Illustration BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  The BA Illustration degree at UON is a member of the internationally recognised body for the sector The Association of Illustrators and Varoom and has successful freelance illustrators and industry partners working with the course.

  Our Illustration degree course prepares you primarily for a career as a freelance illustrator or on to postgraduate study. For example, some of our students have gone on to Masters programmes in art therapy, visual communication at the RCA or onto teaching. Other students have gone on to be successful author/illustrators, concept artists, marketing and design roles.

  You will primarily learn through practical studio sessions that will include: workshops, lectures, tutorials, crits and seminars that equip students with idea generating methodologies, technical skills, knowledge and understanding of illustration and design. You will have access to your studio, excellent digital media, printmaking and photography facilities.

  This BA Illustration course begins by providing you with a foundation on which to build your knowledge, understanding and visual communication skills with an emphasis on developing your visual language, and drawing in particular. Across the three years you will be given a range of staff-set, live, International and National competition briefs that allow you to experience a range of illustration challenges.

  As you progress through the course you will be given more and more autonomy with which to choose the brief and shape your portfolio. An important aspect for a contemporary illustrator is to continually develop their own practice and this is reflected in the course structure, students have opportunities to write their own self-directed projects and make choices within set projects.

  Illustration can be used to communicate about any subject so collaboration and working with other disciplines within the university is something we often do.

  As well as developing your ideas, technical skills and approaches to different aspects of narrative, the course offers students the opportunity to attend design and illustration conferences, get feedback on your portfolio from industry experts, and to travel with the course on an annual cultural trip.

  Over the past few years we have visited: Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome and Madrid. We regularly host visiting speakers, industry experts and creative agencies giving you practical learning and advice from professionals.

  Student Successes

  Through the Professional Practice module, our students regularly secure exciting internships, jobs and commissions. Recently students have interned at The House of Illustration in London and gained a tattoo apprenticeship at Elixir Ink in Milton Keynes and graphic designer for Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

  While commissions have ranged from a window display for Gosh comics in London’s Soho, working with the local council to create a character and animation for school children to stay safe online, surface pattern illustration for UK organic underwear company Thunderpants, advertorial for First Chop brewery in Flavourly magazine, beer bottle labels for a UK craft beer brewery and a mural for a local artisan coffee shop and bakery – among many others.

  Past illustration university graduates have pursued their own publishing careers by networking with comic groups, crowd funding their own comics, stories, and books. Running tables at DIY Cultures, one of the largest comics fairs in London. Students have gone on to postgraduate study in art therapy and illustration with articles about their success in Creative Review and Varoom. We invite our alumni students back to give talks to our current students. Each year, third year students exhibit their degree show work at the summer show held at the university and then in London at the D&AD New Blood exhibition.

  

  You can follow Illustration BA (Hons) on Instagram to see all the fun stuff our students get involved in.

  Changing Futures Week

  Our annual Changing Futures Week is an exciting event and an excellent opportunity for our students to explore the potential of their course and understand where their university experience can lead them beyond graduation. It offers a unique chance to network with high profile industry professionals from the arts, TV, film, fashion and more.

  Modules

  Year 1

  • 2DD1035 – Fundamentals of Illustration – 60 Credits (Compulsory)
  • 2DD1036 – Potential of Illustration – 60 Credits (Compulsory)

  Year 2

  • 2DD2025 – Audience, Collaboration and Context – 60 Credits (Compulsory)
  • 2DD2026 – Expanding Practice – 60 Credits (Compulsory)

  Year 3

  • 2DD3010 – Research Focus – 40 Credits (Compulsory)
  • 2DD4005 – Practice Realisation – 80 Credits (Compulsory)

  Collapse
• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full time Illustration degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

  Collapse
• Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

  Collapse
• FAQs

  How will I be taught on the Illustration degree?

  All classes are taught face to face in the specialist studio space or resource areas.

  How many hours per week of teaching?

  In the first year there are 15 hours taught time usually spread over 3 days of the week, typically 10am – 4pm. The rest of the week is independent study time where you can continue to work on your project briefs.

  How will I be assessed?

  Assessment happens at the end of each module at the end of a  semester through a range of methods including; by portfolio of project work, presentation, essay or report. Leading up to assessment, feedback is given weekly/daily via tutorial conversations in the studio, through whole group and small group critiques and formative reviews.

  What jobs can I go into from studying this course?

  Illustration university graduates have a gateway into many job roles and the skills you gain are transferrable to other routes too. The most obvious job is freelance illustrator but students go on to art therapy, forensic illustration, teaching, designer, producer, agent, author/illustrator and many more.

  What specialist facilities will I have access to?

  Our illustration degree course has access to many specialist workshop areas including printmaking and photography where students can develop their own image making techniques. The course also offers free field trips each year where we take students to visit publishing houses, editorial commissioners such as The Guardian, illustration collectives and agencies as well as exhibitions and museums.

  Collapse