BA (Hons) Illustration

Illustration


COURSE OVERVIEW

Illustration is a way of seeing and understanding the world. It connects and communicates to a wide variety of audiences using a broad range of platforms. On this course you’ll discover the potential for illustration to be a ‘wild frontier’. You’ll explore the exciting synergy created by the blurring of boundaries between contemporary disciplines. You’ll challenge and interrogate preconceptions.

You’ll find yourself in an active creative environment where you can experiment, test and develop your work. You can explore drawing, painting and printmaking, as well as photographic, digital, interactive and time-based media. You can be involved in a range of work experience opportunities including responding to ‘live’ project briefs, entering competitions as part of your course work and even forming illustration collectives. You will develop into a confident individual with the skills and innovative ideas needed to make a success of your career within the creative industries.

 

RESOURCES

· The course team has an extensive range of experience and expertise in illustration, with a breadth of interest in all aspects of Art and Design.

· Guest lecturers and visiting tutors from industry are also invited on a regular basis to bring additional experience and practical knowledge of specific areas of illustration.

· All three years work together in two well-equipped and spacious studios with two computer suites and separate tutorial spaces for individual and group work.

· You’ll also have access to other facilities including the print room and workshops

 

YEAR 1

Year 1 is all about experimentation as you are introduced to the notion of Illustration and all its diversity.

· You’ll learn the technical skills used by illustrators and gain an understanding of the breadth of the subject.

· You’ll look at the ways in which illustrators have worked in the past and how they work now.

· You’ll explore many aspects of ideas generation, problem solving for clients, 2D digital imaging, visualizing ideas, manipulation of text and various approaches to drawing.

 

YEAR 2

In Year 2 the emphasis is on exploration of illustration concepts, contexts and audiences.

· You’ll develop your practice by interpreting texts, investigating the notion of the narrative and working with screen-based outcomes to a broad range of audiences.

· Your practice will become increasingly self-initiated in terms of subject and choice of approach i.e. the handmade, print or screen based.

· You’ll be encouraged to push the boundaries of your practice and will have opportunity to engage in both cross-course collaboration and external opportunities, thereby preparing you for Level 6 study.

 

YEAR 3

Year 3 is about innovation, application and experience in the real world.

· You’ll be encouraged to manage your own learning and work independently.

· Your final major projects will focus on your own particular concerns and passions as an illustrator and may be linked to an outside client.

· You will have the opportunity to show your work to our well-established industry links thereby getting essential feedback prior to graduating.

· We will support you in developing a sound understanding of illustration as it is practiced in the creative industries across a range of media platforms.

 

Illustration

 

INTERVIEWS AND PORTFOLIOS
Through the presentation of your portfolio you should be able to demonstrate that, besides possessing good drawing, design and graphic skills, you are highly motivated and committed to a career as an illustrator. We look for people with creativity and originality evidenced by a variety of project work. A-level candidates are very often recommended to possess a Foundation Diploma in addition to their A-level grades. This is because this course requires a high degree of skill, technical knowledge and conceptual understanding that cannot always be demonstrated through A-level study.

 

WHAT WE LOOK FOR
We look for candidates who are intellectually curious. You will need to be open and questioning on a whole range of topics, be they social, global, or environmental; all issues which are potentially the raw materials and subject areas for illustration projects. Besides good drawing skills, we look for visually literate people who can talk confidently about what they like doing, the books they read and the films they watch. Illustrators are people who are interested in life in general and we look for people from different backgrounds and those with enquiring minds.

 

STUDY TIME

Study is divided across taught hours, studio and/or work environment time, and independent study. Excellent professional and technical support is available and students are encouraged to experiment and work collaboratively on self-initiated projects. We expect students to spend an average of 40 hours per week on their studies, although it is likely that these hours will vary throughout the academic year.

 

A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS COURSE
More student work, together with a look at our studios, recent projects, exhibitions, industry links and details of our course staff, can all be viewed in the ‘Showcase’ for this course. 

 

COURSE LEADER

Lisa Richardson

CONTACT

Admissions

Tel: 01202 363228/363225

Email: admissions@aucb.ac.uk

 

Illustration