Study Task 6: What is Illustration for? (Part 1)

In reflection of the previous tasks and general undertaking of research, it would be prudent to form a more condensed and lucid investigation of the illustration discipline.

What is Illustration?

Makani

Content

Illustration is deliberate sequential imagery used to convey a narrative, it may or may not additionally attempt to convey emotions and other such subjective themes.

Tyler Stout

Commercial

It is also the visual communication of information, with the purpose to convince the recipient to purchase a product or buy into an idea.

Ralph Mcquarrie

Concept art

Additionally, it is the tangible visual investigation of concepts and design.

John Holcroft

Editorial

Illustration is the illuminating accompaniment to external information, such as text.

Lorin Wood

Character

Furthermore, illustration concerns with character, the investigation of concepts, emotion, narrative etc.


What is illustration for, what is it's function?

Hergé

Entertainment

Through sequential imagery illustration may take the form of escapist or illuminating fiction.

Mirko Ilić 

Message

Illustration takes the form of persuasive imagery used to convey a cause or belief.

Rost Graphics Berlin

Audience

Illustration appeals directly to audiences of varied aesthetic tastes and ever changing obsession with disposable popular culture.

Adam Haynes

Advertise

Illustration is used to perpetuate commodity fetishism and convince the recipient to desire the consumption of products.

Dyna Moe

Symbiosis

Illustration works with other media such as type and animation to clarify and expand upon.

Where do you find illustration, in what context does it exist?

Editorial 

Illustration is found in tandem with literary information in newspapers, magazines etc to inform, amuse and illuminate.

Posters

It appears on wall-mounted posters in various locations, attempting to sell, inform etc.

Apparel and other such Commodities

It appears on innumerable t-shirts to spread puns and exclusive jokes. It is extensively used in packaging design and point-of-sale.

Concept Development

Illustration is used to communicate internally between development teams.

Animation, moving image

It often delves into other disciplines to a point where the separating differences aren't so clear, I find that as technology progresses the lines will blur even more.

Who are specific audiences for illustration?

The Readership

Groups of people who are drawn to illustrators that create webcomics etc in response to a particular genre, subculture etc.

The politically, socially, or morally inclined

Illustration catalyses and provokes the average layman to a certain sentiment.

The consumer

Illustration convinces the consumer at point-of-sale marketing.

The development team / art directors

Illustration takes the form of concept art in order to communicate visual ideas

Indirect editorial

It also supports the literature of newspapers, magazines, public information etc, meaning that it responds to and illuminates predetermined information and opinion. It attempts to match the tone of the article etc in order to address the audience.