Illustration

llustration
By Marianne Mastrofini


 * Media**: the means of communication/information that reaches /influences people widely. (aka: something that's used to communicate a message) or an interaction (give and/or take).

Process Work
Some preliminary subjects i came up with include: shopping bags, t shirts, magazines, illustration and sketchbooks. I decided to go with illustration as it is something i like and know about. With illustration there are a variety of things that can be looked at, for example the different types of illustrators, the different styles, different mediums, where theyre found, how theyr used, etc.
 * Brainstorming**

Here's the first concept map i did. This was done before any real research was done.
 * Rough Sketches**

Here's a revised concept map in which i added more information and connections along with colour coding the two different types of illustrators (technical and interpretive) and then the connections they had and would lead to, just to get an idea of the connections involved.

Further revisions were made after our third class. In class, we were told to focus on folksonomy rather than taxonomy. With folksonomy, the key was having the mapo flat and non linear. Other useful pointers included: the use of action verbs, looking for patterns, considering where and when this is happening and involving people within the map. These were helpful hints because my previous maps lacked in action verbs and people involved. Once i included people, the action verbs fell into place. Furthermore, i did a bit more research and included it. Here's the revised concept map.

After coming up with a final idea of of the connections and points, i moved the concept map onto the computer using Cmap, which was very useful for organizing the information. Here i broke down the information into three major points, which i came up with after research, illustrations that inform, illustrations that persuade and illustrations that narrate.
 * Cmap Versions**

Here's a revised version of the concept map, as you can see i've organized the information in a more linear way, along with colour coding the different sections (informative, persuasive and narrative)
 * [[image:mmastrof_interactivity2_proj1_cmaproughs2.jpg]]

Further Refinements** After looking over the c maps models, I decided I wanted to focus on the specific careers associated with illustration and the fields it can be found within. I chose this because not many people are aware of the variety of professions within illustration, along with its connections within different fields which one would not immediately assume. So for the concept map there were 3 main points of information: the list of illustration jobs, the different industries they can be found within, and the jobs related and connected to these illustration jobs (ie. authors, animators, etc).The major problem with developping the concept map was coming up with a visually appealing and readable map to express all the information that i wanted. My original idea was more of a radial approach, It was simple and worked, but at the same time, was too simple in that it lacked the movement and process from the illustrator to the different people involved in creating something. It was also kinda messy with the line overlaps.

In the end i decided on sticking with a very linear, 'subway route' looking map, to show the different routes and people that the illustrator interacts with.

Final Concept Map
The final concept is broken down into different sections to represent the different industries in which illustrators are involved in. From there i colour coded the different careers within illustration, these would be 'subway routes' that would travel through the different industries and interact with different people. I included the action phrases within the routes rather than above or below them to keep the busyiness and messyness to a minimum. I tried to group the careers together according to their place in the industry (ie. technical, film related, story book) along with having them spread across the map as to avoid over congestion.



Download this version for larger better quality concept map