Visual Development Curriculum

The mission of the Illustration Department at CCS is to effectively instruct conceptual and narrative image making skills in digital and traditional media. An emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of drawing, painting, and critical thinking within the context of a culturally diverse commercial marketplace.

Students are taught useful methods in the art of interpretation: the ability to carefully read and cross-reference texts, research visual styles and conceptualize and produce significant bodies of work. Our program emphasizes to students how illustration connects and translates everything in visual culture, making it an ideal discipline for an unparalleled scope of creative and communications projects.

The Illustration Department at CCS shall be recognized as one of the top programs by continuing to build a program that includes drawing, painting, quality picture-making skills, trans-disciplinary studio courses, and a continued presence in industry related conferences and competitions for our students.

Upon graduation, students in the BFA Illustration program will be able to:

1. Employ a working knowledge of the six essential phases of constructing an image- ideation, thumbnails, reference, value studies, color studies, and finished piece. Demonstrate effective figure construction and gesture and how they relate in perspective to the surrounding environment.

2. Demonstrate when to use and control perspective as a narrative compositional tool.

3. Prepare professional-level oral presentations and demonstrate their thought process by identifying intent, inspiration, and providing an honest critique of their own work and the work of others.

4. Create a professional portfolio which is market specific and produces leaders in the international marketplace.