Course General Description

As an Illustration major at one of the best art schools in the country, you will enhance your figurative and observational drawing and design skills. You will learn to creatively translate concepts and emotions into imagery that best communicates a story. Original thinking, the ability to formulate and express clear, relevant thoughts, problem solving and engaging story telling are core skills we teach in our Illustration program. You will experiment with a broad array of traditional materials and techniques, including pencils, acrylics, oils, inks and collage, while mastering contemporary digital processes using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. You will research, visually develop and execute finished Illustrations at the highest level relevant to all current and emerging markets, including entertainment, gaming, licensing, advertising, social expression and publishing fields. As a graduate of our Illustration department, you will be prepared to enter the industry as a staff artists, freelance illustrators or creative entrepreneurs.

School General Description

The Cleveland Institute of Art is one of the nation's leading accredited independent colleges of art and design. For over 135 years, the college has been an educational cornerstone in Cleveland, Ohio, producing graduates competitive as studio artists, designers, photographers, contemporary craftsmen, and educators. With 655 full-time students and 670 total students, CIA offers a personal educational experience with the benefits of a larger institution. Students choose from 15 majors and live and work in Cleveland’s University Circle, one of the country’s most unique cultural centers – recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of the ten prettiest communities in the country.