Research
‘Through the 'visual practice' of observation, collecting, studying and exploring, illustration can contribute to a deeper understanding of the subject.’
Illustration is the act of clarifying or explaining, which has a particular use. It involves visually communicating a message in a form that the target audience will understand. To do this illustrators have to start from scratch and produce primary research. This may involve collecting anything that inspires them or that they can re-use. Paul Davis flourishes from this method of research. He has been described as a ‘magpie’ and is continuously collecting things through, for example, observational drawing, and reusing items. Davis produced illustrations for the Guardian and so his research would reflect this audience. Obviously, illustrations for the Guardian will be aimed at a different audience than those say for the Sun. Davis's collection of information is crucial for this line of work as he needs to have an understanding of what and 
who he is illustrating for. Through research, the work of others will be of great inspiration. The basis of this work is to communicate a message or a meaning. Research of other people's work will give illustrators ideas of how to encode these messages and express what the image is trying to say along with how and what they use to create their work. Research has to have a context though. It would be of no use for Paul Davis to research children's book illustrators, or alternatively interviewing people who have never read the Guardian before, for his newspaper illustrations. Similarly to Paul Davis, Jill Calder is an editorial illustrator and continuously collects visual research through producing observational drawings in her sketchbook wherever she goes of things that interest her, playing with text and media to produce her illustrations.
who he is illustrating for. Through research, the work of others will be of great inspiration. The basis of this work is to communicate a message or a meaning. Research of other people's work will give illustrators ideas of how to encode these messages and express what the image is trying to say along with how and what they use to create their work. Research has to have a context though. It would be of no use for Paul Davis to research children's book illustrators, or alternatively interviewing people who have never read the Guardian before, for his newspaper illustrations. Similarly to Paul Davis, Jill Calder is an editorial illustrator and continuously collects visual research through producing observational drawings in her sketchbook wherever she goes of things that interest her, playing with text and media to produce her illustrations.Inspiration
'The notion of 'inspiration' derives from constant inquiry, based on research, observation, recording and experimentations.'
Research is closely connected with inspiration in the sense that it ‘feeds’ it. 'Collecting things can stimulate the brain. It helps you think of something fresher.' Inspiration drives the work of visual communicators, but its intention must be to build ideas for a particular brief or concept. The inspiration will relate to the context and audience the work is intended for because the research will be specific to it. It is important that the research element in their work comes second hand. Jon Burgerman said, ‘I’m not sure I actually switch into the research way of thinking, it’s more of a continuous on-going process including keeping my eyes peeled at all times.’ In addition to this principle, where the inspiration comes from and how it is used will be different. Personal interpretations and preferences will affect inspiration and thus what and how ideas are expressed and encoded within their work, creating a 'personal journey' of the individual’s thoughts through recording. For example, Rian Hughes states ‘sketching, thinking, reading… I feed as much information from various sources into my brain and then let it filter down into one elegant solution… I hope.’ References for inspiration will vary as well, for instants; Saul Steinberg is influenced by the whole history of art such as 'Egyptian paintings, latrine drawings, primitive and insane art, Seurat, children’s drawings, embroidery, Paul Klee.’ 
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