Course summary

The Foundation Degree in Illustration will teach you how to creatively develop your own style, reflecting the imaginative way you see and communicate with the ever changing world. You 'll explore different contexts of image making, from traditional illustration and commercial application through to indie books, information graphics, zines, moving image, limited edition prints, surface pattern and illustrative products. You will learn to work independently, creatively and critically in a variety of contexts, as we support your enthusiasm to design, manufacture, market and sell your own work. We will support you in developing professional skills in every assignment, including creative problem solving, project management, working to a brief and completing work to a deadline. Through continuous self-reflection, you 'll develop and identify personal strengths, helping you to recognise transferable skills and how they will be useful for future employment. You 'll work on exciting live project briefs and benefit from visiting practitioners who work in the industry; delivering workshops, offering portfolio guidance, and talking about their own practice. Introducing you to explore commercial practice, we also encourage you to professionally promote yourself and also to explore your own ideas through self-directed and professional approaches which will extend the boundaries of your visual language. As you develop your interests you can choose to adapt your study to a range of creative specialisms, including editorial illustration, children 's books, independent publishing, printmaking, modelling, interactive illustration and surface pattern. You will enjoy a varied programme of cultural and inspirational trips both locally, nationally and internationally giving you the opportunity to visit galleries and other relevant locations that will inform and enhance your work. You will be part of a diverse creative environment which provides you with access to all kinds of industry standard facilities benefitting from both traditional and high-tech equipment. In both years you will have your own dedicated workspace within our illustration studio and the opportunities to work with a range of other specialist workshops and facilities in the college.