Illustration for Communication with Integrated Foundation Year

With access to state-of-the-art facilities and strong partnerships with high profile companies, our Illustration for Communication degree course will sharpen your skillset, help you to promote your craft and prepare you for industry.

Why study this degree?
1. Work in a collaborative studio environment
2. Turns illustrators into contemporary visual storytellers
3. Work with text, drawings, moving images and printmaking
4. Develop artwork and concepts for multiple industries, including comics and publishing, animation, graphic design, advertising and fashion
5. Taught by practicing creative professionals who cover the full range of skills needed to be a successful and versatile illustrator.

Our innovative Illustration course in London takes a critical and experimental approach, helping you develop new skills, find your unique visual voice, and adapt to the evolving creative industry.

In a collaborative studio environment, you’ll apply your skills to projects covering editorial, publishing, animation, advertising, product and more. The course spans a wide spectrum, preparing you to work in diverse fields like publishing, graphic design, animation, advertising, the music industry and game design.

Integrated Foundation Year
On the 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

After you have completed your Integrated Foundation Year, you will study the following:

Year 1
Year 1 is a studio-led introduction to illustration, expanding your knowledge of the discipline through workshops, projects and lectures. 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.

Modules may include:
• Rave Beginnings



• History of Visual Culture



• Drawing, Mark-Making & Expression



• Storytelling & Concept



• Future Directions in Visual Culture & EPC



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 may include:
• Character Development



• Sequential Narratives



• Design Studio



• Toys, Games & Puppets



• Live & 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 may include:
• Personal Voice & Style



• Competitions & Live Briefs



• Rave Futures



• Major Project



All modules are subject to revalidation.

Do you want to study in a top 3 student city in the world?* Unleash your creativity at Ravensbourne University London.

Located in London's Design District, Ravensbourne sits opposite the O2, next to Greenwich, and at the heart of the city's cutting-edge creative community. With London's impressive skyline and iconic river just opposite, you're bound to find inspiration all around.

Ravensbourne courses cover Architecture, Business, Computing and Games, Design, Fashion and Film, TV and Media. You'll experience live industry briefs and learn from those who are already excelling in their chosen industries, giving you connections and career confidence from the very start. You'll also have the opportunity to work alongside other specialisms as you will when you enter the workplace.

With spaces available through Clearing, you can join a unique community of makers and innovators this September.

* (QS Best Student Cities 2026)