, students pursuing the Certificate program do not take liberal arts coursework.
Program Outcome
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Drawing
- Effectively utilize line, edge, value, and design in their work
- Draw with opinion and evidence of individual style
- Accurately and appropriately interpret the figure, landscape, and or architecture
Composition and Color
- Effectively use focal point, eye path, and value
- Create coherent thumbnails, comps, and layouts
- Use color and value effectively to enhance the story and ideas
Tools and Technique
- Execute illustration work using appropriate tools and media
Visual Problem Solving
- Demonstrate in their portfolio the ability to meet client needs and solve client problems
- Tell a story visually and/or create visually engaging and conceptually meaningful imagery
Personal Style
- Illustrate in a consistent and uniquely identifiable style
Critical Thinking and Development
- Demonstrate the ability to research for inspiration, reference, accuracy, and incorporate findings into client-based solutions
- Articulate intentions and analyze whether or not work meets objectives
Presentation Skills
- Professionally articulate ideas and proposals
Professional Development
- Create cohesive digital and printed portfolios that incorporate current industry practices and presentation standards
- Generate and maintain a business/career plan
- Understand and practice professional pricing, contract, and bookkeeping skills
- Clearly articulate career goals
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Career Opportunities
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate your career. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your future careers in illustration. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring illustrators with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the illustration industry.
Book Cover Artist
Create narrative art for book covers as a book cover artist. You'll conceptualize and execute eye-catching imagery for cover layouts, and communicate story notes in a single image.
Children's Book Illustrator
With the vibrant children's book market, you'll be able to create illustrations for a wide range of audiences and story styles as a children's book illustrator. With an emphasis on storytelling, a diversity in approaches and styles makes this a flexible and exciting career path.
Comics Artist
Create and sell your own stories as a comic artist. Layout artists draw pages for comics, inkers create line art for comics, and writers provide the story framework.
Concept Artist
Create preproduction art from rough ideation to model packets as a concept artist. You'll create environments, character designs, and concepts for games or films, and work with a variety of teams to create new worlds and stories.
Freelance Illustrator
Illustrators solve visual problems and tell stories in formats that range from infographics to comic books. You can make 3D visualizations, book covers, posters, cards, graphic novels, collectibles, and more. You are also responsible for managing and maintaining your own business.
Interactive Illustrator
In the emerging market of interaction design, the interactive illustrator creates art for inclusion in digital mediums such as smartphones, computers, and tablets. Understand and influence user behavior with a strong illustrative style and give life to interactive experiences.
Medical/Scientific Illustrator
Create the illusion of being inside a heart, sitting in an ancient temple, or explaining disease vectors as a medical or scientific illustrator. Combining meticulous research and execution skills with artistic vision, you'll distill complex concepts into simple and beautiful illustrations.
Reportage
As a reportage illustrator, you'll be tasked with documenting moments for TV, the Internet, sketchbooks, and specialty publications. Courtroom, combat and corporate presentation artists must work efficiently and accurately to define a moment in time.
Storyboard Artist
As a storyboard artist, you'll break down and draw shots for commercials, films, games, cartoons, and more. Set the tempo and timing of key shots to interpret the director's vision under tight deadlines.
Gallery
Curriculum
Unit Requirements
Art History | 6 |
Major | 42 |
Art by Advisement | 24 |
Elective | 12 |
Core | 36 |
Total | 120 |
Degree Requirements
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
- A minimum grade of C- in all core courses and major courses and the following requirement:
- 2 Art Historical Awareness
Curriculum
Semester 1
- FND 110A: Analysis of Form A (Core)
- ILL 101: Introduction to Illustration (Major)
- ILL 133: Digital Media: Digital Manipulation (Core)
- LA 243: History of American Illustration (20th Century) (Art History)
Semester 2
- FND 110B: Analysis of Form B (Major)
- FND 112: Figure Drawing (Core)
- FND 116: Perspective (Core)
Recommended for summer - FND 125: Color and Design (Core)
- ILL 192: Graphic Novel/Comic Book 1 (Major)
Recommended for summer - LA 117: Survey of Landscape Architecture (Art History)
Semester 3
- FA 213: Introduction to Anatomy (Core)
- ILL 120: Clothed Figure Drawing 1 (Core)
- ILL 233: Digital Media 2: Illustrative Imaging (Core)
Semester 4
- FA 110: Still Life Painting 1 (Core)
- ILL 192: Graphic Novel/Comic Book 1 (Major)
Recommended for summer - ILL 222: Heads & Hands 1 (Core)
- ILL 232: Studio 1 (Core)
- Non-LA: Non-LA Course (Art by Advisement)
Semester 5
- ILL 192: Graphic Novel/Comic Book 1 (Major)
- Non-LA: Non-LA Course (Art by Advisement)
Semester 6
- ILL 192: Graphic Novel/Comic Book 1 (Major)
- N/A: Any Course (Elective)
Recommended for summer - Non-LA: Non-LA Course (Art by Advisement)
Semester 7
- ILL 192: Graphic Novel/Comic Book 1 (Major)
- ILL 491: Portfolio Preparation and Self Promotion (Core)
- Non-LA: Non-LA Course (Art by Advisement)
Semester 8
- ILL 192: Graphic Novel/Comic Book 1 (Major)
- N/A: Any Course (Elective)
- Non-LA: Non-LA Course (Art by Advisement)
Admissions
Facilities
English Language Requirements
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