Illustration BA Honours

Program Overview

The Illustration BA Honours program at the University of Westminster is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in visual communication and illustration skills, through a wide range of traditional and digital mediums. The program emphasizes the development of a distinctive creative voice, professional credentials, and industry experience, preparing students for successful careers as freelance illustrators or in various design and media fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Illustration BA Honours program at the University of Westminster is designed to help students develop their creative voice and gain the skills necessary for a successful career in illustration. The program emphasizes a broad range of visual communication practices, encompassing both traditional and digital mediums. Students will explore techniques like drawing from life, printmaking, 3D making, and digital art, while also learning about emerging technologies. The program focuses on building professional credentials, including portfolio development, client negotiation, and branding.

Objectives:

• Develop a distinctive creative voice.
• Gain skills in both physical and digital arts.
• Explore emerging opportunities in design and new media.
• Learn to market skills and network with industry professionals.
• Gain valuable industry experience through a placement year.
• Showcase work at prestigious graduate shows.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Digital Arts 1: Introduces students to digital art techniques and software.
• Documentary Illustration: Explores the use of illustration in documentary contexts.
• Illustration: Contexts and Cultures: Examines the role of illustration in different cultures and historical periods.
• Industry 1: Working in Professional Contexts: Provides an overview of the illustration industry and professional practices.
• Drawing Exploration: Develops observational drawing skills as a foundation for various mediums.
• Visual Effects: Introduces students to visual effects techniques and software.

Year 2:

• Visual Storytelling: Explores the art of visual storytelling through various mediums.
• Contextualised Practice: Develops students' understanding of the context in which illustration is created and consumed.
• Digital Arts 2: Builds upon the skills learned in Year 1, focusing on advanced digital art techniques.
• Industry 2: Professional Practice and Enterprise: Provides further insights into professional practices and entrepreneurship in the illustration field.
• Sequence and Message: Explores the use of illustration to convey narratives and messages.
• Brands: Examines the role of illustration in branding and visual identity.
• Designing for Games: Introduces students to the principles of game design and the use of illustration in game development.
• Reality VR, AR, and MR: Explores the use of illustration in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality applications.
• Theories of Media and Communication: Provides a theoretical framework for understanding media and communication.
• UX/UI Design: Introduces students to the principles of user experience and user interface design.

Placement Year:

• Students can choose to spend a year in a relevant company or study abroad at a partner institution.
• This option leads to the award of BA Honours – Illustration with Professional Experience or BA Honours – Illustration with International Experience.

Year 3:

• Digital Arts 3: Focuses on advanced digital art techniques and their application in professional contexts.
• Industry 3: Professional Practice and Public Engagement: Provides further insights into professional practices and public engagement strategies for illustrators.
• Major Project (Illustration): Students undertake a major illustration project, culminating in a final portfolio.
• Audio Storytelling: Explores the use of illustration in audio storytelling.
• Contextual Research Project: Develops students' research skills and ability to conduct independent research.
• Creative Advertising: Examines the role of illustration in advertising and marketing.
• Critical Design: Explores the critical and social aspects of design.
• Stop-Motion Animation: Introduces students to the techniques of stop-motion animation.
• User Experience (UX) and App Design: Introduces students to the principles of user experience and app design.

Assessment:

• Practical: Presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts.
• Written exams: End of semester exams.
• Coursework: Essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation.

Teaching:

• Teaching methods: Lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, practical application.
• Faculty: Tutors have extensive experience in illustration, fine art filmmaking, and curation.
• Unique approaches: Industry professionals and alumni visit regularly to talk to students about their future careers.
Collaborative learning opportunities with students from other courses.

Careers:

• Potential career paths: Freelance illustrator, designer in publishing houses, media companies, or events management, storyboard artist, prop maker, concept artist for visual effects, virtual and augmented reality, or computer games.
• Opportunities: The Careers and Employability Service provides support and networking opportunities with over 3,000 employers worldwide.
• The campus houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.
• The University provides access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.
• The program is part of the Art, Design and Visual Culture and Media and Communication departments.
• The program is taught by active practitioners who ensure that what students learn reflects the needs of today's creative industries.
• Students have access to industry-standard facilities, including six large studios, printmaking, 3D workshops, and an Emerging Media Space.
• The program is accredited by the Association of Illustrators and D&AD.
• Students have access to events, industry-set competitions, awards schemes, and other opportunities through these organizations.
• The program is taught in a dynamic mix of formats, including individual tutorials, student-led studio classes, group work, presentations, technical sessions, online training, and lectures.
• Students will collaborate with students from other courses, helping them to build vital teamwork skills.
• Students will get to hear talks from visiting artists, take part in workshops led by industry experts, and go on frequent trips into central London to exhibitions and design fairs.
• The program is designed to be accessible and incredibly freeing, encouraging students to follow their thoughts and develop their own practice.
• The program is inclusive and stimulating, with up-to-date and comfortable facilities.
• The modules are well-constructed and prepare students professionally.
• The program has a strong alumni network, with graduates working in a variety of fields.
• The program is highly regarded by industry professionals.

• UK tuition fee: £9,250 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price per academic year)
• EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme
Students will need to pay for some specialist art materials. The University provides Adobe CC software, and it’s preferable to have your own laptop.