Illustration

Illustration is the art of creating images that communicate, inform, interpret and express. It sits at the boundary between fine art and commercial communication, serving editorial, narrative, conceptual and decorative purposes across publishing, advertising, animation, games, fashion and many other creative industries. The discipline requires both technical drawing skill and the capacity to develop a distinctive visual voice, to respond to a brief with intelligence and originality, and to produce work that communicates effectively across different contexts and audiences.

At Southampton Solent University this programme includes a foundation year, providing a pathway into degree-level study for students who want to develop their creative practice and academic skills before progressing to the full degree. The main programme runs full time over three years after the foundation year. You will develop a comprehensive drawing-based skill set, working across both traditional and digital media, and you will build a professional portfolio that reflects the breadth and originality of your creative practice.

The programme is designed to prepare you for a competitive creative industry, where the quality of your portfolio is the primary measure of your professional readiness.

You will engage with illustration history and theory alongside your practical work, developing a critical understanding of the contexts in which illustration operates and the traditions from which contemporary practice draws. You will also develop the professional skills needed to work with clients, respond to briefs, manage projects and present your work effectively.

Graduates from illustration programmes work as editorial illustrators, book illustrators, concept artists, character designers, motion graphics artists, surface pattern designers and visual communicators across a wide range of creative industries. Some graduates establish freelance practices, while others work in-house with publishers, advertising agencies, games studios, animation companies and design consultancies. Postgraduate study in illustration, animation, graphic narrative or related creative fields is also an option for those seeking further development.