×
Design Major Admissions Facilities Faculty + Staff BFA 2024 BFA 2025 Illustration Certificate Study Abroad Alumni Give
logo

Illustration Certificate


The Illustration Certificate is a cumulative experience of six required illustrations courses. Each course represents a unique approach to the illustration discipline, including the business of illustration and professional practices for the industry. The combination of courses is intended to give students the knowledge and skillset to augment their major and/or consider a career as a freelance illustrator.


What can I do with this certificate?

Students may utilize the skillset to augment their existing design or art portfolios to work in the industry or may elect to secure a job that requires an illustrative skill set. Others may elect to opt for self-employment – securing freelance clients in the advertising, marketing or publishing industries.


Admissions

Illustration Course Descriptions →

Students must complete five of the following illustration course offerings (15 credits):
DSGN347 Illustration Methods
DSGN348 Visual Concepts in Illustration
DSGN349 Introduction to Animation Techniques
DSGN357 Narrative Illustration
DSGN358 Digital Methods for Illustrators
DSGN367 Commercial Illustration Concepts
+ 1 Required Course (3 credits):
DSGN368 Professional Practices for Illustrators
Total Certificate: 6 courses / 18 credits

Illustration Registration Information →

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s certificate courses, and supporting courses for certificates. For Design majors, the Professional Practices for Illustrators course serves as an option to fulfill the Professional Development Elective Requirement. Please look over the registration information and contact Andrea Heimer, Illustration Certificate Coordinator, for declaration requirements: heimera@wwu.edu.


Who is behind this Certificate?

This Illustration Certificate is the only one of its kind in the Pacific Northwest led by internationally renowned adjunct faculty, who are professional illustrators, visual artists, animators, and designers. Their diverse range of work can appear in many forms from children's books, murals, packaging, and products, to animation, flag design, editorial design, and gallery exhibitions. Meet them below!

Illustration Certificate Faculty

Andrea Heimer
Andrea Heimer
Illustration Certificate Coordinator
Jes Bonin
Jes le Bon (Bonin)
Adjunct Professor
Brad Lockhart
Brad Lockhart
Adjunct Professor
Phoebe Wahl
Phoebe Wahl
Adjunct Professor

"The illustration courses I took offered a wonderful opportunity to learn about the industry from an actual professional while creating work relevant to my personal style and career goals."


— Miranda Ward, Studio Art, Class of 2019
color op ed illustration of a man in an orange jumpsuit in a cotton field
black and white illustration of women
color illustration of a girl writing in a notebook the statement never let them get you to a secondary location
black and white illustration of a slot machine
color illustration of feet with toes that have teeth
black and white illustration of a man's head in a circle
color illustration of frogs in gowns