Comics

Why choose this course?
Our comics degree will help you develop both your own style and flair for creative sequential storytelling. The course covers the practical, professional, and artistic sides of working as a comic artist with an individual artistic voice, equipping you for a successful career in the creative industries.

You will:
-Learn how to create compelling images, work to professional standards, and understand how your work fits into the industry.
-Be introduced to a broad range of creative skills, from the generation of ideas to their technical production through printmaking, bookbinding, 3D materials, life drawing, traditional and digital media, with an emphasis on drawing and the development of a unique personal style.
-Be introduced to professional creative processes and encouraged to expand your abilities through workshops and practical projects.
-Learn how to interpret a brief, identify, and solve problems, develop creative individuality, and produce a professional portfolio.
-Gain personal, professional, and entrepreneurial skills including working as a freelance artist: from marketing and self-promotion to contracts, invoices and working with clients.
-Be encouraged to work on live briefs and competitions.

Key Course Features:
-This programme is designed to equip you for the essential role played by comic artists across various media such as animation, film, games, and comics. Emphasising the pre-production phase, you'll be immersed in designing a range of assets, including characters, creatures, environments, and key art illustrations. The curriculum allows you to research fundamental illustration techniques crucial for the development of effective comic art.
-Utilising our digital media suites, printmaking studio, intimate and an extensive art-based library, you will have access to industry-standard 2D and 3D art software, as well as our suite of Wacom Cintiq graphics tablets. These resources enable you to engage with creative briefs using both traditional and digital art methods with our and exclusive class sizes, we offer frequent 1-2-1 contact, an open studio policy and flexible workspaces for your entire course.
-As it was the first of its kind, our comics programme holds a distinguished history, featuring accomplished alumni such as Dan Berry, Max Sarin, Rosy Higgins and Ted Brant. Amongst Wrexham University’s fellows is Charlie Adler, the comic artist known for his work on The Walking Dead. Our students have won comics awards such as the prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards award as well nominations for the Silver Reuben Awards.
-Free and full subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud for the duration of study.
-Through the combination of your imagination and drawing skills, you will bring concepts to life on paper and screen. This process not only develops your artistic abilities but also enhances your problem-solving skills as you craft innovative and captivating designs.

What you will study

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4) - Core skills
The first year introduces students to the fundamental principles of illustration that will help you develop your illustrative style. This includes developing an understanding of the tools and creative techniques you will be using, the historical contexts and theories of comics, creative writing, print, production, bookbinding techniques, an understanding of the industry and newer digital applications.

MODULES
Semester 1
History & Context
Visual Communication
Digital Communication

Semester 2
Social Design
Story Telling: Theory and Practice
Interactive Design

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5) - Advanced skills
The second year enables you to develop your individual approach to character design, scriptwriting and visual storytelling, the practical aspects of making comics as well as exploring the basics of running a business as a freelancer.

MODULES
Semester 1
Motion Design
Print and Production
Critical Thinking

Semester 2
Creative Futures: Making a Living
Design Project: Comics

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6) - Specialism
The third year is focused on your specialism. You will work with staff to pitch the projects that demonstrate your flair for storytelling, your skills and abilities, your ambition, and your understanding of the comics industry.

MODULES
Semester 1
Specialist Project: Comics

Semester 2
Creative Futures: Professional Practice
Live Brief

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Teaching & Assessment
There are no set exams. Assessment is continuous and relates to all aspects of the programme, providing more carefully defined emphasis on formative assessment and feedback on your coursework throughout the academic year. We will advise you on your level of attainment and direct you towards a strategy for further progression as assignments and modules are completed.

There are varied formats of assessment to encourage your learning through group seminars, critiques, and tutorials. This can be through group interaction with critical analysis where you will submit a range of work including sketchbooks, design sheets, finished artwork, screen-based work, technical/ production files, journals, essays, and audio-visual presentations. There are reviews of work at key points before Christmas and before Easter and this provides time for you to reflect on your progress prior to a final or summative year end assessment.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential. The programme is delivered with a cross-disciplinary (with Animation, Illustration and Graphic Design) enabling collaboration with different disciplines and studio ethos.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.