Alesha Williams

Assistant Professor, Art

School of Art

College of Art and Design

aewfaa@rit.edu

Alesha Williams

Assistant Professor, Art

School of Art

College of Art and Design

aewfaa@rit.edu

Currently Teaching

ILLS-201

Character Design

3 Credits

This course will concentrate on the character creation process. Students will learn to understand character construction and utilize production techniques to classify characters employing body language, expression, and costume as vehicles for storytelling. Students will examine how character design plays a vital role in industries such as advertising, animation, gaming, and publishing, where strong, memorable characters are central to storytelling and audience connection.

ILLS-219

Digital Illustration I

3 Credits

This course will provide students with methods of conceptualizing, organizing, and executing illustrations using digital media. Projects will expose students to various types of digital techniques using current software applications for the creation of professional level assignments. The course will emphasize conceptual problem-solving methodology and the language of visualization while providing a consistent foundation of picture making as it relates to professional illustration production. Color systems, creation tools, and digital terminology and workflow will also be emphasized within this course.

ILLS-550

Topics in Illustration

3 Credits

This course will focus on the investigation and practice of a selected topic in illustration. Subject offerings will vary by specializations in the illustration field. A subtopic course description will be published each term the course is offered and may have limited repeatability.

ILLS-599

Illustration Independent Study

1-6 Credits

Illustration Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser will propose a course of study. Illustration Independent Study students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll.

STAR-799

Studio Arts Independent Study

1-6 Credits

Studio Arts Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty advisor, will propose and conduct a course of study. An approved Independent Study Permission Form must be submitted to Student Services to enroll.

In the News

February 4, 2026

Illustration student learns from a pro through annual workshop

Observing the work of other artists is one of the many ways an illustrator can grow and hone their own skills. Presto, an annual workshop series offered by RIT’s illustration program, aims to facilitate this type of peer-to-peer learning.
August 30, 2023

New School of Design director, faculty hires ready for 2023-24 academic year

The College of Art and Design welcomes new hires to its faculty roster while longtime faculty Alex Lobos assumes a role as director of the School of Design.
November 29, 2021

Fellow brings strong passion for design, diversity, inclusion to College of Art and Design

Alesha Williams, a Future Faculty Post-Doc Fellow in RIT’s College of Art and Design, is an illustrator, designer, and educator from Cleveland. Williams is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, combining her many research interests to focus on character design and representation of marginalized and minority characters in the comic book medium.

More News