Illustration (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  The Illustration top-up programme provides you with the specialist skills and knowledge needed to further your understanding of visual communication and storytelling, working in the creative industries, or potentially progressing onto master’s study. Having already developed the skills and qualifications for years 1 and 2 on your previous course, with us in year 3 you’ll be able to focus on expanding your conceptual and technical skills and honing your portfolio with a focus on illustration.

  You will learn through studio practice, specialist media workshops, lectures and seminars to help you understand contemporary illustration practice.

  As well as active learning and studio practice, the Illustration course offers you the opportunity to develop a self-initiated project around your illustration interests and passions. Alongside this your tutors will set a brief and others will be international competitions and a public facing, collaborative brief.

  There will be opportunities to work on live projects as they come up and the course runs a paid professional field trip and cultural trips. Visiting speakers and alumni will offer valuable insights into areas of the profession as well as feedback on your work and portfolios.

  We regularly host visiting speakers, industry specialists and illustration agencies giving you practical learning and advice from the professionals.

  Paid professional practice fieldtrip

  As part of this Top-Up BA Illustration course, you will take part in a paid trip to support the professional practice aspects of a module’s assignment. These trips have included visiting a range of publishers such as Nobrow press, Penguin Random House, Egmont publishers and The Guardian to hear from commissioners about the process of commissioning work for their publications. We have also visited illustration collectives such as Le Gun and illustration agency Artworks.

  European trip

  Each year we plan a week-long, self-funded trip to a European city as a extra-curricular cultural experience. The trip is offered to all year groups on both the illustration and Graphic Communication Design courses and runs around February – March each year. In the past, we have visited Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, and Madrid.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Practice Realisation (80 Credits)
      Module code: 2DD4005

      Status: Compulsory
      This module enables students to advance their practice to a professional level, honing career preparations. Students will originate a body of work informed by research and planning that explores `illustrator as author? and `illustrator as problem solver?. Professionally resolved, quality outcomes will be presented through portfolio and by exhibition.

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught on BA Illustration (Top up)?

  You will be taught through a variety of methods such as;

  • Project briefs (staff-set/self-set /live/competition)
  • Workshops/demonstrations
  • Individual and group tutorials
  • Group critiques and presentations
  • E-tivities/Active Blended Learning / Online
  • Visiting speakers and Industry Guests
  • Seminars

  You will be taught by a team of Senior Lecturers, Lecturers and Associate Lecturers – this is the core team that you have contact with week in, week out. It is these lecturers that deliver the majority of your taught experience, set project briefs, assess your work and lead study visits.

  How will I be assessed?

  You will be assessed through a range of illustration and visual communication assignments, including portfolios, presentations, essays, and self-assessment.

  Is there any suggested reading and materials?

  You are expected to have a core kit of art materials that at year 3 will generally be the materials you now favour in your work. In addition, you will need a sketchbook, notebook and SD card for use with cameras and importantly some storage for your work such as external hard drive.

  Reading:

  • Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials by Gillian Rose (available in UON library and as PDF)
  • The A-Z of visual ideas: how to solve any creative brief by John Ingledew (available in UON library and as PDF)
  • The Power and Influence of Illustation by Alan Male (available in UON library)
  • Illustration: A Theoretical & Contextual Perspective by Alan Male (available in UON library)
  • Illustration: Meeting the Brief by Alan Male
  • Illustration Research Methods by Rachel Gannon and Mireille Fauchon

  Journals:

  • Journal of Illustration by Intellect Books Ltd (available in UON library and online)
  • Studies in Comics by Intellect Books Ltd  (available in UON library and online)
  • Varoom by AOI (Association of Illustration – available in UON library and online)

  Web:

  • AOI (Association of Illustration) and Varoom as a section of this site
  • Its Nice That
  • Creative Lives in Progress

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