VA323 Illustration Studio
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Nejira Mulahmetović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The aims of this course are to: • Describe and speak articulately and critically about their work and the field of illustration • Analyze creations on the basis of historical and contemporary influence of illustration on the culture, graphic design, fine art and visual communication • Use a wide range of themes and subject matter to create expressive content in their work. Apply and use analog and digital processes in the creation of their work • Produce work that demonstrates creative thinking in order to express a personal vision/point of view that communicates a personal voice
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Drawing from observation, Brian Curtis
Additional Literature
Rapid Viz: A New Method for the Rapid Visualization of Ideas, Kurt Hanks and Larry Belliston Fun with a pencil, Andrew LoomisTeaching Methods
Student desimination
Activity in reviews
Presentations - assignments
Sketches
Midterm submition
Final assingment
Self-evaluation.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material | FAQ, Course manual |
| 2 | History of Illustration | Rapid Viz, Kurt Hanks and Larry Belliston |
| 3 | Perspective, form and 3D space | Drawing from observation, Brian Curtis |
| 4 | Composition and Color | Glenn Vilppu, drawing manual |
| 5 | City Postcard | Keys to Drawing with Imagination, Bert Dodson |
| 6 | Mixed Media Exploration | Betty Edwards: “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” |
| 7 | Visual Metaphor | Drawing from observation, Brian Curtis |
| 8 | MIDTERM SUBMITION | |
| 9 | Adapting a classic | Rapid Viz, Kurt Hanks and Larry Belliston |
| 10 | Editorial Illustration | Keys to Drawing with Imagination, Bert Dodson |
| 11 | Character Development | Glenn Vilppu, drawing manual |
| 12 | Storytelling and Sequential Art | Framed Ink, Drawing and composition for visual storytellers, Marcos Mateu-Mestre |
| 13 | Portrait of Historical Figure | Framed Ink, Drawing and composition for visual storytellers, Marcos Mateu-Mestre |
| 14 | Final exam preparation | How to be an Illustrator, Darrel Rees |
| 15 | FINAL EXAM PROJECT | presentations / discussions |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA323.1 | Course | Monday 15:00 - 17:50 | B F1.24 (MAC Studio) | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam / Final Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
Projects
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Assignments / Presentations
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Attendance / Activity / Critique
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Student Disseminations and Reviews
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Assingnments / Drawings-completed outside of class
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Final Assignment / Final Exam
32 hours ⏳ (4 week × 8 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA323] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA323 | Illustration Studio | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nejira Mulahmetović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| nmulahmetovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | None | Assistant E-mail | dzvaljevac@ius.edu.ba | |||||||
| Course Objectives | The aims of this course are to: • Describe and speak articulately and critically about their work and the field of illustration • Analyze creations on the basis of historical and contemporary influence of illustration on the culture, graphic design, fine art and visual communication • Use a wide range of themes and subject matter to create expressive content in their work. Apply and use analog and digital processes in the creation of their work • Produce work that demonstrates creative thinking in order to express a personal vision/point of view that communicates a personal voice |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Drawing from observation, Brian Curtis | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Student desimination, activity in reviews, presentations - assignments, sketches, midterm submition, final assingment, self-evaluation. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material | FAQ, Course manual | ||||||||
| Week 2 | History of Illustration | Rapid Viz, Kurt Hanks and Larry Belliston | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Perspective, form and 3D space | Drawing from observation, Brian Curtis | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Composition and Color | Glenn Vilppu, drawing manual | ||||||||
| Week 5 | City Postcard | Keys to Drawing with Imagination, Bert Dodson | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Mixed Media Exploration | Betty Edwards: “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Visual Metaphor | Drawing from observation, Brian Curtis | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM SUBMITION | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Adapting a classic | Rapid Viz, Kurt Hanks and Larry Belliston | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Editorial Illustration | Keys to Drawing with Imagination, Bert Dodson | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Character Development | Glenn Vilppu, drawing manual | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Storytelling and Sequential Art | Framed Ink, Drawing and composition for visual storytellers, Marcos Mateu-Mestre | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Portrait of Historical Figure | Framed Ink, Drawing and composition for visual storytellers, Marcos Mateu-Mestre | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Final exam preparation | How to be an Illustrator, Darrel Rees | ||||||||
| Week 15 | FINAL EXAM PROJECT | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam / Final Assignment | 1 | 30 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Projects | 5 | 50 | 1,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 20 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 1 | 15 | 15 | Assignments / Presentations | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Attendance / Activity / Critique | 2 | 15 | 30 | Student Disseminations and Reviews | 1 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Assingnments / Drawings-completed outside of class | 2 | 14 | 28 | Final Assignment / Final Exam | 8 | 4 | 32 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/02/2026 | |||||||||