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Mark Skillicorn

Continuing Studies Instructor

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Bio

Instructor for Continuing Studies. Concurrent position: creative director at Wax Trax! Records.

Past design and illustration clients include:

Publishing: WIRED Magazine, Random House, Disney, Sesame Street, Wall Street Journal, Cartoon Network, Thomas The Tank Engine, Tonka, Backpacker Magazine, Runner’s World, Tribune Co., J-14 Magazine, Fitness Magazine, Alternative Press, Billboard Magazine, Holiday House, Boys’ Life, Scouting Magazine, Van’s WARPED Tour

Interactive: Yahoo!, State Farm, Big League Chew, Toy State, Museum of Science & Industry, Nature’s Way/Pearls, Dentsply, Wisdom Panel, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Harvestmark, Brainlab

Advertising: Yahoo!, VH1, VH1 Classic, LG, MINI, FOX Sports, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Mondelez, AMA

Packaging: Nickelodeon, Arista Records, Atlantic Records, A&M Records, Island Records, Wax Trax! Records

Agencies: Ogilvy One, Y&R, Arc Worldwide, Almighty, Razorfish, DraftFCB, Tribal DDB, BSS&P, EVB, Frankel, Laga, WitmanHeart, Sloan Group, Brann Blau, Organic, HYC, Symmetri

In addition to graphic design, Mark Skillicorn (he/him) has written and co-produced the acclaimed documentary, INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT: The Story of Wax Trax! Records. 

Personal Statement

With 20 years as a freelance designer and 10 years as a creative director, Mark’s teaching approach uses his commercial experience to help students develop real world creative and technical skills as the primary tools to build and navigate professional relationships.

Portfolio

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principal design elements, including composition, color, and typography, through projects introducing Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in commercial and experimental design is stressed as students understand the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary, and an understanding of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop's specific role in creating professional work. Before starting this course, students should be comfortable creating, deleting, renaming, and moving files and directories without assistance.

Class Number

1008

Credits

1

Description

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principal design elements, including composition, color, and typography, through projects introducing Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in commercial and experimental design is stressed as students understand the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary, and an understanding of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop's specific role in creating professional work. Before starting this course, students should be comfortable creating, deleting, renaming, and moving files and directories without assistance.

Class Number

1290

Credits

1

Description

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principal design elements, including composition, color, and typography, through projects introducing Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in commercial and experimental design is stressed as students understand the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary, and an understanding of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop's specific role in creating professional work. Before starting this course, students should be comfortable creating, deleting, renaming, and moving files and directories without assistance.

Class Number

2303

Credits

1

Description

Want to use Adobe Illustrator to create sophisticated and complex designs and illustrations while you hone your skills? Learn the basics of the program before moving on to master transparency, feathering, masking, compound paths, gradients, layering techniques, and the specifics of the pen tool. This course will feature dynamic class demonstrations, and group critiques, as well as personalized feedback from your instructor on each assignment and throughout the creative process. Students should have basic computer skills before signing up for this course.

Class Number

1076

Credits

1