Informative, beautiful and deeply human: it's time to cheer the underrated art of illustration | Oliver Jeffers

The role of illustration in shaping our culture and understanding is often overlooked, yet its impact on history, advertising, politics, and even architecture cannot be overstated. From wartime propaganda to children's books, illustration has played a pivotal part in conveying complex ideas, emotions, and messages to the masses. The Industrial Revolution brought about mass production, making illustration accessible to more people, and modern technology has further democratized its reach.

The rise of digital art and AI may threaten the traditional role of human illustrators, but it also creates new opportunities for creative writers, designers, and artists. As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in editorial and advertising visuals, there will be a growing need for skilled human creatives to provide high-quality visuals that capture the essence of complex ideas.

The importance of visual literacy cannot be overstated, particularly in an age of misinformation. By studying illustration, we can gain a deeper understanding of historical events, cultural movements, and social issues. The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will serve as a valuable resource, providing a permanent home where every facet of illustration can be explored, celebrated, and understood.

As Maya Angelou said, "People seldom remember what you say, but they remember how you made them feel." This is the power of illustration – to evoke emotions, spark conversations, and leave a lasting impact on our collective psyche. As we move forward in an increasingly digital world, it's essential that we continue to celebrate and support the art form of illustration, recognizing its value as a vital part of our cultural heritage and education.

I think this is so true! Like, have you ever looked at old cartoons or posters from WW2 and seen how they're actually really insightful? They're not just propaganda, but they also show the thoughts and feelings of that time . And now with AI, it's like we've got two ways to do illustration - human creativity and machine learning ... I think that's a good thing! The Quentin Blake Centre sounds awesome too , let's make sure to preserve our visual history for future generations

I'm kinda with the idea that AI is gonna change the game for illustrators, but not necessarily make 'em obsolete . Like, think about it - we're already seeing AI-generated art being used in all sorts of contexts, from ads to educational materials . But at the same time, there's still something special about a human touch that you just can't replicate with algorithms . And let's be real, illustration is all about evoking emotions and sparking conversations - things that AI (for now) can't do as well as we humans can .

illustration is defo the unsung hero of our culture i mean think about it, who needs text when u can have a sick drawing to convey the message? anyway, i think ai is gonna make life easier for human illustrators but also create new jobs 4 ppl who are into design & art. it's all about balancin technology w/ human touch, u feel?

i mean think about it, illustrations have been doing some pretty cool things for us like spreading important messages during wartime and making kids' books way more engaging than plain text. now with all this AI stuff around, humans are still gonna be needed to create visuals that get the point across in a super visual way... makes sense right?

I think its kinda cool how illustration can just make complex things more relatable & engaging for people like, have you seen those old WWII posters? they were all about spreading propaganda but at the same time being super artistic & evocative? its amazing how much power a well-crafted image can have on people's minds

I'm not sure about all this fuss over digital art & AI taking over the traditional illustrators role... what about the soul of an illustration? Can a machine really capture the emotions & feelings behind an image like a human can? And don't get me wrong, I love Quentin Blake's work, but is his centre gonna be all about tech-savvy illustration or more about the art itself? Plus, what about the impact of algorithm-driven visual content on our perception of reality? Can we really trust that stuff?

I'm so hyped about this new Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration! It's like, totally overdue We need more resources dedicated to showcasing the power of illustrations in shaping our culture. And yeah, AI is gonna change the game, but let's be real, human creatives are where it's at I mean, who else can bring that extra emotional depth and empathy to a piece? It's all about creating visuals that spark conversations, you know? Like, have you seen those stunning exhibitions on social justice through art? Mind blown

I think illustration is like the silent yet powerful voice that shapes our thoughts & feelings . It's amazing how something as simple as a drawing can evoke emotions & spark conversations . With AI taking over more of the visuals, I hope we don't forget the importance of human illustrators who bring their own unique touch to their work . The Quentin Blake Centre sounds like an awesome resource for learning about illustration & its impact on our culture . We should totally be celebrating this art form, especially in today's world where misinformation is rampant . By studying illustration, we can gain a deeper understanding of the past, present, & future .

I mean, what's next? AI taking over all creative jobs? It's not like they're just gonna automate everything and leave us with nothing but a bunch of soulless, algorithm-generated art ... I'm already seeing it in my feeds on social media, where everyone's always talking about "vibrant" colors and "engaging" visuals. Newsflash: AI can do that too, and it won't get paid as much or have to deal with the existential crisis of being replaced by a machine ... And don't even get me started on the Quentin Blake Centre – just more money being spent on glorifying an art form that's already being pushed out by technology .

I'm all for supporting our illustrators , but let's be real, AI is gonna make some jobs super easy... I mean, who needs to draw when a machine can do it faster and better? But at the same time, I think AI will also create new opportunities for human creatives to focus on high-level thinking, strategy, and conceptualization. It's like the difference between writing a script and writing a screenplay – one requires more prep work, but the other allows you to be more free. Maybe we'll see a rise in 'hybrid' illustrators who can use AI as a tool, not a replacement?

I think the rise of AI in illustration is actually gonna be a good thing for human artists... idk maybe I'm just nostalgic . But seriously, it's like the world needs more visual storytellers than ever! With all this info overload, we need people who can distill complex ideas into something beautiful and easy to grasp. And let's be real, AI is already changing the game in ad and editorial visuals... so yeah, human illustrators are still gonna be in high demand . But what I love about the Quentin Blake Centre is that it's not just about celebrating illustration, but also about teaching visual literacy. We need to know how to read pictures and understand their power .

I think the rise of AI is actually gonna be a game changer for illustrators. Like, sure it's scary at first, but if we use it to augment our skills rather than replace them, we'll be unstoppable . Imagine being able to create 1000s of different illustrations in a fraction of the time and then using that power to spread important messages and ideas . It's all about collaboration and understanding what AI can and can't do. And let's not forget, there's still so much value in having human touch and emotional depth in art . The Quentin Blake Centre is a great idea btw, can't wait to see it come to life .

Illustrators are like superheroes but nobody knows about them ! I mean, have you seen those old propaganda posters from WWII? Mind blown! And can you imagine if Quentin Blake was around during the Industrial Revolution? That guy would've been like a visionary . But yeah, AI is changing the game, it's cool to see new artists emerging but we gotta make sure human illustrators are still getting the love they deserve . By the way, what do u think about the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration? Should be a hub for creatives

I'm loving how this is bringing back some nostalgia about old-school illustration! Remember when you had to actually read comic books or posters to get the message? It's crazy how much more impactful visual storytelling can be than text alone . The rise of AI might change things, but it's also super cool that we're getting more accessible ways for people to learn about illustration and its history. I think museums and galleries are already doing an awesome job, but a dedicated space like the Quentin Blake Centre sounds AMAZING .

I'm loving this! The fact that AI is making traditional illustration more accessible but also creates new opportunities for human creatives is a total game-changer for me . Can't wait to check out the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, it's gonna be so cool to see all these amazing pieces of art under one roof !