NEWS
APPARATUS: THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN ILLUSTRATION
15TH INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
21–22 NOVEMBER 2025, KOÇ UNIVERSITY, ISTANBUL

Machines, appliances, gizmos, and contraptions have always been a part of illustration, enabling illustrators to transform their thoughts into real-life forms. The machine’s abilities, aesthetics, and impacts on humanity have always been a source of inspiration and concern. With the discussion raging around artificial intelligence as a game-changing technology, and when computers seem to inextricably serve as parts of creation and of our lives, perhaps it is time to take stock and consider the long-established but fluctuating relationship between illustration and the machine.
Volume 12, issue 1 of the Journal of Illustration is consisting of this first and a forthcoming second issue, are the result of papers presented and subsequently submitted for the 13th Annual Illustration Research Symposium held at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 2023. This volume of the journal represents their research efforts all working towards the common aim of illuminating the various manifestations of the blind spot in the field of illustration.
COMMUNITY

The latest research and projects from the illustration research community

The Illustration and Heritage symposium keynote speaker Yeni Kim shares her approach to participatory research
Kimberly Ellen Hall and Omar El Masri talk about community-oriented projects
Stephanie Black discusses the complexities of working with archives
OPEN CALL for a conference
Carolyn Shapiro talks about the upcoming 'Illustration and the Paper Artefact' symposium
Tom Hubmann talks about his research practice between illustration and environmentalism
ARCHIVE HIGHLIGHTS
The 14th Illustration Research
symposium posters
The 14th Illustration Research symposium was organised by the Illustration Programme at Camberwell College of Arts, and hosted at Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London (UAL), United Kingdom. These are some highlights from the poster exhibition at the event.
The 11th Illustration Research
symposium posters
The 11th Illustration Research symposium was hosted by Kingston School of Art in February 2021 was the first fully online Illustration Research event. These are some highlights from the online poster exhibition.
Call for illustration researchers
If you want to highlight your recent illustration research project, take part in a discussion, or publicise an excerpt from your paper/dissertation on our website, send us an email!
PARTNERS