ID414
Fundamentals of Imagemaking
Faculty
Laura Alejo
Freelance Art Director and Illustrator
Course length
Duration
Total hours
Credits
Language
Course type
Fee for single course
Fee for degree students
Skills you’ll learn
Overview
We live surrounded by images. As creatives, entrepreneurs or makers in any field we need to communicate in a visual way. Imagemakers are commercial artists, those who produce, manage or collaborate to deliver catered visuals and stories to a wide range of clients and audiences following a client’s brief. They need to cover all kinds of market needs in a wide range of formats and products.
In this course, students will dive into all the different imagemaking specialities with a special focus on illustration. Illustration is widely used in all markets because it is highly effective in communicating all kinds of concepts, especially abstract and complex ones. Illustrations are also quicker than words for the mind to process, and they allow the artist to infuse them with style, color and composition to add extra meaning.
Learning highlights
- Provide tools to observe and analyze different visual styles.
- Differentiate between different types of illustrations and assets.
- Learn the basics of the main softwares for illustration, creative team collaboration and project management.
- Bring in storytelling and creative thinking to develop a unique point of view to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive market.
- Immerse yourself in specific real life projects from different perspectives and roles.
Course outline
15 classes
Session 1
- Intro and course overview.
- Lecture: imagemakers. Who are they?
- In-class exercise: research and find examples.
- Group discussion.
Session 2
- Lecture: Illustration.
- Lecture: Observing and analyzing different visual styles and commercial illustration uses.
- Project 1: Create an illustration day 1
Session 3
- Lecture: illustration techniques. Software and manual techniques.
- In-class exercise: practical intro to techniques.
- Project 1: Create and illustration, day 2
Session 4
- Adobe illustrator, photoshop and procreate demos.
- In-class exercise: practical intro to techniques.
- Project 1: Create and illustration, day 3
Session 5
- In-class exercise: practical intro to techniques.
- Lecture: storytelling and illustration series or systems.
- Project 1: Create and illustration, day 4 - develop a series
Session 6
- The commercial illustration project.
- Lecture: the brief / understanding the client, moral principles to observe while creating visuals and stories / feedback.
- In-class exercise: in groups - client need, developing a brief and counter - brief
Session 7
- Lecture: consultancy and collaborative process / Industry hierarchy and roles / Software for presentations and team management / Types of projects and specific assets.
- In-class exercise: in groups develop different creative directions, pick one and plan an illustration system.
- Project 2: Illustration project phases. Present your roadmap: creative direction, system and schedule, day 1
Session 8
- Lecture: style development - moodboards, references, sketches. Presenting your ideas.
- In-class exercise: in groups develop a practical intro to creative software: Slides, Miro
- Project 2: illustration project phases - Present your direction, day 2
Session 9
- Lecture: how to organize your projects and files / File formats / Deliverables.
- In-class exercise: digital illustration.
- Project 2: Initial batch of illustrations, day 3
Session 10
- Lecture: wrapping up / Guidelines
- In-class exercise: digital illustration.
- Project 2: Finish first batch of illustrations, day 3
- Individual Project: overview / Pick a briefing
Session 11
- Individual project : overview / Pick a briefing.
- Review of the creative process
- In-class work: teams. Presentation and feedback.
Session 12
- Individual project: exploration presentation.
- In-class work: teams. Presentation and feedback.
Session 13
- Individual project: style presentation.
- In-class work: teams. Presentation and feedback
Session 14
- Individual project: batch 1.
- In-class work: teams. Presentation and feedback.
Session 15
- Individual project: final presentation.
- In-class work: teams. Presentation and feedback.
- Conclusions and reflections.
Prerequisites
This course is addressed to anyone interested in imagemaking, both producing or concepting to bring in illustrations to their projects. Basic level knowledge of the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite / Illustrator / Photoshop.
Methodology
Lectures and practical examples each day - 50 min
Software and techniques - 50 min
In-Class exercises
Weekly projects
Presentations and group discussion
Grading
Laura Alejo is a freelance illustrator, designer, and art director. Originally from Barcelona, she spent 14 years living in New York City, where she gained invaluable experience working in the creative industry.
Laura has collaborated on a diverse range of projects throughout her career, spanning graphic design and packaging, animation, and murals. From leading an underground design magazine to be in charge of art direction for top US motion studios and agencies.
See full profileApply for this course
Fundamentals of Imagemaking
by Laura Alejo
Total hours
45 Hours
Dates
Jul 31 - Aug 18, 2023
Fee for single course
€1500
Fee for degree students
€750
How to secure your spot
Complete the form below to kickstart your application
Schedule your Harbour.Space interview
If successful, get ready to join us on campus
FAQ
Will I receive a certificate after completion?
Yes. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a certificate signed by the director of the program your course belonged to.
Do I need a visa?
This depends on your case. Please check with the Spanish or Thai consulate in your country of residence about visa requirements. We will do our part to provide you with the necessary documents, such as the Certificate of Enrollment.
Can I get a discount?
Yes. The easiest way to enroll in a course at a discounted price is to register for multiple courses. Registering for multiple courses will reduce the cost per individual course. Please ask the Admissions Office for more information about the other kinds of discounts we offer and what you can do to receive one.