Course Overview

Studying on BA (Hons) Graphic Design and Illustration (Visual Communication) you will have the freedom to explore both graphic design and illustration without the stigma of working between or within subjects, allowing you to bridge the two and go on to develop a practice that blurs the line between the two - a key characteristic that has become more common in the industry.

You will learn a great deal in a fun environment. You get to learn alongside fine art, photography, design, and illustration students. So if you're not 100 percent about your direction or can't choose between subjects (maybe you enjoy more than one) you can use it as a diagnostic year to help you choose. One of the major benefits of all our foundation courses is you are free to switch direction should you change your mind.

As you progress you will join students who will be at the forefront of future-focused design. You will experiment and develop emerging technology such as AR/VR (XR), AI, game engines, electronics, sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and robotics. You will play a role in shaping the world around us with free-thinking ideas and opportunities.

You will be supported by the yearly employability initiative Detour Ahead: Roadmaps for the Art and Design Industry, week-long inter-disciplinary guest talks offering you industry insights as well as guidance on subjects such as freelancing, copyright, and tax.

You will be able to develop an original, individual approach to creating graphic design and illustration, coupled with a thorough understanding of the social, cultural, and professional context occupied by these two disciplines. Having skills in both areas (feet in both camps) allows a more adaptable approach to taking on work and being successful, chiming with the requirements of Creative Industries 4.0, where discipline distinctions become increasingly irrelevant to professional life.

Students gain fresh perspectives and approaches (divergent thinking) giving them an edge in the competitive creative job market, and skills for the fourth industrial age (4iR).

You will have the freedom to explore both graphic design and illustration without the stigma of working between or within subjects, allowing you to bridge between the two and go on to develop a practice that blurs the line between the two - a key characteristic that has become more common in the industry.

Towards the end of the course, in the final year, you will be able to gravitate towards one or another of the named subjects as your creative voice emerges. It's that flexibility which is the underlying selling point of this course.

At any point should you feel more like an illustrator or more of a designer you can seamlessly switch between the degree courses?

General Eligibility

A LEVEL

Must include passes at A2 in at least two subjects.

BTEC

Extended Diploma or Diploma

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• IELTS score of 5.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking (or recognized equivalent).