Digital Illustration – Design Thinking

This interdisciplinary summer program merges the worlds of digital illustration and entrepreneurship, empowering students to develop commercially viable products using cutting-edge tools and business strategies. Through the design thinking process—empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing—students will refine their ideas from concept to execution, ensuring their creations align with market demands.

In the digital illustration component, students will use iPads and industry-standard apps to create high-quality artwork suitable for commercial use. Traditional sketching techniques will complement digital methods, reinforcing foundational artistic principles. Additionally, students will explore the role of AI in illustration, learning how to use artificial intelligence for idea generation, workflow optimization, and ethical integration into creative processes.

On the entrepreneurial side, students will engage in branding, marketing, and product development, transforming their artistic concepts into a viable business concept. They will work in teams to design products suitable for an external client, gaining firsthand experience in business strategy and innovation.

The program culminates in an exciting Shark Tank-style pitch competition, where students will present their final products to a panel of industry professionals. This experience will help them build confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills, preparing them for careers in art, design, business, and beyond. Whether aspiring to be an entrepreneur, a digital artist, or both, participants will leave with a portfolio-ready product and real-world business experience.