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Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication (BFA): Specialization in Illustration

This Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program with a specialization in Illustration gives students the opportunity to explore concepts, methods and materials employed in contemporary illustration, with an emphasis placed upon the development of ideas and the exploration of various media and techniques. Coursework is structured to assist students in the development of their goals as they acquire the knowledge and skills common to professional illustrators.

To learn more about AIU, our degree programs or how to apply for admission, please contact us for more information.

Imaginative students can flourish in the field of Visual Communications when they have the skills to depict their creative vision strategically. The goal of the BFA with a specialization in Illustration is to help students acquire creative problem solving skills along with key design skills, including design development, typography, art direction, computer design and portfolio development.

In this industry-focused curriculum, students can develop their skills in several levels of illustration. The program exposes them to figure drawing and painting, narrative illustration, 2D animation, 3D illustration and computer illustration.

The AIU BFA with a specialization in Illustration gives students the opportunity to develop a representative body of work in a creative, professional manner that will show a prospective employer what they can offer. In this curriculum, students can learn how to:

  • An independent, personally developed approach to an illustration brief, using creative thinking and the design process: problem identification, research and information gathering, ideas generation, storyboarding and rough comprehensives, generation of alternative solutions, prototyping and user testing, evaluation of outcomes.
  • Ability to use web-based and traditional libraries and data-bases, museums, galleries and wide-ranging sources in written and visual research.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the history of illustration, text and Image, and of current cultural, social and theoretical debates that may influence the creation and reception of illustration work.
  • Ability to apply knowledge of the basic design principles and elements, color theory, symbology, layout, and an understanding of sequential and narrative imagery in creating communicative and expressive illustration work.
  • Ability to use traditional and digital techniques including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, typography, 3 dimensional illustration, computer-assisted art and design, motion graphics, vector and raster digital imaging, interactive and multimedia design programs.
  • An understanding of the commercial applications and basic business practices of illustration.
  • and many more industry-related skills.

In addition to the general education requirements, this BFA with a specialization in Illustration includes the following courses, taught by instructors who have relevant career experience in the illustration and design industry. The experiences and firsthand perspectives they share in class can help prepare you for real-life challenges after you graduate.

CORE COURSES

  • Design Principles
  • Fundamentals of Color
  • Computer Design I
  • Drawing Concepts
  • Typography Design I
  • Portfolio and Career Concepts
  • Graphic Design I
  • Web Design I
  • Creative Research
  • Senior Design Presentation I
  • Senior Design Presentation II
  • Portfolio Presentation I
  • Portfolio Presentation II

SPECIALIZATION COURSES

  • Life Drawing I
  • Life Drawing II
  • Business Practices and Project Management
  • Illustration I
  • Illustration II
  • Concept Design
  • Sequential & Narrative Illustration
  • Experimental Computer Illustration I
  • Experimental Computer Illustration II
  • 3D Illustration
  • Editorial & Book Illustration
  • Illustration Project

For a full list of courses for this degree program, please see the AIU catalog.

Degree programs and availability vary by campus.

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Program Costs

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Financing

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Success

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This program could take as little as - instructional months to complete when continuously enrolled.

-% of the students graduating from this program completed in the designed timeframe.
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The occupation(s) listed here are derived from the Occupational Information Network (O*Net), which is developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration.

The specific program does not necessarily prepare students for, and graduates do not typically find employment in, all listed occupations. We cannot guarantee employment or salary.

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