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Illustration Welcome Guide

Preparing for your course

We're delighted that you've chosen to join our creative community at Arts University Bournemouth. We can't wait to see what you'll create.

Welcome to BA (Hons) Illustration

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. We hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you in October.

A message from your Course Leader

It’s almost time to begin your time on BA (Hons) Illustration. We're really looking forward to meeting you all and getting to know you. We'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Illustration course, and we hope that you'll enjoy your time here at Arts University Bournemouth.

Please review the reading list recommended for the start of your course and the background information to the course. You'll be given further information upon the commencement of the course.

– Vincent Larkin, Course Leader

Before you join us

This year, rather than asking you to complete a ‘project’, we are asking you to just keep making work that interests you based loosely around the theme of Play. This can be in the form of drawings, sketches, and 2D and/or 3D objects. Keep creative by continuing to explore websites and magazines, read books or play games – anything that feeds your illustrative interests.

To create a starting point for our first conversation with you and your new peers, we'd like you to find an image or two of a contemporary professional illustrator’s work that you find interesting or inspiring and points to ways of working or aesthetics you would like to explore in your own practice. Additionally, feel free to bring along any recently created images, to give the tutors and your peers and idea of your practice, and current areas of interest.

None of this work will be assessed, so keep it as an opportunity to make work that you enjoy.

How to submit your summer project

Bring an image (or two) of a professional illustrator’s work with you, alongside any work you have made that you wish to share, to Welcome Week (this won’t be required on the first day).

The Library here at AUB is extremely well resourced and includes all key texts that you'll need. The list below indicates the key texts that will be useful throughout your studies, all of these are available from the Library at AUB. You might want to borrow a copy from your local library to look at before you arrive. You'll receive a comprehensive reading list in the Course Handbook and at the start of each unit.

  • Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
  • History of Illustration by Susan Doyle et al.
  • Picture This: How Pictures Work by Molly Bang
  • Motion Illustration: How to Use Animation Techniques to Make Illustrations Move by Adam Osgood
  • The Fundamentals of Illustration by Lawrence Zeegen
  • Drawing Attention: Custom Illustration Solutions for Brands Today by Victor Cheung
  • Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design by Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen
  • Drawn in: A Peek into the Inspiring Sketchbooks of 44 Fine Artists, Illustrators, Graphic Designers and Cartoonists by Julia Rothman
  • Centered: People + Ideas Diversifying Design by Kaleena Sales
  • Illustration Next: Contemporary Creative Collaboration by Ana Benaroya

  • Varoom
  • The Journal of Illustration
  • Anorak Magazine
  • Computer Arts
  • Fantagraphics
  • So Young Magazine

If you read one thing before you arrive, we recommend...

How to be an Illustrator

by Darrel Rees and Nicholas Blechman

Find out more

Current student work

Have a look through some of the work our current students are producing to get an idea of the type of work you may be making on our course.

What to bring on your first day

On your first day, bring along:

  • A notebook and something to write with
  • Your ID and documents for face-to-face registration (see the "Next Steps" tab for more details)
  • Your Temporary ID card from your Welcome notebook inside cover if you have one

The first day is a chance for us to tell you about the weeks ahead. You won’t need to bring along the images of contemporary illustrators' work/your own work on day one.

You'll be provided with a basic material kit at the start of the course, with some additional equipment that you can supplement according to your needs.

Digital capabilities

This course uses Apple computers. However, we also have studio-based PCs for specialist practices such as 3D animation and rendering.

You're encouraged to bring their own laptop and mobile device to AUB to support online learning, collaboration and communication while at university.

Follow BA (Hons) Illustration on social media

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Overview

We’re delighted for you to join us at AUB – we can’t wait to see what you’ll create.

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Next Steps

Find out the useful dates and contact before you start here.

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