Build real-world editorial experience illustrating for SCAD Student Media
A few months ago, I learned that my friend was part of SCAD student media. The organization is pretty darn impressive, made of several student-published blogs, magazines, newspapers, and more.
At the time, I was discontent with my portfolio. Class projects were fine, but, frankly, boring and useless. There were no opportunities to challenge myself, or see how I’d fare with a real publication’s schedule.
Until I decided to send in my portfolio, and thus got my first real editorial project.
The Heat is On
My first assignment was a War of the Worlds illustration for digital-media focused RenderQ.
Immediately I ran into a taste of how things worked, with my editor choosing a comp I hadn’t expected. That first illustration was racked with self-doubt. While I made the deadline, there were plenty of things I wish I could’ve improved. But you quickly learn that not every work will be your best.
From there, I went on to illustrate for other student publications, sending my portfolio to their editors. Each group is constantly creating content, so there’s no lack of work.
Aside from honing my style, working with student media helped build confidence in my ability to deliver. My deadlines ranged from a few days (contacted due to issues with previous illustrator), to a few weeks (short project turned longer with new ideas).
Be Creative, Be You
Another great thing about student media is that there’s no grading criteria. You’re free to be creative, and pitch ideas.
When I noticed RenderQ hadn’t used illustration before, I ask if I could start art directing. From there, we began to use illustration for social media campaigns, article covers, and event posters.
In illustration class, we focus a lot on visuals, and solving a client’s brief, but not on creative ways to implement our art. I learned that your voice is in your problem-solving, as much as it is in your style.
Dive in
I hope you’re excited! Here are all the student media groups. You can reach out to their art director or editors to send in your portfolio, or join general meetings (usually Fridays) to meet their team.
Here are some examples of illustrations from each:
RenderQ (Digital Media Blog) – https://scadrenderq.com/2023/04/the-last-of-us-season-1-review
SCAD Radio (Music & Entertainment Blog) – https://scadradio.org/2023/05/12/five-artist-to-listen-to-during-taurus-szn/
SCAD District (Editorial News) – https://scaddistrict.com/astrology-is-easy-understanding-the-basics/
Port City Review (Art Journal) – https://theportcityreview.com/accepted-works-2023/
The Connector (Editorial News) – https://scadconnector.com/2023/02/07/being-good-to-yourself-in-the-creative-industry-a-message-with-tim-kaminski/
SCAN Magazine (Art & Literary) – https://scadscan.com/2022/11/23/arts-corner/
The Manor (Fashion Blog) – More type and photo treatment. Maybe you can pitch yourself!
SCAD HoneyDripper (Illustration & Comics Blog) – https://scadhoneydripper.com/2023/04/searching-for-an-internship-in-the-animation-industry-heres-how-to-prepare
Interviewing an Art Director
To add icing to the cake, here’s an interview with SCAD Radio art director Taylor Eby. Taylor makes sure that illustrations and visuals strengthen the station’s branding. You can send her your portfolio at social@scadradio.org.
Tell us a bit about your journey! How did you become the SCAD Radio AD, and what drew you to the role?
Yep! I’m currently an Illustration sophomore at SCAD. Initially I was introduced to SCAD Radio through a friend of mine. I’m the kind of person that likes to stay busy so at the time I was looking for something extra outside of classes. I was drawn to this specific role because it was a brand new department that I could kind of mold into my own thing, it allowed me a lot of freedom to kind of build something that I wanted to see.
What’s your process for finding new illustrators?
Well luckily for me being attached to SCAD Radio often means that illustrators will reach out to me first. We’ve been in the process of advertising my department on our social media which has led to a ton of amazing artists reaching out! Most of the time I have a project on hand that I can give to new artists as something of a “trial run” and then based on the quality of work and their reliability I’ll continue to offer them projects.
[Gab’s notes: I prefer to look around for illustrators, seeing if their style and content matches the article’s message. Consistency in a portfolio is key for me.]
What can artists do to make themselves more “hireable”?
The biggest thing is professionalism. I think that people often forget about the power of a well written, professional email. I more often than not communicate with my illustrators via my email, so it’s doubly important that people try to make a good impression through their writing. Oftentimes I’m looking just as much at talent as I am at how easy it is to work with you. You can be the most talented illustrator in the world but if I can’t rely on you to meet deadlines, or I’m receiving unprofessional emails I simply won’t contact you again.
[Gab’s Notes: I met Taylor in person, so I heard about how important professional emailing was to her. That definitely made me up my email game since then.]
What makes you want to work with someone again?
Reliability is so important. At SCAD Radio we are posting a minimum of 3-4 articles a week and every single one of those needs art attached to it. This means that meeting deadlines is super important to me. If I can reach out to an artist and know that I can rely on them to get the job done and communicate with me, it makes me want to give them every opportunity I can. When artists miss or forget deadlines it then becomes an issue for me to either find another artist on short notice or do it myself, which makes my job much more difficult.
[Gab’s Notes: Don’t forget you can ask for extensions if appropriately early! Your AD knows life can get in the way, and we want to work with you to make things work. I recently asked Taylor for an extension on a Boygenius illustration, which turned out to be one of our favorite illustrations together.]
Any pet peeves as an AD :)?
I’d have to say receiving emails late at night. I’ve had illustrators email me at like 3-4am in the morning. The only thing I think when I see that is “go to sleep!”. Everyone should rest up, nothing is so important that you have to put off sleeping to email me.
What’s your philosophy when it comes to art directing?
I honestly just try to strike a balance between keeping our branding consistent and also allowing for our artists to create work that they’re proud of, or could use as portfolio work. I try to have individual conversations with our illustrators about what they’d like to produce, and what I’m looking for and usually we meet somewhere in the middle. Ultimately this is a student organization and I want it to be fun and inviting for people!
Any other helpful tips or stories you’d like to share from your AD journey?
I think the only other helpful tip I might have is just to speak what you want into existence. What I mean by that is just start talking to people about what you want to do or what you’re looking for and often it’ll start happening. Some of my best assistants and volunteers I’ve met by just saying I work at SCAD Radio and I was looking for artists! People here are always looking for opportunities so just start talking about what you are looking for and you’ll find it!
[Gab’s Notes: Great advice! I give art postcards out, and a lot of the time people are shocked to learn I’m an illustrator. You gotta be your biggest cheerleader!]
