Two Minds, One Design: Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Graphic Novels

John W Busby

How does multidisciplinary collaboration affect the process of creating a graphic novel? Currently the academic literature provides discussions on graphic novels and their nature as collaborative artefacts. But little work has been done to provide a framework that analyses the interactions that occur within the process of creating a graphic novel. These interactions can take on both a management and creative role in the project and can affect the artefact that is created. The framework that I have developed analyses interactions between collaborators and the artefact, viewing the artefact as an active entity that participates within collaborative interactions. The framework demonstrates how trust alters the relationship dynamic between collaborators and in turn the creative methodology of the creative project. This thesis uses a phenomenological approach to analyse the Heaven Series graphic novel project. This project involves two multidisciplinary collaborators participating in a complementary partnership, in which I act as the illustrator with writer Alan Hancock. I review graphic novels, creative project methodologies, and collaboration to provide understanding for the proposed framework that I will use to analyse the Heaven Series graphic novel project. This thesis contributes to the academic literature within graphic novel studies and collaborative creative project methodologies. It provides a framework of analysis that will inform future research into collaborative interactions within creative projects.

Two Minds, One Design: Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Graphic Novels

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