Graphic designers are also illustrators, as they create visuals that convey information simply. Most graphic design today incorporates some type of illustration. Illustration and graphic design have become integrated in the 21st century. This class will focus on photomontage, collage, and sculptural digital illustration techniques. Strong concepts are more important than technical skills, as illustration is about communicating ideas visually through the execution of those ideas using various tools and mediums.

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Digital Illustration 1 • Graphic Designers as Illustrators
Graphic Designers are, in part, illustrators.
The images that Designers create illustrate content
and convey and simplify complex information visually,
metaphorically, and emotionally.
Most (if not all) graphic design these days includes some
type of illustration in it.

2. Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction
21
It is very difficult in
the 21st century to
separate illustration
from graphic design,
as they have
become integral.

3. Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction
22

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Digital Illustration 1 • Contemporary Illustration formats
An illustration can take many forms:
Hand drawn/sketched
• Dry media: pencil, contés, color pencils, etc.
• Wet media: Inks, paints (spray/brush), etc.
Photographic (photo, montage, photomontage)
Constructed (collage–found/combined art)
Sculptural illustration (Anything 3-D)
Computer-rendered illustration (vector, digital painting, 3D)
Found illustration
Typographic illustration (created with type)
Mixed-media illustration (any of the above)

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Digital Illustration 1 •Types of Illustration
• Editorial illustration
• Product/packaging illustration
• Character design/illustration
• Comic art
• Graphic novels
• Motion graphics
• Posters
• Spot illustrations
• T-shirts and clothing
• Video game art
• Designer toys
• Skateboard artwork
• Exhibition artwork
• Body art
• Book / magazine cover art
• Icons

6. Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction
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7. Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction
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8. Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction
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9. Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction
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Digital Illustration 1 • Class Emphasis
Digital illustration 1 focuses on the following
types of illustration methods:
• Photomontage illustration (photos combined)
• Collage illustration (found/combined art)
• Sculptural illustration (Anything 3-D)
It is important to find your own way of using technology.
Designers all have the same technology available to them.
If everyone used the tools in the same way, nothing
would ever stand out as different or original. Seek to be
conceptually unique and not copy what you see.

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Digital Illustration 1 • Digital Illustation: static and motion
Digital illustration can be either:
static: not in motion, such as in print, web, etc.
in-motion: web, broadcast, film, games, etc.

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Digital Illustration 1 • Concept vsTechnique
In illustration, you must separate concept from technique.
Illustration is conceptual; the method of execution is
the tool/technique.
You create the illustration in your head and use tools
(drawing materials, computer, software) to execute it.
Illustration, as a stand-alone profession requires excellent
drawing skills, as you are sought by your outstanding,
stylistic abilities.
As a Graphic Designer, your ability to draw is not as
important as your ability to create the visual concepts of
the illustration.
In Digital Illustration 1, you will use the following tools
to create illustrations: sketchbook, camera, scanner, 3D
objects (made or found).

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Digital Illustration 1 •Value in Concept and PersonalVision
“THE IDEA IS
KING. ONCE
YOU HAVE
A STRONG
IDEA, EVERY-
THING ELSE
JUST FLOWS
ALONG
BEHIND IT.”
With fallout from the digital revolution now settled,
interest has once again shifted back to ideas, back to
what it is that makes an image work, to how the image
communicates, and to what it has to say.
Issues and debates are now centered on an illustrator’s
own personal visual language than on software tips
and tricks.
Discussion about the illustration scene focuses on
expressing a point of view rather than decorating a page.