Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
ILLUSTRATION
Do you have a keen eye for creating imagery, crafting stories or developing characters? Want to experiment with different artistic techniques and formats? If so, BNU's BA (Hons) Illustration course could be for you.
Develop your own personal style as you study creative problem solving and discover how your creations can work within a commercial setting. With the support of BNU's industry-expert lecturers you’ll learn how to develop your skills, respond professionally to briefs and bring your idea’s to life.
Why study this subject?
See the world differently and bring your visual ideas to life for those around you. As an illustrator, you have the opportunity to create and design visual imagery for everything from publishing to advertising campaigns.
Whether you end up in a studio, working as a freelance visual-artist or following one of the other many routes illustration offers, you can be sure that your designs and creations can help convey a message to consumers and artistically inspire the next generation of image makers.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
With a history of delivery expert craft, art and design education for more than 130 years, Buckinghamshire New University is the perfect place to start your creative career.
Led by their dedicated and supportive course team, you will have the freedom to explore all areas of Illustration, whether that’s digital such as vector art or traditional methods such as printmaking. You’ll work on a diverse range of creative projects written by the course team or self-written as well as external competition and industry briefs.
During your time with Buckinhamsheir New University you’ll get direct access to guest lectures and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and plenty of networking chances. As well as this we equip you with really important skills in preparing you for a successful career through lectures, seminars workshops as part of our Professional Studies and Professional Practice modules.
As well as this you’ll have access to a range of our facilities to help you bring your visions to life. This includes Adobe Creative Suite programmes and a range of hands-on methods, from silkscreen and letterpress to laser cutting and 3D printing technology.
London is only a short journey away, so you can easily visit some of the world’s best exhibitions, galleries and museums for inspiration and research.
What facilities can you use?
BNU have a stunning range of equipment for you to realise your ideas. They don’t restrict you to using computer software, even though we have everything from the Adobe Creative Suite programs to plotter cutters and photo studios. You can craft beautiful image solutions using their silkscreen, letterpress, and litho equipment, as well as their laser cutting and 3D printing technology. They make sure you get as hands-on with their equipment as possible.
What will I study?
This course gives you many opportunities to explore the diverse world of illustration, whatever your chosen field within image-making.
You’ll work on creative projects set by your lecturers as well as external competition and/or industry briefs. They give you the freedom to write your own briefs and start realising your ideas. You’ll also work with professional illustrators who will critique your work and help you improve your illustrations. Group work with others helps prepare you for working in the professional world where you will have to generate ideas and present them to clients.
The course has been designed to provide students with a vocationally relevant education in the dynamic world of commercial Illustration. Over the duration of the 3 years you are given many opportunities to explore the varied world of Illustration in a diverse range of ways. Vital skills in creative problem solving, research methods, team working, project management, presentation skills, design strategy, art direction and independent learning are present throughout the course. These cross disciplines transferable skills significantly contribute to employability prospects. Dynamic project briefs aligned to industry skills development, form the basis of the course, which are supported by industry led and competition briefs.
The Critical and Historical Studies modules run throughout the three years which develops historical perspectives, research, and writing skills and provides the academic grounding on which to develop critical understanding and practical application.
The 1st year is where you get to explore the many workshop facilities and equipment that the department has to offer from laser cutting, the Adobe Creative Suite, letterpress printing and photography. These skills are introduced by experienced technical instructors in workshop sessions and activities.
Through practical hands-on, project based learning you will explore the fundamental core aspects of the subject such as narrative structure, hierarchy, composition and layout, typography, information design, image creation and conceptual thinking skills. Students are encouraged to take risks in their work, and learn to challenge established languages and processes through questioning and individual experimentation.
Through specialist 2nd year modules in Editorial Applications and Narrative Illustration students explore a range of media, techniques and theoretical ideas which build an understanding of the role of a professional illustrator. By investigating contexts and audiences through practical projects and live briefs, students develop their personal visual language, consolidate critical and strategic thinking, complex problem-solving and presentation skills, to build an awareness of the wider contextual role of an Illustrator.
During the year students are introduced to the Professional Studies module which focuses on preparing students for their career. Practical work is supported by a range of guest speakers who help contextualise project work in an industry environment.
Towards the latter part of this academic year you will begin work on your dissertation topic, which culminates in the final year. The dissertation can be developed and submitted in either a traditional or alternative format such as a film or a designed artefact as a way to facilitate practice based research.
The 3rd year focuses on personal exploration, application and developing personal voice through a Major Project module. We encourage students to investigate their own interests by writing a brief that challenges students to create innovative and imaginative solutions to problems in areas that are important to them. At this stage studies are tailored towards individual career paths, or further study, for example at MA level.
The Professional Practice module is centred upon students own career aspirations, and through guest lectures from industry specialists, seminars and live and industry projects students build their own distinctive portfolio that demonstrates your unique strengths and interests to prospective work opportunities upon graduation.
The final year normally culminates in taking part in the graduate Art and Design Showcase exhibition at the university. I addition, students are offered the opportunity put forward work for the D&AD New Blood exhibition in central London, where a selected group of students are also invited to attend.
How will I be taught and assessed?
You’ll work alongside a diverse community of illustrators and graphic designers, each working on their own projects, just as a ‘real-world’ design studio would function. You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in any design group.
You’ll also work with professional illustrators who will give you feedback and pointers on how you can develop your imagery. Workshops, lectures and seminars with other students in the art and design department help you prepare you for life in an agency or studio environment where you will need good presentation and ideas generation skills as you meet and impress clients. We have many visiting tutors running workshop-based sessions in fields as diverse as stencil print, bookbinding, branding, ideas generation, storytelling, and ethical design.
To build your experience, BNU support work placements for the right students with companies that we have long relationships with. Students have worked for publishers, advertising agencies and magazines as well as winning awards such as the V&A Illustration Award.
What are your career prospects?
They have a good employment rate with many of our graduates going into work or further education after the course. As you develop a wide range of skills and abilities ready for your career, you’ll be able to specialise in a multitude of different areas. BNU has graduates working as freelance as illustrators, graphic designers, typographers, web designers in areas such advertising, publishing whilst others have started their own businesses.
Throughout your time with BNU they’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. They will help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. They also help you find employment after graduation.
BNU's BA (Hons) Illustration course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:
- Illustrator
- Graphic Designer
- Story Board Artist
- Concept Artist
- Print maker
They are really proud of their graduates, whose profiles tell their own story:
- Rob Flowers successful freelance illustrator represented by Blink Art
- Alex Tait is a successful freelance image-maker represented by Jelly Agency
- Elissa Gay commissions illustration at Random House Publishing
- Laura Carlin, who won first prize in the V&A Illustration Awards, is represented by Heart Agency, and her work is seen in the national press.
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