Being doing showing

Abstract

Yimin Qiao, Eleanor Wemyss, Caitlin Kiely and Yuzhen Cai discuss their practices in terms of methodology, adaption and the ongoing process of research-based illustration. Through four different practices they outline the tools that are needed in order to place their illustration practice into this space that joins both illustration and research together. The article is divided into three sections ‘being’, ‘doing’, ‘showing’; providing an overarching structure to their ever evolving journey into the world of illustration research practice. Drawing upon ideas of instinct, adaptation and rigour they begin to draw out similarities that carry through all four of their practices, referencing where illustration has been and where their practices are now. They discuss the openness of site as a frame for subject, borrowed technologies and moving outside of the boundaries of traditional illustrative practices. Formed on Padlet and talked about over video calls the process of the article mirrors that of their experience of being a student in a pandemic. This article like their practices is seen as an ongoing investigation into illustration research practice.