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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Postgraduate Course: Children's Picture Books (DESI11168)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis is a practice-focused course working with leading children's book illustrators introduces you to research and developmental skills that will enable you to engage professionally in the field. Through a series of lectures, seminars and practical workshops you will realise the components necessary for building projects that understand the format of picture books, character development, continuity, and dummy-cover design considerations.
Course description This course will support you in group seminars, tutorials and a lecture-based programme from ECA and Picture Hooks which will explore and investigate the field of picture books through practice and industry. This course will be contextualised within the field of Illustration, specifically within the field of Children's Picture Book. You will explore your creative practice through the lens of illustration. The final outcome of the course will be to develop and realise a self-directed research project and the design and production of a children's picture book.

You will be introduced to:
The world of formats and book anatomy
Develop a research proposal considering precis and pace
Story development and sequential narrative
Develop characters for people and animals by acting out
Explore the importance of continuity and emotion
Psychology of cover design and dummy book production
Production of digital portfolio and physical exhibition of final work

Through connection with Picture Hooks you will learn of the landscape of the contemporary industry by looking at changing cultural and social climates, looking at trends around ethnic diversity, inclusion and representation. This will include knowledge of co-editions, book fairs and self-promotion for the international market.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Critically analyse and engage with a range of textual and non-textual discourses concerning creative thinking, designing and making related to the discipline of children's picture books.
  2. Communicate and present, using appropriate methods, a diverse understanding of creative illustration techniques and realised practical outcomes.
  3. Use autonomy and judgement, to critically compose a constructed, original narrative related to a self-directed children's picture book project.
Reading List
Salisbury, Martin & Styles, Morag, 2020 Children's Picturebooks: The Art of Visual Storytelling Laurence King Publishing, London, United Kingdom

The Bologna Children's Book Fair 2019 Illustrators Annual Chronicle Books

Salisbury, Martin, 2004 Illustrating Children's Books: Creating Pictures for Publication London, A & C Black

Stern, Simon, 2008 The Illustrator's Guide to Law and Practice The Association of Illustrators

Nodelman, Perry, 1990 Words About Pictures: The Narrative Art about Children's Picture Books University of Georgia Press
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Have a personal vision for children's picture books, create goals and be able to work towards these in a sustainable way

Be able to exercise critical judgement of historical and contemporary picture books in creating new and informed understanding communicated through debate, feedback and collaboration

Be able to identify, define and analyse problems in the development of children's picture books regarding structure and form, the communication of ideas and emotions, and sequential narrative

An understanding of the landscape of the contemporary picture book industry, inclusion, and business models of publishing

Development of professional portfolios and entrepreneurial approaches and strategies towards outlets for work including book fairs and the international market
KeywordsChildren's Picture Books,Illustration,MA,Picture Hooks,Professional,Mentoring,Industry
Contacts
Course organiserMr Michael Windle
Tel:
Email: m.windle@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Jane Thomson
Tel: (0131 6)51 5713
Email: jane.thomson@ed.ac.uk
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