Illustration and Concept Art at Algonquin College

Develop industry-standard technical skills in digital and traditional media for a career employing your creative talent.

The two-year Illustration and Concept Art Ontario College Diploma program, delivered in a compressed format over 42 weeks, prepares you for the field of illustration and the emerging discipline of concept art.

As a student, you develop skills in digital and traditional media. While developing your drawing skills, you learn about:

• print periodical illustration
• children`s books
• graphic novel illustration
• concept art for animation
• interactive media
• film

In this program, you work individually as an artist, but learn as a team member when contributing to concept art projects. You develop problem-solving methods, drawing techniques and production methods for the magazine, graphic novel or entertainment industries.

The faculty, many of whom are award-winning published artists widely respected in the industry, share their abundance of knowledge and experience.

Learning opportunities with industry partners allow you to apply the knowledge and skills you have developed and also offer networking opportunities. With in-class discussions and hands-on learning activities, you develop your style and expand your portfolio.

There are many job opportunities after graduation. You may find employment in:

• print/editorial
• advertising/commercial
• entertainment industries
• technical illustration industries

Your roles might include being a(n):

• illustrator (advertising, editorial, children`s books, technical)
• concept artist (games, apps, animation, film)
• production designer
• background artist

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Enjoy exciting and creative art.
• Are open to various styles, techniques and approaches to art.
• Are versatile in conceptual visual communication.
• Can work well under pressure.
• Are highly disciplined with strong abilities to manage time.
• Have a highly-developed inquisitive and experimental nature.
• Have strong interpersonal skills.

Careers

Graduates may find employment as illustrators (e.g. advertising illustration, editorial illustration, children`s book illustration, comics illustration, technical illustration), concept artist for entertainment industry (production designers, background artists).

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Review genres of entertainment art, documents, and project requirements and propose visual solutions.
2. Prepare artwork that meets the needs of identified target audiences, clients, and formats.
3. Contribute to the solution of pre-production design problems to produce industry-accepted quality art work within project constraints.
4. Identify and address technical components to produce portfolio-quality conceptual artwork.
5. Use a variety of traditional and digital tools to create industry-accepted solutions and concept art work.
6. Develop concept art work in different styles and in different applications.
7. Prepare industry-accepted art work for the printing process and for various digital media.
8. Apply business practices and time management skills to the profession of independent and/or company illustrator and concept artist.
9. Contribute to multi-disciplinary project teams in order to complete concept art work flow.
10. Analyze their professional skill-set and plan and prepare effective marketing and self-promotional material.
11. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

• English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).
• Submit a portfolio of 10-15 samples of your best work. NOTE: Interested applicants are welcome to address any portfolio-related inquiries to: design@algonquincollege.com.
• Portfolio submission details can be found on the Algonquin College Additional Admission Requirements website: www.algonquincollege.com/admissionspackages.
• Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT) Overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20.

Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their proficiency in English.