Online Masters Degree in Illustration

MA

You will need to complete four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit project (180 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award.

PGDip

You will need to complete four 30-credit modules (120 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. A dissertation (major project) is not required.

Core Modules

• Process and Practice
• Visual Language
• Narrative and Storytelling
• Professional Practice
• Major Project (MA only)

Process and Practice (30 credits)

During this module students examine contemporary illustration practice in the context of personal, global and professional insights that help to establish the core principles of study for the course.
Identity provides an immediate opportunity for cross-cultural reflection as students introduce themselves through a series of projects that establish the innovative and collaborative ways of working together online.
Then, students explore approaches to ideas generation and encounter different creative processes, methodologies, critical theory and systems of visual problem-solving aimed to provoke, question and develop their practice and reflective analysis skills.
Finally, students will critically reflect on the contextual direction of their studies with a view to positioning their own practice. They will identify preliminary research objectives and through ongoing practice and reflection, consider the scope and parameters of their intended contextual pathway. These include, for example, editorial, advertising, site-specific, non-fiction/information, children’s books/young audience, authorial practice, although none of these are exclusive.

Visual Language (30 credits)

During this module, students will explore approaches to the core mark‐making skills relevant to the practice of illustration. They will be encouraged to strengthen observational drawing skills alongside more experimental approaches to mark making. Parallel to this, they will study global perspectives, assessing whether and when visual language requires translation.
The student will initiate and consolidate the development of a personal visual language and test the relationship between it and ideas generation. They will critically evaluate the role that composition and colour theory play in successful visual communication.
The module examines the role that visual languages play in the successful communication of ideas to a chosen audience. A collaborative research project will explore cultural perspective; similarity, difference and ambiguity within the international arena, harnessing the geographic and cultural scope of the student cohort.
In the second part of the module students elect to choose from a set of current or previous industry-led briefs. Selected by the course team, these are drawn from global industry and may be live projects. Students with a clear vision of their pathway can instead negotiate a project aligned more closely to their interests.

Narrative and Storytelling (30 credits)

In this module students will examine the role of ‘storytelling’ within visual communication across all contexts. They will consider different approaches to sequential storytelling such as linear narrative, multiple narrative, narrative structure, plot types, counterpoint, character development, pace and flow and the concept of the passage of time within a narrative context.
A collaborative project will introduce the importance of generating a creative methodology to effectively communicate narrative through visual means. Through a critical essay, students will then analyse and critically reflect on different formats for visual narrative and how the natures of these different formats impact on narrative delivery; including children’s books, graphic novels, comics, online, gaming, apps, creative writing, storyboarding.
Finally, while developing their own visual narrative on a socially driven issue, students will explore the social context, cultural and/or cognitive requirements involved in communicating with their intended audience. This will be developed as a portfolio submission that brings together theory and practice.

Professional Practice (30 credits)

During this module students consider the professional practice of Illustration, its applications, procedures and networks within a contemporary global context, building entrepreneurial skills to inform an individual’s career or business future.
Students put theory into practice by examining entrepreneurship, the culture of self-promotion, advertising and self-publishing - a key part of the armoury of the contemporary illustrator - by creating their own authorial artefact, prototyped and potentially ready to publish/deliver.
Parallel to this, students develop a business focused individual report considering the core knowledge, planning, leadership and legal frameworks to manage their studio, current self-promotional project and/or creative initiative. Students will consider their ‘brand values’ and how best to disseminate them to the right people in industry, requiring students to build a network of industry connections.
Students will develop a coherent and coordinated communications campaign strategy, with an advanced understanding of marketing (including social media) and self-promotion.

Major Project (60 credits)

During this module students will develop and evolve their personal practice through a final major project, informed by an in-depth appreciation of relevant critical and cultural contexts and positioned to support future direction within the global visual communications industry.
The MA Project comprises a practice-based output or ‘body of work’ accompanied by a critical contextual report. Project work can be developed and tested from a number of perspectives pertinent to an individual’s interests and ambition. It can be research or theory-led (supporting preparation for study at PhD level) or predominantly personally or professionally orientated (for independent or studio / group practice).