BA (Honours) Illustration and Visual Media

PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION 2012/13

Programme Specification
Awarding Body Teaching Institution Final Award UCAS Code Relevant QAA Benchmark Statement Date of Production / Revision Introduction We are living in an age where the boundaries of culture and information are increasingly crossing and connecting, messages are reaching people via a wide range of mediums and materials. Visual communication needs to be truly versatile, adaptable and global, able to connect with a broad range of people, many with differing cultural viewpoints. The Illustration and Visual Media BA course at LCC is not defined by a medium or material, not limited to a style but fuelled by a desire to communicate by whatever means are appropriate, be they sculptural, typographic, photographic, filmic, print based or a combination of all of these. From the film industry to political parties to publishing, on and offline, the contemporary Illustrator is not a only a traditional service provider but a key player in global communication with an inspiring range of forms, mediums and outlets for their thoughts, opinions, processes and ideas. The BA Illustration and Visual Media course at LCC seeks to challenge existing preconceptions and definitions of Illustration and encourages students to view themselves as thinkers as well as image makers. Taught by a team of practicing artists, designers, researchers and academics, all the tutors on your course are actively involved in scholarly investigation and graphic design and art related professional practice. The course fosters an understanding of contemporary creative practice, critical debate and scholarly responsibility. We offer you the intellectual and creative space to examine existing definitions of illustration whilst exploring future directions for image in the modern world. Programme Aims The aims of the course identify the rationale underlying the students educational experience and own personal achievement from studying on the course and its effect upon the students long term achievement and career. Provide you with the knowledge and skills to support your study of Illustration as a creative and dynamic activity (Educational); Assist you in developing a personal design methodology and enable you to speculate on new, innovative approaches to the subject (Educational; Personal Achievement); Enable you to appreciate, explore, interrogate and challenge the existing forms of the subject through independent and collaborative enquiry (Educational); University of the Arts London London College of Communication BA (Honours) Illustration and Visual Media WPF3 Art and Design August 2012

Assist you in placing Illustration in an historical, social, cultural, theoretical and professional context (Educational); Equip you with the necessary transferable skills to assist you in determining your professional future (Career, Personal Achievement).

Programme Outcomes The programme enables the student to demonstrate the following subject knowledge and understanding, intellectual and academic skills, practical subject skills, key attributes and transferable skills. The outcomes that the student will have demonstrated upon completion of the programme, with their associated learning and assessment strategy are: Systematically identify and investigate appropriate sources related to projects subject matter. (Intellectual & Academic Skills) Examine and interpret research material in order to inform outcomes. (Intellectual & Academic Skills) Understand and apply subject knowledge and underlying principles related to Illustration and Visual Media. (Subject Knowledge & Understanding) Problem solve, take risks, experiment and test ideas and materials in the realisation of concepts. (Key Attributes & Transferable Skills) Demonstrate skills in the final execution of ideas appropriate to the medium. (Practical & Subject Skills) Show clarity of purpose, appropriate selection of media, awareness of appropriate conventions and sensitivity to the needs of the audience in the production and presentation of ideas related to Illustration and Visual media. (Subject Knowledge & Understanding) Manage your learning through reflection, planning, self-direction, subject engagement, and commitment. (Key Attributes & Transferable Skills) Demonstrate suitable behaviour for working in a professional context alone or with others. (Key Attributes & Transferable Skills)

Learning and Teaching Methods The above programme outcomes are taught using the following learning and teaching methods: Studio workshops Lectures Seminars

Critiques Visits

Assessment Methods The above programme outcomes are assessed using the following assessment methods: Notebooks Sketchbooks Blogs Evaluative reports Essays

Reference Points The following reference points were used in designing the programme: The learning and Teaching policies of the University of the Arts London The College policies and initiatives Level descriptors Benchmark statements

Distinctive Features of the programme The BA Illustration and Visual Media course at LCC seeks to challenge existing preconceptions and definitions of Illustration and encourages students to view themselves as thinkers as well as image makers. Taught by a team of practicing artists, designers, researchers and academics, all the tutors on your course are actively involved in scholarly investigation and graphic design and art related professional practice. The course fosters an understanding of contemporary creative practice, critical debate and scholarly responsibility. We offer you the intellectual and creative space to examine existing definitions of illustration whilst exploring future directions for image in the modern world. Image based storytelling is the basis for what we do, there is no prescribed medium or material, we do not purely follow the figurative drawing base of traditional Illustration courses but encourage students to work in a broad range of media, processes and techniques. On graduation students from the course enter a wide and varied range of professional practices working in Graphic Design for international and UK based companies such as: Alexander McQueen, Pentagram, No days off, Airside, UVA, Research Studio, Artworklove and YCN. Students graduate to careers in off and online publishing companies such as Winkreative, Black Dog, Thames and Hudson, Nylon NY and John Brown publishing.

