BA (Hons) Illustration

Our Illustration degree course can lead you to a wide variety of careers. From freelance illustration and design, to work in media and advertising, publishing and much more.

If you have an enthusiasm for drawing and practical creativity of all kinds, our Illustration degree course will help you hone and develop your creative skills through the communication of ideas with pictures.

This is a studio-based course where you can make use of the very latest digital and traditional printing facilities in our friendly studio environments. You’ll get to unleash your creativity through drawing, painting, collage and print. As well as the opportunity to experiment with photography, animation, 3D materials and digital media in our PC and Apple Mac suites. Smaller group sizes mean you can interact with staff in every session, obtaining advice and feedback to help improve your outcomes.

Year 1 Modules
Creative Thinking
Introduction to Graphic Communication
Communication Craft Skills
Design Context 1

Year 2 Modules
Applied Illustration
Graphic Communication in Context
Professional Practice
Design Context 2

Year 3 Modules
Set Illustration Project
External Illustration Project
Self-Initiated Illustration Project
Design Context 3

Skills acquisition will be developed throughout the programme using practical briefs as a vehicle for both delivery and assessment. Basic skills development will be the focus of Year 1 modules, and you will be encouraged to develop and enhance these skills further at Year 2.

You will be required to participate in individual and group critiques and to complete evaluations of the work you have produced for each brief. Lectures and seminars will introduce you to historical and contemporary theory and contextual themes. You will be expected to apply this learning to your own work, maintaining a continuous link between theory and practice.

Our Virtual Learning Environment, It’s Learning, will support your development at all levels with information, resources and online discussion forums.

At Year 3 a more independent ethos is fostered; you will be expected to plan your own learning with support from module tutors culminating in final work being exhibited in a Graduate Show.