An image of a man in a blue suit from behind standing in front of a mass of clouds receding from him.

From "The Gif Connoisseur"

A PDF of this assignment is available here.

Overview

As we wrap up the semester, I’d like you all to use this project to do two things: 1) to create a piece that lets you make the work you’d like to make and 2) to assemble your illustration portfolio as a page (and downloadable PDF if you’d like) on your website. When we spoke with Sam Smith he said something like, “Your portfolio should be about getting the work you want to do in front of the people who can hire you to do it.” To that end, your final project should be aligned with your dream job. What would you love to be hired to illustrate? For whom?

Final drafts of the illustration will be due at the end of the semester. Final portfolios should be assembled in time for our exam meeting.

Objectives

  • We will again discuss and define these in class (they will be posted to our class site)

What You’ll Create

  • A single specific illustration for an imagined job and context of your choosing
  • A mockup or other image showing the illustration in context
  • A portfolio page (on your website) including all of our illustration pieces with descriptions of the problem posed (i.e. what the assignment asked you to do) and how you arrived at your solution
  • A thoughtful final post about the project (including a link to your portfolio page) posted to our class site discussing your process (with supporting images), categorized as “final work” and “final project”

Schedule

4/16, T – Make a “project brief” post defining your final illustration. This should be detailed enough that anyone else could take this information and create work from it. For example, it should specify dimensions and intended context. // Post final Editorial Illustration post posted to class site. // Share any reference images or inspiration as is appropriate to your project.
4/18, R – If you haven’t already, make suggested edits to your bio on our class site. // Post sketches of your final project.

4/23, T – Give us a written assessment of where you are with the project and what you need to do next. // Post work to date.
4/25, R – IN CLASS MEETING to critique work // Prior to class give feedback to your classmates’ work.

4/30, T – Keep working. Rest when you can. Let the work be good enough.
5/2, R – Start writing for final post due May 9th // Post final version of illustration to slack for feedback

Exam Meeting – May 9th, 7 – 9 PM, location TBD and announced on slack