Illustration, BA (Hons), with industry placement

Embark on a creative journey exploring communication, image-making, and conceptual thinking. This course builds your understanding of image creation and application, enabling you to establish a niche as an innovative illustrator. You will acquire essential professional skills, resilience, and sustainability to thrive in the creative industries, fostering independent, critical, and engaging work through traditional and new media, theory, and production methods. Opportunities abound for growth via access to advanced technologies, software, and collaborations in diverse applications like editorial, publishing, and advertising, alongside networking and industry links.In year one, focus on experimental image-making and foundational knowledge through projects and workshops. Year two advances your exploration of visual language, industry contexts, and business skills, preparing for postgraduate options. Year three emphasizes professional ambitions, self-directed projects, and portfolio development, with an optional four-year path including a placement year for practical experience.

Year one – Explore a range of approaches to the communication of ideas through image-making, with an emphasis on experimentation and reflection. You’ll develop your practical, theoretical, and contextual understanding of the discipline through projects and seminars alongside workshops. There is an ongoing focus on discovery through active making, supported by a lively programme of studio briefs. Year two – You’ll further explore a range of approaches to communicating ideas, concepts and messages through processes and visual language. You will explore industry relevant contexts and applications while studying the theory and methods behind your practice. You will also learn essential business skills and explore the postgraduate opportunities available to you. Likewise, you will grow in confidence and understanding to make informed decisions about your future. Year three* – In your final year you will focus on your professional ambitions and further develop the business-related skills required for becoming a professional creative. You’ll negotiate your own creative projects and activities such as competitions, live briefs, academic research, and optional work experience. Building a portfolio that reflects your focus and talents is essential as you learn to respond to the demands of the creative industries. *If you choose to study this course over four years, this will include a placement year (also known as a sandwich year, work placement, industrial placement, or year in industry), which provides a fantastic opportunity to enhance your employability and gain practical experience in your field of study. The placement year typically occurs after year two and before year three.