Illustration MA

Expand your career canvas with a competitive art degree

Do you have a knack for the arts and a love for creative storytelling, but are uncertain how to turn this passion into a career? Pursuing an online degree in illustration is a fantastic first step toward making your mark in the art world. 

On Falmouth University’s online MA in Illustration, you’ll unlock your potential as a creative, gaining industry-ready visual and technical skills and the confidence to bring your artistic vision to life.

You’ll graduate equipped to showcase your refined mark-making skill set to future employers and freelance clients, supported by a robust art portfolio that highlights your unique style and creativity, helping you stand out in competitive art industries.

Explore visual communication practices behind effective illustration

You’ll begin your illustration journey by examining the fundamental principles of visual communication. Through hands-on projects, you’ll develop an understanding of how imagery tells stories and conveys emotions, allowing you to develop your own distinctive approach to illustration.

With this insight, you’ll be able to not only create art for yourself but also illustrate for diverse audiences. 

Work with a range of visual art tools to enhance your techniques

To make yourself a marketable creator and refine your visual language, you’ll delve into a variety of visual tools relevant to illustration practice. This includes core mark-making skills, both haptic and digital.

Throughout this module, you’ll be encouraged to experiment with a variety of media and techniques, allowing you to communicate your ideas effectively and establish your visual identity. 

Understand the role of storytelling within illustration practice

Behind every piece of art, is a story being told. You’ll discover storytelling strategies and the ways each connects with local and global audiences. 

You’ll examine different narrative systems, including plot types, world-building, and characterisation, as well as how to illustrate various types of narrative mediums, such as children’s books, graphic novels, gaming, and apps. 

As you work through this module, you’ll be tasked to write a critical reflection, drawing from your opportunities and insights from case studies. In doing so, you’ll craft a creative methodology you can apply in real-time.  

Discover your visual identity and practical illustration applications

Next, you’ll build your entrepreneurial skills, considering your brand values while developing a strategy to communicate them effectively to the right industry audiences. You’ll identify a network of industry connections and prepare a marketing and self-promotion plan, helping you get your art out into the world.   

As a final project, you’ll develop a comprehensive body of work that reflects your chosen pathway and expresses your defined visual identity. With this portfolio, you’ll have a sturdy stepping stone for your future illustration endeavours.