A few questions to ask yourself before you begin an editorial illustration

These questions can be applied to each of the three assignments in this course.

What purpose does this illustration serve? How can it resolve a problem?
What are the essential elements to clearly communicate the idea at hand?
What are the dimensions and the resolution of the final image?
Do you have research images available for the subject?
How can color be used (or not) to strategically communicate the idea?
Where will this illustration be shared? Online? In print? If so, what is the size of the image on the page? How can you keep it simple enough to understand it effectively?

Assignment 1 / Hot Spots:

-SKETCH OUT 5 DIFFERENT WORDPLAY SPOT ILLUSTRATIONS.

-CHOOSE 3 AND REVISE UNTIL YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE SKETCH

-ADD COLOR IF DESIRED.

-ASK YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE, DO I UNDERSTAND THE REFERENCE RIGHT AWAY?

-ARE THESE “READABLE” IF PRINTED SMALL ON A PAGE?

Assignment 2 / Faux Illustration Commission:

-STUDY THE ILLUSTRATION BRIEF (FIND BELOW).

-RESEARCH IMAGES FOR INSPIRATION AND TO ASSOCIATE IDEAS WITH EXISTING IMAGERY.

-CREATE 3 ROUGH SKETCHES AS A FIRST DRAFT TO SEND TO THE “ART DIRECTOR”.

-FLESH OUT FINAL SKETCH UNTIL IT IS HARMONIOUS.

-HOW WILL YOU USE COLOR (OR NOT) TO COMMUNICATE THE IDEA?

-REMEMBER THE DIMEMENSIONS AND PLACEMENT OF THE ILLUSTRATION IN THE BRIEF. HOW CAN YOU MAKE THIS EFFECTIVE?

-ASK YOURSELF OR A FRIEND IF THE CONCEPT IS INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE OR NOT.

Assignment 3 / Dream Gig:

-STUDY THE ILLUSTRATION MIND MAP (SEE ABOVE).

-SELECT YOUR DREAM CLIENT, THE IDEA/CONCEPT AND ANY EXISTING ELEMENTS OR IMAGERY.

-THINK ABOUT THE AUDIENCE OF THE CLIENT. IS IT A HIGH OR LOW BROW MAGAZINE? IS IT ACCESSIBLE OR MORE HIGH-END? HOW DOES THIS IMPACT YOUR CHOICES?

-SKETCH OUT THE CONCEPT AND REVISE UNTIL YOU FEEL CONFIDENT.

-RESEARCH COLOR PALETTES THAT INSPIRE YOU FOR THE FINAL ILLUSTRATION. HOW WILL YOU USE COLOR?

Şehnaz T.

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