Sheridan illustration grad show to be preceded by day-long "Illustrationism" conference

The well-regarded annual graduate show of the Sheridan College illustration degree program has been expanded this year, with a lead-up of a day-long conference called "Illustrationalism". The conference on April 19 is by invitation only and will focus on partnerships and collaboration and the skills for building of creative ideas -- responding to the environment into which the talented grads will be venturing.

"Everything has changed. A visual world needs a visual language; a language that can cast a light into the darkest corners showing us a way forward. That new language is Illustrationism," say the organizers.

Speakers and participants will include upwards of 200 members of the communications, design, media and entertainment world as well as the members of the graduating class. Among the expected participants are Sean Moffitt, a writer on social media and the director of MaRS, David Ceolin,  a venture capitalist specializing in creative partnerships, Ian Grais, a partner at Rethink,  Bob Hambly of H&W design as well as noted illustrators such as Graham Roumieu, Ben Weeks and others). 

Prior to the conference, participants are being asked to 

"engage in creating images that demonstrate the value of illustration (great concepts, flexible ideas anything that makes you engage) and post these to #illustrationism through twitter and Facebook. The images will be posted to our web site to create image collages that express the power of illustration."

The event takes place Thursday, April 19 at The Glass Factory, 99 Sudbury Street, Toronto (in Liberty Village, near Dufferin and Queen). The symposium will be capped off by the 2012 Illustration grad show from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Sheridan offers the only dedicated Bachelor of Arts Illustration degree in Canada at its Trafalgar Road campus in Oakville. Many of its graduates contribute to the look and excellence of Canadian magazines and many more should.