Illustration for Graphic Novels

MA Illustration for Graphic Novels*

This is a new and exciting postgraduate course, which allows its students to explore the comic book medium. The main focus is on exploring this medium in all its different contexts, looking at image, typography, sequence and layout. Studying this course, you are taken on a road of discovery bringing together discussion and debate on current theories and practice. We also encourage you to review cultural and theoretical issues relevant to graphic novels.

The graphic novel market is growing and growing and so there is a need for artists with a deep understanding of the specific demands of the medium. This can be achieved by developing a holistic approach to the way graphic novels are written and presented. The key areas that the MA programmes will expect you to fully investigate are the aesthetic, psychological and cultural requirements of a target audience and the potential context of engagement with narratives.

Illustrative artists and designers – professionals working in the field, teach the programme. The course is studio based, practice led, and you will have access to a wide range of specialist technology equipment. The programme is set within design communication, but you will have the opportunity to work in collaboration with students from other courses. These students could come from within the School of Art & Design or any of the University’s related creative courses.

The degree identifies the need for a new kind of practitioner, expert in the communication of information, sensitive to the aesthetic, psychological and knowledgeable about current and emerging technological contexts.

Special features

The School has great links with other design and media schools and universities throughout the world. These provide opportunities for potential study visits and student exchange. These partnerships include Domus Academy, Milan/Rome; Academy Italiana, Florence/Rome; The Academy of Art & Design in Sofia; ICAT, Chennai, India and Renmin University, Beijing, China.

Career opportunities

Graduates from this course can expect to get a job in the creative industries. The experience you gain will not only launch your career as a Graphic Novels artist, but will open up opportunities in a range of areas such as character design and development, children’s book illustration, publishing, animation, TV and media. The creative industries is increasingly a multi-disciplinary environment, in particular professional designers are expected to be able to work in teams. There are also opportunities for graduates to further their career at Glyndŵr University within a research centre.

Course content

Your specialist studies are at the heart of this course. Alongside tutorial support, we provide modules in research methodologies and practice to help you find and develop ideas and themes. You will have opportunities to collaborate and work with students from other disciplines; this can also be a commercial project. You will undertake a dissertation and masters presentation. Graphic Novels students usually use this opportunity to produce a graphic novel.

Assessment

Your module assignments will make up your assessment. Therefore you will submit from a range of work, such as: proposals, concepts, sketchbooks, drawings, paintings, design, layouts, models, moving image and computer work. You will also be expected to submit a range of files on your research. Assessments usually take the form of interactive group seminars reviewed by course staff.

Entry requirements

You must have an honours degree in a relevant subject. If you wish to enter the course at points other than the beginning of the programme by carrying existing masters level credits, exemptions from the early stage of the course will be considered.

Course length

Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2-3 years

* This course is awaiting validation