COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA Illustration programme provides an advanced and professionally focused curriculum that develops students' creative identity, technical expertise, and industry knowledge through a combination of practical projects, research, and experimentation. The Illustration for Communication module strengthens practical illustration and image-making skills while encouraging students to develop specialist techniques and create a portfolio that reflects their individual creative ambitions and professional direction. Students gain valuable experience by responding to live briefs, competitions, client projects, and promotional opportunities while engaging with professionals, agencies, and organisations through collaboration and networking activities. The programme also encourages an understanding of professional standards, ethics, and industry expectations, helping students bridge the gap between practical skills and theoretical understanding. The Integrated Practice module focuses on developing independent professional practice, critical thinking, and awareness of cultural, ethical, and contextual issues that influence creative work and professional identity, preparing students to operate confidently within complex professional environments. The Masters Project provides an opportunity for an extensive self-directed investigation tailored to personal interests and career aspirations, enabling students to produce significant outputs such as exhibitions, publications, campaigns, artefacts, or digital projects that showcase their artistic vision and professional capabilities. Speculative Illustration Practice encourages experimentation and research-led approaches that challenge conventional illustration methods by combining traditional craft techniques with emerging technologies and post-digital practices. Students explore sustainable and independent ways of working while investigating alternative publishing methods and creative communities, including self-publishing and artisan production. The Moving Image module develops skills in sequential illustration, narrative storytelling, and visual communication across a range of media and audiences. Students create projects for print, digital environments, installations, and site-specific contexts while exploring commercial and self-authored storytelling opportunities. Together, these modules prepare graduates for successful careers as illustrators, visual storytellers, creative directors, publishers, animators, and interdisciplinary creative practitioners within the global creative industries.