Illustration

Illustration is one of the most versatile creative disciplines, appearing in publishing, advertising, editorial media, animation, games, product design, and public art. An illustrator translates ideas, stories, and information into visual form, and the field demands both technical skill and the ability to develop a distinctive visual voice that can communicate across contexts. The discipline has always sat at the intersection of art and communication, and it continues to evolve as new platforms and technologies create fresh opportunities for image-makers.

At Brighton this three-year full-time degree develops your practice across drawing, printmaking, digital illustration, and other media, building the technical range and conceptual depth that professional illustration requires. You will explore the history and theory of illustration alongside your practical work, developing an understanding of the field that informs your creative decision-making. Projects will ask you to work across different briefs and contexts, developing your ability to adapt your approach while maintaining a coherent creative identity.

The programme includes a sandwich year and work placement opportunities, giving you sustained professional experience and the chance to build industry relationships while you are still studying. Brighton's creative environment and the university's strong links with the creative industries provide a rich context for your development as a practitioner.

You will graduate with a professional portfolio that represents the range and quality of your practice, which is central to entry into the illustration profession. Career paths highlighted for Brighton graduates include work as an illustrator, concept artist, special effects technician, and production designer, reflecting the breadth of contexts in which illustration skills are applied.

Graduates work in publishing and editorial illustration, children's books, character design, animation pre-production, advertising, surface pattern, and digital content. Many work freelance, building a practice across multiple clients and contexts. Postgraduate study in illustration or a related discipline is an option for those who want to develop their research or specialist expertise further.