Norwich University of the Arts
BA (Hons) Illustration
Norwich, United Kingdom
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Overview
Follow in the illustrious footsteps of graduates from our undergraduate illustration course, who have achieved success in diverse fields, including adult and children’s book illustration and comics; documentary illustration (reportage) for editorial publications; narrative illustration for advertising and a range of contemporary craft and design publications; as well as film, screen and theatrical-based work.
Course content
Year 1
- Develop and explore methods of researching
- Examine storytelling through visual narrative and sequential design
- Explore analogue and digital image-making
- Develop an understanding of visual communication, informed by design principles and cultural ideas
- Understand drawing languages, observational drawing, mark-making, print, collage and multi-media processes
Year 2
- Develop and apply experimental approaches to Factual and Fictional ideas
- Initiate and manage illustration projects in collaboration with students from other courses and external partners from outside of the University
- Apply research and creative skills across a range of commercial and experimental narrative illustration applications
- Take the opportunity to enter a variety of competitions, stage exhibitions and present work to peers and industry panels to broaden your professional profile
- Illustrate Fictional and Factual stories (written and unwritten)
- Identify research and practice subject matter and illustration specialism for a final year study
Year 3
- Apply specialist skills and employ advanced research methodologies (e.g. field trips, site visits, archive-based research)
- Complete a Research Report that provides a broad contextualization of your illustration practice
- Focus on your promoting your individual creative direction to target appropriate professional roles and opportunities
- Engage in professional practice and 'live' experiences, and channel your specialist illustration knowledge towards the creation of final degree show and graduate portfolio
Your illustration skills
Take an experimental and innovative approach to narrative and sequential illustration to develop your own way of thinking about how to link image, narrative, message and meaning through your work.Use a range of drawing, printmaking, digital and 3D sculpture facilities, and work on projects that will see you applying your ideas to produce 2D work (print, drawing and graphics) and 3D objects (books and models).
Your illustration future
Throughout your degree you’ll develop advanced professional practice skills, covering areas such as freelance careers and employment, entrepreneurship, negotiating, briefs and commissions. Live projects, competitions and collaborations provide extensive work opportunities to prepare you for a successful career after you graduate.You’ll have the chance to exhibit publicly and promote your work through exhibitions as you progress through the course. Pop-up shops and educational events will enable you to graduate with a rich, varied and commercially-attractive portfolio of work that will be notable for its depth of research and technical ambition.
Graduates work in a broad range of careers including:
- Freelance Illustrator
- Self-Publisher
- Printmaker
- Designer
- Picture Book Designer
- Public Artist
- Artist in Residence
- Book Publisher
- Animator
- Filmmaker
- Curator
- Director
- Editorial Publisher
- Gallery Assistant
- Illustration Agent