Program Overview

MA Illustration

Overview

This is a highly practical course, utilising methods through which illustration can be created and applied by challenging making and thinking. This approach enables you to become competitive, recognisable and adaptable.

You work on illustration practices, processes and outcomes, including commercial, editorial, authorial, sequential, multiform or active/participatory. You produce work for print and publishing, international competitions, children's picture books, zines, graphic novels, digital and screen-based production including animation, motion or large-scale installation.

You study at our School of Arts & Creative Industries, led by Teesside University and MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art), an international contemporary museum and gallery. You gain a full artistic experience, learning in a social space that inspires dynamic ideas, fuels collaboration and allows you to build local, national and international networks with industry professionals for your future illustration career.

Course Structure

Core Modules

• Fundamental Illustration: A picture speaks a thousand words, but how do pictures tell a story? You explore the capabilities of the single image to communicate on its own. You engage in creative and innovative ways with typical commercial outputs. You explore book covers, posters and promotional material that use illustration - each time reconsidering the communicative potential of the single image.
• Illustration for Communication: You interrogate the field of visual communication and investigate the power of image-based communication in the commercial world.
• Illustration in Brief: You will have the opportunity to demonstrate a deep and nuanced understanding of the key issues relating to the development of illustrative art created in response to found material.
• Launchpad: Exit to Industry: Through a series of workshops, you produce a range of professional assets designed to support your career aspirations.
• Masters Project: Illustration: You undertake a major, in-depth, individual study into an appropriate specialisation.
• Research Methods: You gain a grounding in research approaches and processes in the creative arts disciplines.
• Visual Identity: You research and analyse an area of interest and develop a range of creative responses, developing a piece of illustrative art which communicates your original idea or story.

Advanced Practice (2 Year Full-Time MA Only)

• Advanced Practice: Undertake an opportunity that builds on your existing knowledge, skills, and experience and supports your future career interests and aspirations.

How You Learn

Research, theory and applied practice grounds your studies as you develop your own practice-based approach. Context of methodologies include individual, principles, research, historical or narrative.

How You Are Assessed

Various assessment methods are used throughout all of the modules and are specified in the module handbooks. These are primarily what we call in-course assessments, where you submit work during the delivery of the module, rather than sit timed examinations at the end.

Entry Requirements

You will normally have a first degree in related discipline (2.2 minimum) or relevant experience or equivalent qualifications.

Employability

You could work as a freelancer or as an in-house studio illustrator across print, publishing or digital/screen. You are taught by tutors with strong industry backgrounds and excellent networks.

Fees

Full-Time

• UK Applicants: £7,710 a year
• International Applicants: £17,000 a year

Part-Time

• UK Applicants: £855 for each 20 credits

Length and Start Date

• Full-Time: September enrolment: 1 year (20 months with Advanced Practice). January enrolment: 16 months (2 years with Advanced Practice).
• Part-Time: September enrolment: 2 years. January enrolment: 28 months.

Career Opportunities

You could work as a freelancer or as an in-house studio illustrator across print, publishing or digital/screen. You are taught by tutors with strong industry backgrounds and excellent networks. You have access to international artists and cutting-edge practice through MIMA’s visiting speaker programme.