Second year Illustration students are taking part in a project inspired by renowned investigative news agency Bellingcat.
Three investigators from the news agency gave a two hour presentation to the 2nd year BA(Hons) Illustration students this week about the history of Bellingcat, the nature of open-source investigation and some key cases including an assessment of current events in Ukraine.
The talk provided the foundation for the project in which students have been asked to choose a case-study from the Bellingcat website as inspiration for an illustration. Students have been asked to illustrate the intricate and ingenious method that Bellingcat have developed, but also to present the serious and often tragic nature of the events revealed.
The project became a possibility when Nick Waters gave a talk to Visual Communication students (Graphic Design and Illustration courses) in the professional practice lecture series. Course tutors then approached the agency to be part of further projects which they agreed to.
For the talk Nick was joined by Giancarlo Fiorella and Charlotte Godart.
Second year coordinator Jeremy Radvan says: “Illustration has always sought to communicate complex and uncomfortable truths with a long history of political illustration. Working with Bellingcat avoids the pitfall of partisanship because their method of investigation is so thorough, all the proof is published on their website and can be verified independently.”
Students are working to a deadline of 13th May and will be exhibited online after. Watch this space for updates!
Find out more about Visual Communication courses at Brighton
