Illustration

Authentic visual messages
Illustration students work with traditional and digital media to develop the conceptual, technical and aesthetic skills necessary for success in the diverse range of practices in this evolving field. Courses such as Drawing and Design Systems, Exploring the Narrative and Visual/sequential Storytelling are geared toward enabling students to simultaneously express themselves as artists while learning how to communicate substantive visual messages.
Students work on collaborative assignments and are required to participate in an internship that provides real-world exposure to creative issues in professional work settings. The department features studio and classroom technology to prepare students for diverse areas of professional practice. Work in digital and analog environments is designed to facilitate creativity and interdisciplinary approaches to image making.
Department faculty members are all practicing professionals working in the four corners of the illustration field: publishing, editorial, advertising and institutional. The faculty’s combined experience is passed on to students in preparation for their own careers.
In 2019, KCAI was named #15 in the top 40 Illustration schools in the U.S. by Animation Career Review.
Take a look at our department’s website to learn more.
Classes
Once you declare your major, illustration students take the following core courses as they progress from sophomore to senior year. For additional electives and liberal arts courses, download the complete Course Catalog.
Illustration Major Requirements
Double Major Art History & Illustration Requirements
Double Major Creative Writing & Illustration Requirements
Sophomore
- Organic Perceptions
- Analytical Drawing Systems
- Color & Space
- Story-tellers & Myth Makers
- Image and Form
- Mechanical Perceptions
- Graphic Form for Illustrators
Junior
- Conceptual Problem Solving
- Paper & Ink
- US: Collaboration, Teamwork and Flexibility
- Exploring the Narrative Image
- Covers & Pages
- ME: Individual Expression
Senior
- Image Thesis I
- Professional Practice
- Launch Pad
- Image Thesis II
- Cultural Safari

Professional Practice
Professional practice is a compulsory component of the KCAI program in which students benefit enormously from insights provided by world-renowned visiting artists, scholars and professionals. Mentors include such artists as Danielle Corsetto, Micah Lidberg, Nathan Fox and Elsa Chang. Students have interned at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the American Jazz Museum, The Kansas City Star, Porter Teleo design firm, Boulevard Brewing Company and other noted businesses in the area.

Technical Requirements
All illustration students must have a laptop computer and must master a range of applications, including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and more – available through KCAI within the Adobe Creative Suite Cloud.

Jobs + Internships
Job opportunities are wide-ranging and include magazine and book illustration, greeting cards, editorial illustration, Web design, digital animation, advertising, graphic novels, comic books, computer gaming, fashion illustration, CD & DVD covers, movie & music posters, children’s books, product design/branding, and more. Students have gone on to work at Nickelodeon, M-TV, the Kansas City Star, Hallmark Cards and American Greetings.
Read more about our work shown here at Scarritt Elementary School on our department’s website.
Visiting Artists
Many artists visit the illustration studios each year to share their knowledge and inspiration with KCAI students. Here are a few that have recently stopped by:
Daniel Zender, Tomer Hanuka, Yuko Shimizu, Victo Ngai, Edel Rodriguez, Dustin Summers, Scott Bakal, Esther Pearl Watson, Mark Todd, Joohee Yoon, and Jim Mahfood.