Illustration Research Methods

Rachel Gannon is an illustrator, educator and Associate Professor and Head of School of Design at Kingston University, UK. She has written and presented for Varoom Magazine, Illustration Research and Association of Illustrators Journal. Her practice as an illustrator professionally has seen her work for The Guardian, The Natural History Museum, Tate Modern and Condé Nast. She has worked at numerous educational institutions including Camberwell College of the Arts, Norwich University of the Arts and University of East London, and is currently External Examiner for the BA Graphic Design and Illustration course at Liverpool John Moores University. Mireille Fauchon is an illustrator, educator and researcher. She is currently Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Image Practice for the BA Illustration and Visual Media course at the London College of Communications, University of the Arts London, UK. Specialisms include archival interpretation, visual storytelling and narrative research with emphasis on anecdotal storytelling and the informal preservation of history within sites of experience, particularly narratives deemed insignificant or inaccessible. Mireille is author of Illustration, Narrative and The Suffragette: An Illustrated Enquiry also published by Bloomsbury (2024).

A treasure chest of ideas, insights, new terminology and eye-opening case studies ... It will make a vital contribution to the discipline's discourse.

• Introduction1. Illustration researchDefinitions Illustration as processIdentityLanguage and terminologyThe principles of illustration practiceShifting roles - an expanded practiceCan illustration ever be authorless?A social practiceResearch into, through and for illustration - a framework for categorising methodsRigour in illustrationOriginality in illustration2. AuthorshipTell me a storyNarrative componentsNarrative inquiries - different ways of thinking of narrative researchThe autoethnographic illustratorAdaption and interpretationPicture visual researchIllustrative writing3. ReportingIllustrator as reporterThis is researchHow toDrawing from lifeSketchbooksListeningObservationA multisensory lifeworldWalkingMe you and everyone elseIs this realReporting the news4. CraftingIllustration and craft, a happy marriage?‘I already know what I’m going to do’The meaning in the markTools of the tradeThe meaning of materialThe stuff of lifeIllustration as object, 3d, physical and virtual formThe illustrated object or the object illustration?CollectedFabricatedImmaterial technologies5. ActivismAm I political?Power playAn informed practiceThe visual identity of protestDetournementThe illustrators jokeWho do you think I am?The memeFuture visionsIllustration as eventModels of behaviour‘How can I help you?’6. EducationWhat is your philosophy?What is an education space?Signature pedagogiesShop talkLearning through illustrationResidency as methodDocuments of experienceIllustration-based researchData visualisationThe language of reliabilityInteractive illustration7. Illustration futuresAppendixProposalsWorking with othersInterviewsReflective practicePositioningWho benefits?LegacyInformed consentIllustration research