Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Portfolio | 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Portfolio | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Select, curate and present a body of work in the form of a digital portfolio that reflects ongoing development and learning.
Demonstrate an understanding of the core principles of visual communication by applying them to the creation of simple, emotionally engaging visual narratives.
Generate and develop visual concepts through experimentation, risk-taking, and iterative play, while adhering to the given brief’s guidelines and constraints.
Recognise key historical and contemporary influences in illustration and use this research to inform and support personal creative experimentation.
Brief description
At the heart of illustration is visual storytelling. Like writers, illustrators must understand the components and grammar of a visual language in order to communicate ideas effectively. This module focuses on developing an understanding of the principles of visual storytelling and how they can be applied to create clear, engaging, and visually compelling images. The concepts and skills introduced here provide a strong foundation for more advanced illustration modules in the second and third years.
Content
This module introduces first-year illustration students to the foundational principles of visual communication and image-making. Through a series of lectures, practical workshops, and set projects, students explore how ideas, emotion, and narrative can be communicated through line, form, colour, value, and composition. Alongside developing skills in illustration practice, the module introduces key historical and contemporary contexts for illustration, supporting the development of visual literacy and reflective, informed creative practice.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Creative Problem Solving | Respond creatively to set briefs by generating ideas, exploring multiple approaches, and adapting their work through experimentation, risk-taking, and iteration. |
| Critical and analytical thinking | Analysing visual work, questioning creative decisions, and evaluating their own and others’ practice in order to inform development and improvement. |
| Professional communication | Confidence in communicating ideas visually and orally through the clear presentation of work in a digital portfolio. |
| Real world sense | Working to briefs, managing deadlines, and understanding how creative work operates within wider cultural and commercial environments. |
| Reflection | Reflection on the students' creative process, recognise strengths and areas for development, and use feedback to support personal and creative growth. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Development of core illustration skills needed for visual storytelling |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4