Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

-basic understanding on diversity and stylistic development of illustration as a professional practice as well as on the history of the discipline
-understanding of the interplay of text and image, sequential image-making and visual narrative
-increased ability to create visual concepts and to communicate ideas and information visually
-practice on personal visual expression in the context of illustration

 

Credits: 5

Schedule: 06.10.2020 - 05.11.2020

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Penni Osipow

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Penni Osipow, Laura Valojärvi

Contact information for the course (valid 14.08.2020-21.12.2112):

Teacher-in-charge 

Laura Valojärvi



(Penni Osipow, penni.osipow@aalto.fi)

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    - fundamentals of graphic storytelling, visual narrative and sequential image-making

    - fundamentals of different illustration genres and the contemporary illustration landscape

    - introduction to the professional, cultural, theoretical and historical contexts of pictorial storytelling

    - visual explorations of the boundaries of illustration

    - visual explorations on personal visual language

    - creating illustration sequence for a defined context

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Course Plan, Illustration Studio 2020:

    https://www.lauravalojarvi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/course_plan_2020.pdf

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    -processual assessment: mid-course presentations/tutor and peer evaluation, final presentations/visiting evaluators
    -required attendance 80%
    -executed course assignments

  • Applies in this implementation:

    The evaluation (0-5) is based on the following assignments 
    (80% of the evaluation):

    A simple predefined brief (1 draft)
    One idea – different audiences (3 + 1 drafts)
    A complex predefined brief (1 work)
    Image sequence of 4 illustrations for a predefined audience (4 works)
    Experiment with metaphors (3 drafts)
    Abstraction and idea – large scale (1 work)
    Promotional and persuasive illustration – predefined context (1 work)

    The following aspects will be also considered as part of the evaluation:

    Sketchbook (10% of the evaluation)
    Activity and participation in the class (10 % of the evaluation)

    Students will receive feedback on their learning at:

    Every class throughout the course
    Midcourse Evaluation, Tuesday the 27th of October
    Final Evaluation, Thursday the 5th of November

Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    135 hours in total:

    56 hours contact teaching

    79 hours independent work

     

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Independent work, hours per assignment 
    (for more details, see section “Details on the Schedule”):

     
    Week 41: A simple predefined brief (1 draft)
    Independent work required: 4h

    Week 41: One idea – different audiences (3 + 1 drafts)
    Independent work required: 10h

    Week 42: A complex predefined brief (1 work)
    Independent work required: 4h
    (+ continue the assignment at week 43)
     
    Week 42: Image sequence of 4 illustrations for a predefined audience (4 works)
    Independent work required: 10h 
    (+ continue the assignment at week 43)

    Week 43 – No contact teaching!
    Completing the following projects:
    1. A complex predefined brief
    2. Image sequence of 4 illustrations
    Independent work required: 26h

    Week 44: Experiment with metaphors (3 drafts)
    Independent work required: 5h

    Week 45: Abstraction and idea – large scale (1 work)
    Independent work required: 12h

    Week 46: Promotional and persuasive illustration – predefined context (1 work)
    Independent work required: 6h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    To be informed in syllabus.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Optional study material:

    Alan Male: The Power and Influence of Illustration (2019)
    Alan Male: Illustration – A Theoretical and Contextual Perspective (2007 / 2017)
    Alan Male: Illustration Meeting the Brief (2014)
    Susan Doyle, Jaleen Grove and Whitney Sherman: History of Illustration (2018)
    Molly Bang: Picture This – Perception and Composition (1991)
    Will Eisner: Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative (2008)
    Mark Wigan: Thinking Visually (2006), Sequential Images (2007), Text & Images (2008)
    Nick Sousanis: Unflattening (2015)
    Uri Shulevitz: Writing with Pictures (1985)
    Martin Salisbury and Morag Styles: Children's Picturebooks – The art of visual storytelling (2012)

Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    -knowledge on basic composition and visual language 
    -visualization skills

     

FURTHER INFORMATION

Details on the schedule