Sept. 4 – online homework

Hello wonderful students!

We have a funny situation since the fall semester started a little late, no classes for Labor Day and we only meet once a week on Mondays 😉

Your assignment is to look at Project 1 – Family of Characters and submit 2-3 sketches of ideas as your attendance for the day. This is a college policy for me to take attendance (especially) the first week, so please submit your sketches so you do not get dropped from the class. I’ve put an assignment in Canvas that says “Project 1 Sketches” – they can be loose, just simple screen shots or photos of your sketchbook. It’s also ok if your ideas change exponentially to the final product. This assignment is really just you saying “I am here, Professor Miller” 😉

Luckily, I know most of you and know what amazing students you are!

Project 1: Family of Characters

African american family proud and happy of daughter holding diploma on graduation ceremony day

Selfie Family 

Lovely Ladies

“Demain” – Children’s Book

Aviva Short Stories

ETSY.COM: Family Portrait

Dribbble search

Love these

Coronavirus Family!

These are stunning animal character design

Great use of shapes and color in character design

Adobe Illustrator is for illustrators.. In this project, communicate your “illustrative style” by starting from a blank document and using the pen tool, in addition to others, building a cohesive character design. This character design should be seen as a creative illustration – one that could later be used in a children’s book, to print and frame as a gift, to later animate, the possibilities are endless!

Project Requirements: Sketch and develop character designs for 4-6 people in a setting of your choice. (Could include animals!)

Include details that make the character “human” – accessories, facial expressions, texture, color, etc.

Technical requirements: show skill with the pen tool, composition, color design

There is alot of creativity within the style of illustration – I am open and excited about your ideas!

Size: 8 1/2 x 11″

DUE DATE (uploaded to Canvas Assignment): Monday, Sept 26

Previous sensational student examples done in former Illustrator 2 semesters:

Monday, Aug 28: Introductions

Hello and welcome to Illustrator 2!

I will meet you IN PERSON today in HU207 at 8 a.m.

Happy first day of Fall 2023 semester… Today we will go over the syllabus, our proposed projects, options for online tutorials and basic Illustrator technical questions. Please be sure to look at our syllabus, which you can find here .

Please stay posted through this website as well as Canvas and email. Follow along easily from home to access assignments, due dates and links to inspiring designers.

It is very important that you keep up with your projects as well as participate in our Design Critiques- not only for the benefit of your grade, but for your greater benefit towards becoming professional graphic designers!

I’m looking forward to a great semester!

Best, Prof. Miller

Course Description: This advanced course will give essential skills in vector graphics through the Illustrator program, covering a range of projects and creative explorations. Emphasis will be placed on creative problem solving, the pen tool, shape building, pattern creation and typographic experimentation.

1. Family of Characters- a warm up project to get re-acquainted with the Illustrator tools and toolbar.                                                                                                  From Sketch to Vector + Character Design
2. History of Poster Design –      Inspired by previous Norton Museum Movie poster exhibit – we will take a virtual field trip, explore historical ideas of typography, discuss the “anatomy of poster design” and research an “old movie”.

      3. Putting Things in Perspective: Vector Landscapes

Perspective tool, advanced image tracing, advanced color + gradients

4. Socio-Political Poster Design:

Choose a topic, take a stand and use your design skills for change!

Homework for next week:

1. Start sketching your “family”!
2. Start thinking about projects!

What to expect in terms of method of working: We will use this website for all class assignments, submit files through Canvas and have thorough person critiques.

And FYI – you can email me ANYTIME for feedback, technical assistance, or just to say hello 😉