BA (Hons) Graphic Design and Illustration

About your course

The BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Liverpool John Moores University has a well established reputation for developing innovative designers and illustrators, highly sought after by employers in this exciting but competitive sector.

Graphic Design and Illustration has been a central component in the Liverpool School of Art and Design for over 40 years. Our established and distinctive approach offers you the chance to explore a broad range of skills and knowledge whist supporting you to develop into independent and creative thinkers with the capacity to make an impact in and beyond the creative industries.

We are a friendly, inclusive, and supportive community of illustrators, designers, researchers, and troublemakers with studio culture at the heart of our approach. Across all years our modules are inclusive and accessible. We encourage traditional approaches to flourish side-by-side with emerging technologies, nurturing play and experimentation, and embedding research into practice in the belief that design & creativity can be used to make positive changes in the world around us.

Coursework is primarily organised around practical studio projects with supporting contextual studies and professional development modules. Projects at all levels encourage a high degree of creativity and self-expression. An increasing professional emphasis as the course progresses is focused towards the development of a portfolio most suited to future career aspirations.

Graphic Design and Illustration is a studio-based activity and as such the course places great emphasis on the importance of a studio culture in which students engage with their studies on-site and develop a meaningful, on-going dialogue with tutors about their work and progress. The programme has maintained a strong reputation over the years producing graduates who have become creative forces both nationally and internationally.

The first year of the programme develops fundamental skills in visual communication and graphic arts. In the second year you can choose to specialise in developing skills in either Graphic Design or Illustration. In the third year you work closely one-to-one with your tutor to define a suite of projects that can support you in achieving your goals after graduation. Our close links with the local and national creative industries results in collaborations, 'live' projects and internship opportunities, all of which are essential preparation for your future career.

The programme is committed to a civic agenda and aims to ensure that all students are empowered to authentically explore their interests and identities. Our teaching is informed by four overarching and intersecting themes:

• Identity & Society
• Climate Crisis
• Emerging Technology
• Responsible Practice

As designers and illustrators, we tell stories. Our aim is to enable you to develop and communicate your own areas of interest and approach, harnessing your creativity and self-expression to develop a portfolio of work and a vision of what you might want to achieve in the future, supporting you to take your next steps into employment, self-employment or to continue in education.

Our course has a strong reputation, and you are following in the footsteps of graduates who have become creative forces both nationally and internationally.

They include:

• Paul Pensom, who is current Art Editor at Creative Review
• Jimmy Turrell, Graphic artist and Video Director represented by Heart Agency and an international client base including Nike, MTV, Conde Nast, Pentagram and Dazed & Confused
• Joe Stottard, Lead Designer at Adidas in Germany
• James Gilmore, designer at Design Studio, responsible for the recent rebranding of The Premier League and Airbnb
• Malik Thomas-Smeda who was commissioned by the National Football Museum in Manchester
• Al Murphy, freelance illustrator with an international client base including MTV, Guardian and TimeOut NY
• Richard Turley, Global Creative Director at Wieden + Kennedy, New York

Additional opportunities available outside of the studio include study trips at each Level and the prestigious Julia Midgely Reportage Travel Awards, Susan Cotton Travel Awards and Sue Dunthorne Travel Bursaries, that give students opportunities to undertake overseas trips for personal and professional development.

Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained GCSE Grade 4 or C or above in English Language and Mathematics/Numeracy or an approved alternative qualification below:

• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Welsh GCSE in Maths
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

• Minimum number of A Levels required: 2
• Subject specific requirements: To include an Art/Design subject if no other level 3 Art/Design qualifications taken
• Is general studies acceptable? Yes
• Average A Level offer: BBC-ABB
• Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20

Extended Diploma: DMM-DDM in an Art or Design subject

• Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Further information: At least 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits, or any other combination that equates to 112 UCAS Tariff points in an Art/Design subject

• International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Additional information: 112-128 UCAS Tariff points from IB Composite parts, or in combination with other Level 3 qualifications which must include an Art/Design subject

Extended Diploma: DMM-DDM in an Art or Design subject

• Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Grades / subjects required: 112-128 UCAS Tariff points, to include Art/Design subject at higher level

• Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications

• T Level requirements: 112-128 UCAS Tariff points in an Art or Design subject. Acceptable on its own or combined with other qualifications.

​UCAS Tariff points accepted from the Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design, and Art, Design and Media).

Applications are welcomed from mature and non-standard applicants, who will be considered on an individual basis. These applicants should demonstrate potential and motivation and/or have relevant experience.

International applications will be considered in line with UK qualifications.

Employability

This highly vocational programme presents many opportunities to make contacts in the world of graphic design and illustration

Through live projects, competition briefs and graduate freelance and self-employment events, all of these activities are pathways into careers in the creative industries, whether you decide to go freelance, find employment with a large agency or start up your own design studio.

The programme works with a panel of industry experts and external examiners to ensure that our graduates meet the standards required by the creative industries.

You are prepared for the 'world of work' within the curriculum in a number of ways. Most significantly the course is highly vocational, with clearly defined career options. The course also continues to develop a number of initiatives with highly respected design studios to embed workshops and real world projects led and delivered by industry professionals within our Level 5 and 6 professional development modules.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.

One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.

A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.