Character Design & Concept Art

If you are studying the BA (Hons) Character Design & Concept Art with Integrated Foundation Year version of this course, key topics of your integrated foundation year will include:

• Fundamental design principles: typography, colour, hierarchy, layout, and imagery
• Developing clear visual narratives, identities, and design systems
• Crafting effective visual storytelling through sequencing, pace, and tone
• Conducting research with cultural, social, and ethical awareness
• Mastery of industry-standard software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Animate, After Effects, Acrobat, Premiere Pro)
• Managing production workflows from pre-production to post-production
• Critically evaluating design work using relevant criteria
• Creating professional portfolios, slide decks, and pitch presentations

Key study themes for the 3 year version of this course, and Year 1, 2, 3, of the Integrated Foundation Year version of this course are:

Applying your skills across a range of illustrative applications including: 

• drawing and image-making fundamentals
• understanding and interpreting narrative informed by research
• using digital image-making tools and 3D modelling to bring characters and environments to life.

In year 1 you will build essential skills in ideation, character design and narrative. You will be introduced to industry standard software such as Photoshop and Cinema 4D and cover the intricacies of world building for the motion picture, animation and video game industry.

Modules:

• Introduction to Visual Culture
• Introduction to Illustration Practice
• Visual Culture Futures
• Narrative Concepts and Communication
• Professional Life Practice: Developing Your Practice
• Professional Life Practice: Exploring Your Practice

In year 2 you will focus on live briefs from industry and deepen your skill building in digital media (both 2D and 3D) and engaging with visual and textual research to invent new worlds and characters. 

You will also gain valuable work experience in industry as part of year 2.

Modules:

• Organic Forms - Anatomy & Dynamics
• New Dimensions - From 2D to 3D
• Building Imaginary Worlds - Deconstructing Narrative & Applied Research
• Professional Life Practice: Applying Your Practice
• Work Based Learning

During year 3 you will prepare for the creative industries, working on projects directed towards specific sectors of the industry. You will have access to Industry experts who will guide your portfolio development and you will have the opportunity to showcase your work in public facing venues.

Modules:

• Pro Level - Live Briefs and Real World Projects
• Professional Life Practice: Situating Your Practice
• Pitch - Major Project
• Concept Art & Character Design Portfolio

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade CC or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade MPP
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 64 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course. We still think exams are important and look forward to hearing about your successes, but we place just as much importance on the work you will share with us as part of our portfolio process.

Interview and portfolio requirements

Admission onto this course is also subject to successful completion of a portfolio (or showreel). 

We are looking for aspiring illustrators who are passionate about image-making, and want to take part in shaping the future of visual communication.

We are not seeking industry-ready professionals, or people with established styles - we are simply looking for students who are excited and intrigued by character design and concept art, and have the curiosity and motivation to approach it with the energy and focus it needs.

This means that we have no specific requirements for what should be in your portfolio, but we would like to see evidence of how you like to make images (it doesn’t matter if that’s drawing, painting, digital work, collage, photography, animation - that part is up to you), as well as roughs, sketchbooks and development, so that we can get an idea of how you create your work.

Technical and digital skills are useful, but not mandatory - digital workshops run throughout the course, and will get you up to speed on everything you need to learn to create industry-ready work.

This page offers great tips for completing your portfolio/showreel.

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade DD or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade PPP
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 48 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course. We still think exams are important and look forward to hearing about your successes, but we place just as much importance on the work you will share with us as part of our interview and/or portfolio process.

Selection criteria

You should ideally have a background in art, creative media or design.

There are no interview or portfolio requirements for this course.