Illustration

Illustration is a discipline that sits at the intersection of art, design and communication, concerned with how images tell stories, convey information and create meaning. Illustrators work across a remarkable range of contexts, from children's books and editorial commissions to graphic novels, advertising, character design, motion graphics and game art. The discipline demands both a distinctive creative voice and the technical versatility to work effectively across different media, from drawing and printmaking to digital tools and animation.

At the University of Plymouth this three-year full-time degree develops your confidence and creative skills through a combination of practical workshops, studio projects and engagement with a wide range of media and approaches. You will experiment with traditional and contemporary techniques, including drawing, printmaking, life drawing and expressive mark-making, developing the visual language and technical range that allows you to respond effectively to different creative briefs and find your own distinctive practice. The degree includes a year abroad option, giving you the opportunity to develop your creative perspective in an international context.

Graduates from Illustration degrees go on to careers across the creative industries in a wide range of roles. Many work as freelance illustrators across editorial, publishing, advertising and character design contexts, while others find positions in animation studios, games companies, in-house design teams and educational publishers. The visual thinking, creative problem-solving and technical skills the degree develops also translate well into adjacent fields such as graphic design, art direction, surface pattern design and textile design.

For those wishing to continue their studies, the degree provides a strong foundation for postgraduate work in illustration, animation, graphic design or visual communication.