In this 3 week project, students were randomly placed in teams and created mini zines. Each zine was required to have one page per illustrator, cover, contributor page, advertisement and back page.
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Here’s the zine of team “BLAM”
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Here’s a team that created the zine “PLACE”.
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Here’s the team that create the zine “STREET COLLECTIVE”.
For this project students created a full-page illustration for the opening of a feature article.
The students could select from a variety of different articles including: “The Pitfalls of Hiring the wrong Architect”, “Tracking the Economy”, “Restaurant Sound” and “Pet Pampering”.
SCHEDULE
October 28: Select the magazine and article. Begin working on concepts.
November 4: Present email ready sketches.
November 11: Critique final illustrations.
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Examples of the final art:
The students were fortunate to work with Utne Reader art director, Stephanie Glaros on this project. Stephanie assigned articles recently published in Utne Reader. On October 21, she visited the class to critique the student’s sketches and answer their questions about the role of the art director, best professional practices and building a career in design and illustration.
Students selected one of the following articles to illustrate:
Mind Your Own Browser. Averting the watchful eyes of online advertisers by Simson L. Garfinkel, from Technology Review.
My Green Manifesto. An environmentalist begs his comrades for honesty, accuracy, and a sense of humor by David Gessner, from My Green Manifesto.
No Apologies Instructions for visiting a murderer by Madge McKeithen, from TriQuarterly.
SPECIFICS
Students to create full color 1/4 page illustration. The Images can be square or an irregular shape.
SCHEDULE
October 21 class visit by Stephanie to critique the sketches.
October 28 Final illustrations are due.
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Sketches and final art from this project:
For this project, create a cover illustration from a recently published nonfiction book. Select from one of three titles that appeared in the New York Times Book Review:
Blow to the Ego by Sherwin Nulan on Sigmund Freud
Modern Family by Maria Russo.
Sacred and Profane by Bill Keller on the history of the Papacy.
SCHEDULE
Today select one of the articles to illustrate.
Next week October 7, bring to class your “email ready” sketches.
We will critique your finished illustrations on October 14.
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Here are some examples of the finished art.
Kierstin LaPatka created this cover illustration inspired by Breakthrough. A magazine devoted to Wildlife.
For this project, create small illustrations from an article on “Home Essentials” or an article on “Cultural faux pas”.
SPECIFICS: 5 Spot Illustrations. Spots are to be one or two colors (don’t use black).
OBJECTIVES: Develop strong, creative and simple illustrations.
SCHEDULE: Today create 20 different thumbnail concepts. Please avoid the obvious clichés. Circle your best five for approval before you proceed on developing your sketches.
September 23: Bring your finished, “email” sketches”. Sketches need to be clear with your name and any notations to help me have a better idea of what the finished art will look like. After approval of the sketch, you’ll be working on the final art in class.
EVALUATION: We will critique your finished illustration on September 30. This project will be evaluated on creativity, research, process, technical achievement and presentation.
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Examples of the finished work.
Which do you like best, places or people? In this project you decide if you want to illustrate a few of the crazy and fun summer festivals of the Midwest from Parade Magazine or a weird encounter with Elvis and the Beatles from a humorous account for the LA Times by Chuck Crisafulla.
SPECIFICS: Two illustrations. One 1/2 page 4” X 8” and one 1/4 page 4” X 4”.
SCHEDULE: September 9 bring “email” ready sketches” and your research references. Make sure sketches are the correct size of final art. Sketches need to be clear with your name and any notations to help have a better idea of what the finished art will look like.
We will critique your finished illustration on September 16. This project will be evaluated on creativity, research, process, technical achievement and presentation.
Here are some examples of the final art for this project: 