We encourage our students to integrate and debate not only with the professional world of art and design but with each other whilst studying on the course, leading to students forming working partnerships that carry on after university. Start up partnerships Vault 49 in New York, the interactive company Dandelion and Burdock and Ah studio, were formed by duos who met on Illustration and Visual Media at LCC, these companies still contribute, mentoring, teaching and internships. Alongside the range of design and art based careers of our alumni, many successful freelance Illustrators have graduated from Illustration at LCC: Claire Scully, Chrissie Abbott, Clara Terne, Anne Harild, Annu Kipelainen and James Carey to name a few, and the Illustration agency. Students wishing to pursue study at MA level receive help with postgraduate applications, references and folios. Students have gone on to study a number of subjects including: cultural studies, design, illustration, photography and animation at Universities in Poland, USA, and London. An integral part of the course is the encouragement of and involvement in external events, exhibitions and presentations. Students in years one, two and three have exhibited at: The Barbican, Jaguar shoes, The Rag Factory, Scholar house studios, The chocolate factory, The Crypt and the old sweet gallery. As part of the course students have enjoyed collaborative projects with external professionals: The illustrator Martin O Neil for a shop front in Brighton, Illustrations and designs for professional writers and the publishers Faber and Faber and John Brown publishing. Students have designed, produced and presented work at the V&A for The sound of Print. Tate Britain: Should art be political? and ex student Mitsuhiro Aitas Moving House; was exhibited at the Barbican. Illustration students exhibited work at Neville Brodys Anti Design festival. Emphasis is placed on developing a range of practical, conceptual, research and decision-making skills that are transferrable from the academic environment to the world of creative practice beyond university. LCC Illustrators make intelligent, well informed, critically-engaged work that goes beyond stylistic aesthetic concerns, and graduate as self-motivated individuals equipped to shape the future of art and design practice. The Diploma in Professional Studies integrates more work-based learning into the 3 year programme. The course can also build on the entrepreneurial successes of recent students in addressing issues such as setting up in practice, applying for project funding, professional presentation skills etc.

Recruitment and Admissions The BA Illustration and Visual Media Course team recognise applicants come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds from across the world. The course in the main attracts students who apply direct from A level or other equivalent qualifications but it

also welcomes students from Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and other art courses as well as mature students who may have worked in industry. Entry Requirements (Home/International/EU) For admission to the BA Illustration and Visual Media course applicants normally need: 160 UCAS tariff points (gained at GCE Advanced level) will be considered, supported by passes in three other subjects at GCSE Grade C or above. Alternatively, you will be considered if you have achieved 1 subject at GCE Advanced level and Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, supported by passes in three other subjects at GCSE Grade C or above. In addition, the University of the Arts London Awarding Body Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design will be considered. We also accept people with the equivalent qualifications obtained through a National Diploma, Access, NVQ and a variety of other pre-University level qualifications including International and European Baccalaureate. Other qualifications, including overseas, may be considered. We also accept those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications. The subjects the Course Team will be looking for in your application are wide ranging: your A levels (or equivalents) would ideally be achieved at grade C or above.

Other entry routes We also welcome applicants such as mature students who do not have formal qualifications but may have relevant experience. Students applying to this course will be expected to demonstrate a specific interest in this area of study and should have a commitment to engaging with Illustration and Visual Media Theory and practice. In such cases students applying on the basis of their previous experience or who wish to enter the course with through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes should apply via UCAS and will be guided by the admissions staff on the AP(E)L processes. Language requirements (International/EU) International and EU students: In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required. If your first language is not English you should check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English. Further information is available on our International Applications page.

