THE EXPERIENCE:
There are no words to adequately describe the mess in this studio. Discarded ideas heap the table and dangle over the edge; every square inch of space is plastered with the by-product of energy and inspiration – quick drawings, hundreds of tiny scraps of bright construction paper, and several pictures of "fat Elvis" in mid howl. The project: create a series of illustrations for a themed children's alphabet book. The solution: a whimsical series of three-dimensional shadowboxes, filled with layered cut paper images, digitally photographed for the final presentation. 'B' is for Beck, 'E' is for Elvis. . .

A student sits in front of a G5 computer, carefully drawing with a stylus on an plastic tablet. Each subtle movement of the hand is captured on the machine. Line after line builds a fluid tapestry of color, until a surprisingly rich, painterly image unfolds – a fish floating in seawater, silhouetted by flickering, distant sunlight.

Another student sits in her studio, elbow deep in media. Ink splashes, acrylic paint is furiously mixed in a muddy palette, and applied to the collaged surface with stained fingers. The final image, an editorial for a magazine article covering spousal abuse, is still far from complete but has already captured the necessary drama and tension.

Illustrators tell a story visually. In a world full of language, a world full of stories told through moving images, how does one create the perfect static visual expression? How does one create the picture that speaks not only a thousand words, but one thousand specific words? That, at its core, is the charge of the illustrator.

In its infancy, there is drawing; in its adolescence, comics. But in adulthood, illustration can go in so many directions – traditional drawn or painted images, experimental collage, computer-based imagery, even sculpture. It is the job of the illustrator to find a method of expression that best suits his or her stylistic voice.

Illustration, more than any other design major at MIAD, is open-ended. And MIAD's program embraces this diversity with open arms. Through a comprehensive selection of studio electives, you are allowed to "find yourself". Sophomore year continues ideas grounded in the foundations year. Traditional drawing and painting skills are developed, media is explored and expanded, problem-solving is clarified within the context of the field. As a sophomore, you will draw from the human figure similar to fine-art drawing; you will learn to use the computer in a manner befitting a communication designer; you will delve into visual narrative on a level that strongly mimics creative writing. And for spice, you will choose from a wide selection of studio electives to hone your specific interests.

Learning the illustrative process is critical. You will not be allowed to go into a fortress of solitude and emerge weeks later with a triumphant finished product. You instead must make your entire process, your choices, and your final product with the consent of the client – in this case your instructor. This process includes thumbnail sketches, multiple refined mock-ups, half-size full-color pieces, and of course, the final work. This transition is not always easy, since your instincts may be to move forward at your own pace with a project. However, this process is a professional necessity that must be embraced.

By junior year your personal direction will being to solidify. Perhaps you will spend more time on the computer than you expected, or find that your best work needs to be three-dimensional. Your choice of studio electives gives you ample opportunity to focus on refining your "look", as well as give you plenty of room to explore uncharted territory. Senior year is the refinement of your personal style, and prepares you for entry into the professional world. You will learn about freelancing, starting your own business and making professional connections. Through the Senior Thesis project, you will leave MIAD properly armed to meet the world with an arsenal of skills and style.

In the end, a commercial illustrator needs to have a style, a singular voice that is unmistakably unique. The illustration major at MIAD is the transition from a try-anything, fear-no-failure, never-the-same-twice student to a honed, credible, unique professional.