Ringling College launches New Author/Illustrator Certificate

Florida’s Ringling College of Art and Design, home to one of the nation’s top-ranked animation programs, has launched an Author/Illustrator Undergraduate Certificate program. The certificate equips students with the skills to combine writing and illustration into market-ready books, emphasizing industry relevance and creative control. It is ideal for students interested in creating children’s books, comics and graphic novels.

The certificate is a collaboration between the Illustration and Creative Writing majors but is open to students from every major.

Creative Writing faculty member Rick Dakan, who was integral to establishing the certificate, said, “Our students have great imaginations and tremendous artistic talent. This new certificate will help aspiring comic book and picture book creators hone their storytelling craft while also learning what it takes to succeed as a published author/illustrator. I can’t wait to see what they create.”

Students will prepare to confidently pitch to publishers, explore self-publishing and succeed in the competitive publishing and entertainment industries. To earn the certificate, students must complete a series of elective courses that round out the specialization.

• The Children’s Book courses focus on crafting engaging books for young audiences, with an emphasis on market trends, storytelling and industry standards.
• The Comic and Graphic Novel courses center on sequential art and visual storytelling, teaching students to create impactful comics for mainstream or independent platforms.
• The Publishing Strategies course focuses on marketing and distribution strategies for the final book. Students will gain the insight needed to position their book for a successful launch.

Illustration department head Christina Hess, who was also responsible for bringing the new program to life, shared her enthusiasm for the certificate: “Everyone has a story to tell! This certificate program provides the time and structure needed to write and illustrate that story, bringing it vividly to life. Through a guided, step-by-step approach, students will craft a compelling narrative and learn how to successfully launch it into the world after graduation — all while maintaining full ownership of their intellectual property.”

Learn more about the Author/Illustrator Undergraduate Certificate at ringling.edu.