BA (Hons) Illustration for Communication

Working in a collaborative studio environment, students will have the opportunity to apply their skills across a range of illustrative applications including:

• Editorial
• Publishing
• Packaging
• Product
• Print
• Advertising
• Character
• Animation

If you are studying the BA (Hons) Illustration for Communication 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.

If you choose to add an Integrated Foundation Year on this course, you will be first introduced to the fundamental principles of design. Your foundation year gives you the time, space and support to explore your strengths, build confidence and prepare for the demands of project-based, industry-focused learning. Modules are as follows*:

• Module 1: Diagnostic exploration - making informed choices
• Module 2: Technical - Technical knowledge in practice
• Module 3: Specialist - Innovating specialist practice
• Module 4: Integration - Integrated practice for progression to Higher Education

Please note: Students starting this course with the Integrated Foundation Year in September 2026/27 will study the 2027/28 approved modules in Years 1, 2 and 3.

Year 1

This studio-led introduction to illustration expands mindsets and skillsets through workshops and projects. 

You will have the opportunity to explore idea generation, documentation and process experimentation, and the creation of images through drawing and mark-making, animation, and traditional as well as digital print making.

A programme of industry practitioners and speakers supplements and enhances the core delivery.

Modules include:

• 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".

Year 2

Year two explores a more individual approach to illustration as a versatile and expanded practice, and encourages the development of creative thinking and ideas generation, combined with a deeper understanding of the broader purposes of the discipline. The ability to express a personal vision, develop an informed opinion and a philosophical stance is facilitated through a combination of ambitious solo and collaborative projects with other connected disciplines.

Modules include:

• Self-authorship and Publishing
• Collaborate
• The Expanded Practice
• Professional Life Practice: "Applying your Practice"
• Work-based learning.

Year 3

The culmination of three years of study in illustration is channelled into industry-led projects and a focus on self-promotion and industry knowledge prepares you for professional life. A range of self-directed projects form the basis of the final portfolio of work appropriate to applied contexts across a broad range of illustration-centric disciplines.

Modules include:

• Competitions and Live Briefs
• Self-directed Major Projects
• Professional Life Practice: "Situating your Practice"
• Self-promotion and Professional Practice.

Year 1

Explore core image-making fundamentals - including drawing, animation, printmaking and ideation - through hands-on studio workshops, lectures and creative experimentation.

Modules may include:

• Rave Beginnings
• History of Visual Culture
• Drawing, Mark-Making & Expression
• Storytelling & Concept
• Future Directions in Visual Culture & EPC

Year 2

Develop your unique visual voice and creative perspective through sequential storytelling, character design, collaborative projects and live work-based learning opportunities

Modules may include:

• Character Development
• Sequential Narratives
• Design Studio
• Play!
• Live & Work-based Learning

Year 3

Refine your industry knowledge, compete on live briefs and build an applied, self-directed portfolio that showcases your personal style to employers.

Modules may include:

• Personal Voice & Style
• Competitions & Live Briefs
• Rave Futures
• Major Project

All modules are subject to revalidation

A variety of learning and teaching methods are employed in this course. 

These include but are not limited to;

Briefings lectures, seminars, practical workshops, studio-based project work, demonstrations, collaborative activities, group discussions, individual and group tutorials, critiques, presentations, industry guest lectures, studio visits, industry-informed briefs, field trips, gallery visits and self-directed independent study.

Study hours

BA (Hons) Illustration for Communication with Integrated Foundation Year

• 1152 hours of face-to-face taught
• 3648 hours independent study learning

BA (Hons) Illustration for Communication

• 864 hours of face-to-face taught
• 2736 hours independent study learning

Basic drawing / image-making tools, sketchbooks: £100 

Note on laptop costs: Students are strongly recommended to have a personal laptop suitable for design software. If a new purchase is needed, budget approximately £600–£1,200 as a one-off cost, ideally timed for the start of Year 1. Shared studio computers are available on campus for students who do not yet have their own device.

Our campus 

You'll study in a building designed to encourage collaboration between the different disciplines and practices within Ravensbourne, and to stimulate the work of innovative professionals and creative collaboration.

It features a variety of workspaces, including social and quiet areas, high-tech creative suites, technology hubs, design studios and more. 

Want to see where you'd be studying up close? When you book a guided building tour, you can see our fantastic facilities for yourself and find out more from one of our helpful student ambassadors.

Our local area

Ravensbourne is ideally connected - North Greenwich station is just a 2-minute walk away from our campus and offers amazing views from the Greenwich Peninsula.

These transport links offer an easy route to some of London's major business hubs, perfect for reaching possible placements or networking events with employers in the worlds of business or technology.  

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.

Selection criteria:

Students should ideally have a background in art, creative media or design. Admission onto this course is also subject to successful completion of a portfolio (or showreel). 

We may also consider a combination of portfolio and academic qualifications and take into consideration progress made during studies and/or relevant work experience.

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 illustration, 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.

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. 

Selection criteria:

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

There are no interview or portfolio requirements for this course.