ABOUT THE COURSE

On this innovative course you can turn your stories and creative concepts into narrative by exploring the art of illustration and visual communication in children’s and adult’s narrative, together with editorial and journalistic illustration.

In dedicated studio space at our Below Bar campus, you’ll have the room, equipment and academic support to reach your full potential. You’ll study a variety of units such as Orientation, Concepts and Themes, Visual Language, Critical Discourse, Editorial, The Society of Superstition and Phobias and Research and Authorship; with options to specialise in your preferred area of creativity.

You’ll also propose, plan and produce a body of work that will draw together your technical and conceptual skills and demonstrate competence in studio protocols and proficiency in applying methods, materials and technologies. This innovative degree explores the art of illustration and visual communication in children’s and adult’s narrative, together with editorial and journalistic illustration which explores new approaches to contemporary illustration.

You will be encouraged to experiment and develop your own voice in an environment where you will feel free to take risks, and be ambitious in developing your personal approach to visual art as either a practitioner or critic and theorist. To underpin creativity and encourage understanding of transferable skills and management of learning, emphasis is placed on gaining hands-on practice, from working in the print room to drawing on the streets, and working on projects and case studies to gain experience of working on live briefs.

In previous years, students have been given the opportunity to exhibit, both in Southampton and London, and to have their work seen by a collection of art directors and agencies. Past students have also been encouraged to enter industry competitions to gain exposure for their creative work and have also been able to publish and print their work through our in-house printing organisation to sell at artists’ book fairs.

Solent’s Illustration course will prepare you for employment in a variety of roles including:

• Freelancer
• Book illustration
• Editorial illustration
• Design-house Artworker
• Junior Designer
• Animation

You’ll benefit from our programme of high-profile guest lecturers - previous speakers have included illustrator Holly Wales, Matt Curtis from the Sunday Times Magazine, and Hamish Muir, co-founder of MuirMcNeil. You’ll gain industry insight from links with the Association of Illustrators and advertising and design organisation D&AD. The course team will encourage you to enter industry competitions to gain exposure through your creative work.

We have strong links with a variety of clients, including local organisations such as Southampton City Council, and design bodies like D&AD and the Association of Illustrators. Every student will be given chances to exhibit, both in Southampton and London, and to have their work seen by a collection of art directors and agencies. You will also be able to publish and print your work through our in-house printing organisation, for sale at artist’s book fairs.

In addition to their studies at Solent, during their second year, past students have had the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad at one of our EU partner universities in inspiring locations such as Valencia and Venice.