International Applicants link to http://www.lcc.arts.ac.uk/internationalstudents/international-applications/ contact details for International Admissions ,

Study Abroad Applicants International undergraduate students can apply to join this BA course for a period of up to three terms as a Study Abroad student. Please visit the Study Abroad website details on how to apply or contact the Study Abroad office: T: +44 (0) 207 514 2249 E: studyabroad@lcc.arts.ac.uk Deferred entry For Home/EU applicants, the Course Leader will determine whether deferred places are available for the course. If you wish to defer your place, it is advisable to indicate this on your application form and/or discuss this with the admissions team and course leader before/after applying at the earliest opportunity. In all cases, deferred places will only be held for one year. International applicants are normally permitted to defer entry to any programme of study for one year only, after which they will be asked to re-apply. Admission Procedures The selection procedures for the course adhere to the Equal Opportunities policy of the University of the Arts London. Applications are normally made through UCAS. Applications for this course are assessed on the basis of qualifications and the personal statement. If more information is required, a member of the course team may contact the applicant and in some cases, may request the candidate to attend an interview.

Student Selection Criteria / what do we look for? All applications will be considered by the course team and offers will be made based upon the following selection criteria. The team will consider three key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course: 1) Firstly they will look at your qualifications (or projected results). 2) Secondly, they will review your academic or personal reference. 3) Then they will scrutinise your personal statement (maximum of 300 words required) and a portfolio.

The personal statement is a very important part of your application and should demonstrate to the team that you are interested in Illustration and Visual Media and that you have thought very carefully about why you want to study on this course. You should take great care when writing your personal statement to ensure that it is well written, clear and free of any spelling mistakes. It is your biggest chance to impress the team by demonstrating your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it might help you in the future. It is also an opportunity for you to state what you feel you would bring to the course. Through their personal statement, applicants should show a strong interest in Illustration and Visual Media. This can be demonstrated through work experience, studying and personal experience and their ambitions for personal development as a student at the LCC.

Portfolio Advice Apart from the academic qualifications all students are required to present a portfolio of work which must evidence the following: 1. Visual vocabulary. Quality of compositional skills and use of line, shape, form, scale, space, light, colour, texture and time. 2. Ideas generation. Quality of ideas and expression of conceptual thinking. 3. Research and its application (including sketchbooks) 4. Systematic identification and investigation of appropriate resources. 5. Materials and media exploration and experimentation. Experimentation and testing of materials in realisation of concepts. 6. Contextual awareness and its influence on the portfolio. application subject knowledge and context. Understanding &

Submissions on CD / DVD or in the form of an A4 Printed publication. Include your name, email, home address and current course and institution; please ensure this information is clearly displayed. Please ensure: If digital ensure your portfolio submission can be viewed on an Apple Macintosh computer. The examiners will not have access to any other computer. You have reviewed and checked that your submission works when viewed on a different computer to the one that it was generated on (i.e. check that your files view properly on a computer other than your own). The examiners will look at your work for a maximum of 15 minutes. Make sure that you pace your work so they will be able to judge your submission in the way that you wish to present yourself.

Submission requirements: You are asked to provide a personal statement of a maximum of 300 words. You may show 25 40 slides / images in your portfolio. You must have a project divider between each project with the projects title and a brief description of the project. A maximum of 50 words description for each project.

You can include: Links to websites, such as your personal work site. Photographic evidence of sketchbooks, research and analysis work. Evidence of final pieces. Personal work / one day projects please put in a separate section. You must send your work or deliver it on a CD as a PDF / PowerPoint (none bigger than 7 megabytes), Moving image format or a Printed A4 publication. to: Paul Bowman BA (Hons) Illustration and visual Media Faculty of Design London College of Communication Elephant and Castle SE1 6SB Unfortunately we are unable to return submissions. Portfolio Tips We are particularly interested in seeing your roughs, ideas and visual analysis. The ideas and experimentations that lead up to your final designs. We are not purely focused on finished pieces and styles so please do add a visual thoughts, research and analysis and evidence of your interests. Interview Advice All applicants are invited to submit a portfolio of work and 300 words Personal Statement which is assessed by members of the course team. Normally, students are not interviewed as part of the application process.

Students are admitted to the course having fulfilled the necessary entry requirements and on the basis of their potential to benefit from the programme. Minimum UAL Entry Requirements To see the Universitys Regulations on Admissions, please go to the following link: http://www.arts.ac.uk/course-regulations/admissions/

In the day-to-day context, whilst every endeavour will be made to provide the courses and services described in these Programme Specifications, the University of the Arts London HEC reserves the right to make such changes as may be appropriate for reasons of operational efficiency or due to circumstances including industrial action beyond its control.

2012 University of the Arts London