Opinion: Illustration is not dead

Adrian Shaughnessy has written a glum article for Design Observer called Graphic Design vs. Illustration, an article that is surprisingly uncharitable towards illustration (especially coming from the editor of Varoom—The Journal of Illustration and Made Images). Thankfully he is getting nothing but intelligent and extremely well-deserved objection in the comments. Shaughnessy's attitude is really a shame—there are many exciting things happening in the world of illustration today. The web has enabled artists to increase their visibility, while sites like Drawn! and the iSpot have created new networks and resources for illustrators, designers and clients alike. I think perhaps the most important thing to consider about Shaughnessy's article and its response is that the illustration industry and the people operating within it are rapidly evolving. If you are still thinking about illustration as was, then yes, perhaps it is valid to say that the industry is in sorry shape. But if you consider the reinvented world of contemporary illustration, where it is used as one of many design options and is just as valid a choice as photography and text, then that argument collapses. I don't agree with Shaughnessy's assessment that graphic design has overtaken illustration—these things ideally work together, not competitively. Illustration is not without power to communicate, or irrelevant in a photo-dominated market, and it is ludicrous to lament the death of illustration as the only option. Of course there is no real competing with photography, but we are beyond that. Resourceful art directors have not forgotten illustration, but it is one of many tools.

As long as traditional illustrators are willing to evolve, there are plenty of resources out for them to use to sell themselves. Has this change come swiftly? Yes, technology and the increasing ability of trained graphic designers to create their own images has happened very quickly—many of my illustrator friends who graduated college ten years ago are feeling whiplash and struggling to keep up. Do you need to have an online presence? Absolutely, and many traditional illustrators find this intimidating, especially in a world where most of the successful artists have hot shot flash sites. The everyday illustrator can feel left behind, but what I consistently recommend are products like WireMedia's Talentcase (which, I admit, I helped them develop), designed specifically for artists who need to get a flexible, presentable site up without having to learn code or invest a small fortune to do so. Do you need to network? Yes. It is no longer possible to thrive sitting all alone at your drawing table, your agent's phone number your only link to the outside world. Will you have to work a little harder? Yes. You must seek out niche markets, new ideas, new ways to see and have other people see and apply your work. I'm not saying that the world of professional illustration is easy, just that there is still an active industry out there to be an active part of.

Shaughnessy's article seems completely unaware of any new hope and optimism within the world of illustration. Again, what a shame. If you read the article, please temper his words with those of the commenters.