The world of illustration and graphic design is all around us – in books and magazines, in branding and advertising, on websites and apps and in the digital spaces we interact with each day.
Illustration and graphic design play a huge role in how we tell stories and share ideas with others in a visual way. So if you’re passionate about turning your ideas into impactful designs, then a degree in Illustration or Graphic Design could be a perfect fit.
What makes studying at Brighton unique? It’s not just our hands-on approach to learning (although that does definitely play a big role). It’s our modern facilities, our expert course team, our incredible community, our experimental approach to design and our connections with the industry that make it such a great place to study.
Check out our top 10 reasons below to learn more about what it’s like to study here at Brighton.
1. Brighton is a hub for creative businesses
The city has a vibrant art and culture scene with a long history, making it a great location to study both Illustration and Graphic Design. Brighton is packed with established creative companies, design studios, plenty of startups and a large network of industry professionals.
Not only are there countless events for all our art students to attend and get involved with, but it’s also a great place to build up your creative network. This could help you secure internships, freelance work or a full-time job after you graduate.
For our Illustration and Graphic Design students, the city being such a creative playground is a huge advantage over other universities. It’s somewhere that you can’t help but feel inspired by and our students channel this into their illustrations and designs.
2. Learn from our team of industry experts
Across both our Illustration and Graphic Design courses, you’ll be taught by our team of experienced professionals who bring real-world knowledge and experience to their teaching.
Our tutors are not just academics, they are experts in their field with industry experience ensuring the curriculum is at the forefront of modern practice and that you develop relevant technological, artistic and communication skills.
They bring decades of practical experience spanning editorial, publishing, corporate literature, web design, advertising, exhibition design, animation and more!
Throughout your time here at Brighton, our course teams will mentor and guide you as you develop your own interests and unique style.
Visit our Illustration BA(Hons) and our Graphic Design BA(Hons) course pages to learn more about the specific team of experts you’ll be learning from.
3. International exchange opportunities
One of the exciting opportunities open to students on both our Illustration BA(Hons) and Graphic Design BA(Hons) courses is the chance to go on an international exchange. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in an international environment whilst learning new design skills at the same time.
Currently, students have the opportunity to study at the Nagoya University of the Arts in Japan, Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore and SRH University in Germany.
Doing an exchange programme can also help you to grow a network of global peers and professionals which can open doors in the future and give you a real edge in the industry.
4. High graduate success
Graduates from both our Illustration and Graphic Design courses have gone on to a variety of exciting roles after graduating.
Some examples of where our alumni include The Royal Opera House, Anyways Creative, Cartoon Network, MTV, Google, The Telegraph The Tate, Weiden + Kennedy and many more high-profile companies and institutions.
5. Brighton Boost package
At the University of Brighton, we’re here to support you in making the best start to your university journey.
With our new postcode checker, you can quickly see if you’re eligible for our Brighton Boost financial support package, designed to help you with the cost of living and make everyday things just that little bit easier.
Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible for:
- Up to £1,250 to help with accommodation or travel costs
- Free laptop loans
- Support with finding part-time work
- A lower grade contextual offer
Simply enter your postcode in our postcode checker to see the support available to you.
6. We use specialist software and equipment
Our Illustration and Graphic Design students all have access to modern equipment and industry-standard software, making sure they are fully prepared to thrive in professional environment. We also continually review equipment and software to ensure we are updating alongside the industry.
Alongside dedicated design studies, you’ll also have access to our TECH HUB which is a team of technical demonstrators who provide specialise creative software support including:
- Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects etc), Rhino, Blender and C4D, as well as web and blog-related software.
- Digital manufacturing services including laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC routing, plasma cutting and 3-axis CNC milling.
- VR headsets and 3D scanners.
- Book arts and letterpress workshops, each with dedicated technicians on hand to help you.
- Computing facilities specific to the needs of designers and illustrators.
- Internationally important Design Archives with a wealth of graphic design and illustration material.
7. Our courses set you up for a range of industry roles
Our graduates work across a range of disciplines within the contemporary creative industries in roles such as:
- Branding specialist / strategist / consultant
- Graphic designer
- Motion graphic designer
- UX/UI designer
- Packaging designer
- Art director
- Experience designer
- Concept artist
- Printmaker
- Production designer
- Medical or science illustrator
- Product designer
This degree also opens up postgraduate study options.
At Brighton, for example, you could progress on to our MA Graphic Design, MA Sustainable Design, or MA Sequential Design/Illustration courses.
8. We have one of the country’s best-stocked art and design libraries
One of the great benefits of studying one of our art and media courses here at Brighton is access to our art and design library. It’s actually one of the country’s best-stocked resources for creative disciplines so it’s a really useful tool for our students to have access to throughout their time here.
From using the resources as inspiration for your next project to researching design history, you’ll find everything you need to experiment and push your creative boundaries.
9. Opportunities to showcase your work
Throughout your time on both the Illustration and Graphic Design courses there will be plenty of opportunities for you to show off your work. This is a great way to gain invaluable experience in presenting your work and sharing your creative talents with an audience.
At the end of your studies, you’ll participate in a Graduate Show which is a large-scale exhibition. Opportunities like this will build your confidence in putting your work out there and is also a nice way to celebrate your achievements.
10. Build an impressive portfolio
Talking about your skills and creativity often isn’t enough to impress potential employers and bag yourself the job. This is where a portfolio can be a really powerful tool.
Throughout your studies, your project work will form a diverse and impressive portfolio which will demonstrate all of your skills and capabilities.
Your tutors will also give you guidance on how to curate and present your portfolio for different audiences to make sure that it stands out and showcases your versatility.
Join us here at Brighton
Visit our Illustration BA(Hons) or Graphic Design BA(Hons) course pages to find out more about the application process.
Unsure if Graphic Design or Illustration is the right course for you? Explore all of our art and media courses and find what fits your passion.
