Illustration (BA Hons - Single)

Overview

The BA Illustration course promotes the hybrid area of multidisciplinary practice, moving between traditional illustration and contemporary graphic communication. It recognizes and explores a distinct range of approaches to visual communication, encouraging a highly personal understanding in observing, recording and visualizing the stories of our complex culture and society, graphically representing people, places and themes in a variety of illustrative forms, traditionally and digitally. As technologies advance, the opportunities to re-interpret and communicate visual information has never been so diverse.

This course develops a highly reflective and personal approach to your creation of images, and encourages you to explore, expand and demonstrate understanding of the signs and meanings of visual language, intellectually and practically. You will learn to communicate effectively through exploration and collaborative practices within image-construction and narrative themes, exploiting the full vocabulary of traditional and digital technologies.

Your first year encourages exploration and experimentation with media through creative ideas development and an introduction to the basic skills of Illustration. In subsequent years, 2 and 3, you have opportunity to tailor your degree to fit your emerging personal and professional interests whilst participating in a range of creative projects.

The course team has established excellent working relationships in partnership with leading design agencies. Professional practitioners contribute to project briefs and provide guest lectures that offer valuable insights into the world of contemporary illustration practice. The Faculty is a bustling centre of creativity and energy, where students enjoy use of both state-of-the-art digital and high-end traditional workshops to develop their practice. The course is taught in the heart of London’s creative district with future employers and commissioning agencies on your doorstop.

Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Media and Design

www.londonmet.ac.uk/jcamd/

Course contents

Three levels, each of 120 credits.

The course allows you to personalise your programme, moving more towards art, literary or design approaches as appropriate.  You will develop narrative and storytelling and its reflection of popular culture. 

Level 1 topics include:

• Drawing as Visual Research
• Software
• Printmaking
• Animation
• Cultural Studies

Level 2 topics include:

• Illustration Live Projects
• Photography
• Drawing & Painting
• Digital Technologies
• Cultural Studies & Professional Practice

Level 3 topics include:

• Major Project
• Professional Practice
• Live Project/ Placement/ Competition
• Dissertation/ Report

Assessment

You are assessed via project work, essays, individual practice and a final portfolio project including dissertation.

Careers

On completion of the course graduates will be equipped with the skills and attributes required to succeed in the complex and diversified world of work. Career destinations include: freelance/commission-based illustrators, publishing, editorial work, graphic design, advertising, web-design, film and theatre. The course provides a multi-disciplinary practice environment which promotes opportunities within a wider area of design and the visual communication industries.

During the course, students have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding whilst working on real-world creative briefs set by professional design bodies. There is also opportunity to enter designated professional competitions. There will be considerable emphasis on the professional presentation of project ideas. These may take the form of a team presentation in fulfilling the particular requirements of a design brief. Design Briefs engage students with professional organisations such as the RSA, The Design Museum, CSD, ISTD and the D&AD. Recent live projects have included project work with the British Library and Frankfurt Bookfair.

Faculty Support and Consultancy:

The ‘Projects Office’ provides a supportive professional environment that allows students and staff to undertake consultancy commissions and research projects as well as providing project management support to live projects carried out by students as part of their course.

Student profiles

‘I had the opportunity to get access to wide range of information and materials that really summarized what I was aiming to achieve with help of the lovely tutors and other members of staff….

I am founder and Creative Director of a creative design studio and freelancer Brand Consultant for medium and small business. I have plans to continue my studies in the near future.”  Januario Jose, 2005

Applying and entry

Sept part-time: apply direct to the University - contact Admissions for an application form.

Entry requirements

280 UCAS POINTS including at least 2 A Levels in applied art and design subjects or BTEC National Diploma or BTEC Foundation Diploma, or new Diploma including A level specialist subjects in applied art and design.

Further information

Please contact the Admissions Office:
Tel: +44(0)20 7133 4200
Fax: +44(0)20 7133 2677
Email: admissions@londonmet.ac.uk

or for further academic questions, contact: