We’ve had lots of questions about our upcoming Make Your Mark programme and we’re here to help you decide if it’s right for you!
Q: I’m fairly new to illustration – can I still join?
Absolutely! We encourage emerging creatives, students and recent graduates to get involved – as well as designers and teachers who are pivoting into illustration. Whether you’re just getting started with your illustration career or you’ve been working as an illustrator for a while and need a boost – the most important thing to know about Make Your Mark is that this is going to stretch you – and that by committing the time you’ll leave with clarity, focus and renewed confidence, and the tools to pursue your dream career in illustration.
Q: When does Make Your Mark run?
Make Your Mark kicks off on Monday 9th October at 7.00pm with a welcome event, ahead of our first live classes on Wednesday 11th October (Group One); and Thursday 12th October (Group Two). Make Your Mark runs until Friday 19th January, with a circuit break over the festive period.
Q: When are the live sessions running?
We’ll be updating this section in the coming weeks. Here are preliminary dates for your diary. All timings in UK (BST/GMT).
Key Dates (Zoom + Live Streams)
Make Your Mark Kick Off Event – Monday 9th October @ 7.00pm
Live Sessions @ 10.30am GMT – Every Wednesday (Group One)
& @ 6pm GMT Every Thursday (Group Two)
Weekly Live Sessions are hosted by Lisa Hassell
Masterclass Sessions (Zoom Webinar)
We’re excited to welcome a new panel of speakers & mentors for Make Your Mark this Autumn to inspire your practice, provide valuable insight on core illustration markets, and share their advice for crafting your portfolio, creating personal projects, finding your niche and becoming your most authentic creative self.
Confirmed Speakers & Mentors
- Find Your Niche with Katie Scarlett, Illustrator & Animator (18/10) @ 6pm
- Illustrating for the Kids Market with Ben Newman, Illustrator (02/11) @ 10.30am
- Illustrating for Brands with Livia Falcaru (16/11) @ 10.30am
- Craft Your Portfolio with Kat Irannejad, Founder of Totally Reps (23/11) @ 6pm
Our Masterclasses aim to educate, inspire and show you industry level commercial illustration projects; from brief to concept, artwork development and delivery.
In these brand new Masterclasses, our illustrator speakers will discuss their creative practice across key areas of Branding, Editorial and Publishing.
Masterclass sessions will include a Q&A / discussion.
Tickets for our Masterclasses will go on sale w/c 11th October.
Q: What do I need to prepare before the programme begins?
No prep required! Just bring yourself and maybe a pen and notebook to take notes during the sessions. All sessions are recorded to refer to later. Our workshops and programmes are super informal – and Make Your Mark will be exactly like that. We always have so much fun learning together – and I can’t wait to meet you all!
Q: Whom is Make Your Mark not suitable for?
Make Your Mark is not designed for concept artists, photographers, gaming designers or cartoonists. Our courses and challenges are aimed at creatives who want to pursue a career as commercial freelance illustrators working for clients across editorial, publishing, advertising and branding.
Q: Do I need to be able to use Adobe Fresco or Adobe Creative Suite?
Whilst technical skills are useful, our programme is open to artists and illustrators who work analog too – so please don’t shy away just because you prefer using pencils, gouache or collage. We’re genuinely very excited to see the diversity and variety of work produced for our creative briefs!
Q: How much time do I need to set aside?
The live sessions are 90 minutes long throughout October – January. We’re running a mix of zooms, masterclasses and daily check-ins. I’d recommend allowing between 4-6 hours for each creative brief which will be split into stages throughout the programme. Then maybe an extra 1-2 hours for weekly exercises and to apply the learning we’re covering in our weekly classes. Each zoom session will last for apx 1 hour – 1.5 hours max.
Our live sessions take you through 10 modules and are designed to support your personal and professional development with live feedback in a group setting. Each week we will provide you with tools, advice and critique to help you navigate the programme and produce your best work!
Q: Which Mentors are we going to be working with?
We’re thrilled to be joined by a new panel of speakers & mentors for our October programme, including illustrators working across editorial, branding, publishing and more! Find out more here.
Q: What if I can’t make the live sessions? Will they be recorded?
Yes! Everything is automatically recorded every week – so no matter if you can attend every session, just a few – or prefer to watch them later – we’ve got you covered! Videos will stay live even after the programme ends – so you can access the recordings for six months afterwards.
If you want to join the Make Your Mark and know in advance that you can’t attend every live sessions, rest assured that you can still submit your questions for me and our incredible speakers!
Please do still apply for a spot even if the timings of the sessions don’t suit your schedule – and especially if you are a little unsure about whether your work is good enough. We welcome emerging creatives and those pivoting into illustration from other creative careers, and pride ourselves on curating a diverse group of artists from different backgroungs, experience levels and age groups. Everyone enrolled will get access to our private group, hosted inside Inkygoodness Collective where you can join our community and access extra support and resources. I can guarantee you will get so much out of the experience!
Q: I’ve only just found out about Make Your Mark! Can I still apply late?
Yes absolutely! With generous deadlines and lead times on our briefs and lifetime access to the content there is plenty of time to catch up. Please note applications are currently running until 28th September, and we have very limited spaces left – however we do welcome late applicants and will continue to onboard people until 10th October if space permits!
Q: How much does it cost?
Make Your Mark costs £349. You can pay in full or split the cost when you are invited to enrol.
Q: When do doors close for enrolment?
Applications are open now until midnight Monday 9th October.
Do you have more questions not answered here?
Email Lisa directly so that we can help you decide if Make Your Mark is right for you! If you’re excited to join us please apply ASAP – spaces are going fast!
We look forward to helping you kickstart your illustration career this year 🙂