Inside Illustration is a multi platform season for AOI Members focusing on a particular area of illustration for each Season.

Each season includes an exclusive Podcast, a Creative Course for members, in-depth Article, Resource, Commissioner interview and a comprehensive ‘How To...’ guide publication for those interested in entering the area based on the season theme.

All Inside Illustration seasons are available below.

Illustration for Publishing: Book Covers Season – New!

Podcast: Bringing Uniqueness to Covers

Guests for this episode are illustrator and book cover designer Michaela Alciano, and Creative Director at Headline, Patrick Insole. A fascinating discussion covering folios, research, UK & US markets and more, hosted by Rachel Emily Taylor.

Article: Depicting the Story

Book designers from major publishing houses, Peter Adlington, Ellie Game and Neil Lang talk to Alix-Rose Cowie about different genres, how covers are put together, who has a say in them, the all-important brief, timescales and how they find illustrators to commission.

How To Get Into Book Cover Illustration

Get what you need to know about to get into book cover illustration with the exclusive members’ How To. Covering what you need in your Portfolio, Publishing Clients, Briefs, Deadlines, Fees and more. With top advice from book designers.

Interview: Xia Gordon ~ illustrator

Xia Gordon, aka carefulblackgrlstudio, is based in New York, and has illustrated a range of books in various genres, from horror to a classic. She tells us about her work, “I really enjoy trying to parse the parts of a story that both summarize and make an engaging image”.

Creative Practice Course ~ Book Covers

Free four-session creative course exclusively for members with Dave Bain and guests. Explore non-fiction with Jennifer NR Smith, fiction covers with Lucy Davey, commissioning with Art Director Ellie Game and creating covers with impact from Zoë van Dijk.

How to get into Illustration for Book Covers Basics

What do you need to know to get into book cover illustration? This edited version of the members How To covers the basics of what you need in your Portfolio, different publishing Clients, Briefs, Deadlines and Fees and more.

Inside Illustration motion illustration by Yukai Du

All Inside Illustration Seasons

Site Specific Illustration Season

Illustration can be applied across a range of in-situ projects: murals, sign writing, installations and more. Neequaye Dreph and Louis Michel, talk about mural work that makes a statement in the podcast, videos on sign writing, engagement with an audience and complex mural commissions from the Course plus a packed How To get into Site Specific Illustration from expert Dave Bain.

Illustration for Children Season

A wealth of information on working in the Children’s area. Members can catch up on the Creative Practice Course presentations from Chanté TimothyHenry St Leger, Pintachan studio and Beehive Illustration, download the How To publication, check out the interview with Alex T Smith and access the Podcast with Art Director Jane Buckley and illustrator Chanté Timothy

Branding Illustration Season

Read about branding for companies across a multitude of applications in the Article, learn from the interview with Jhy Turley, Head of Studio at Uncommon Creative Studio, hear from Kate LarsenLoe LeeJustin Poulter and Chris Dickason on the Course catch ups, and discover the Podcast with designer Heidi Lightfoot and illustrators and designer branding-experts Kate Larsen and Nicola Robson.

Editorial Illustration Season

Fantastic insights on Editorial in this Season: the expanding use of motion in online editorial is explored, Tess Redburn details the industry, in the Podcast New York Times AD Corinne Myller and illustrator André Carrilho discuss aspects of working for editorial, and the Course presenters are Kotryna ZukauskaiteBett NorrisSarah Tanat-Jones and Vanessa Lovegrove

Expanding your opportunties

Inside Illustration has a solid focus: helping our members to think about where their artwork could be applied. Explore all the seasons to gain ideas and knowledge on the different areas of commissioning, and consider whether your work applies there, or be inspired to create new work that could gain clients in those areas.

Following Inside Illustration seasons?

Members have access to all the exclusive information on a range of illustration areas above. But what would you like AOI to consider for future seasons? Email [email protected] to let us know!