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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration

Illustration of a female, black woman with red combs as hair.
Tasha Francis | BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration | UAL Graduate Showcase | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London
College
London College of Fashion
UCAS code
W225
Start date
September 2024
Course length
3 years (optional 1 year placement)

BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging & Illustration recognises the changing role of visual communication within the fashion industry and seeks to produce the next generation of innovative, multi-disciplinary image-makers and original thinkers

Course subject to re-approval

Please note that this course is undergoing re-approval. This is the process by which we ensure the course continues to provide a high quality academic experience. During re-approval there may be some changes to the course content displayed on this page. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

  • Specialist approach: this course is forward-thinking and challenging; it supports students in developing cross-media professional studio practices. The course offers a specialist approach to visual communication in fashion media, for those looking to position themselves as illustrators and industry creatives.
  • Fashion media production: through exploration and integration of analogue and digital platforms, students will have the opportunity to produce immersive experiences using new and emerging technologies.
  • Collaborative working: emphasis is placed on developing collaborative and team-work skills in multimedia practices across disciplinary boundaries. The course provides an excellent grounding for further academic study or for careers within the fashion media industry.

Open days

There are currently no Open Days scheduled for this course, please check back at a later date.

Portfolio advice

As part of the application process, this course requires a digital portfolio. Join our Virtual Portfolio Advice session on Monday 15 January for tips and guidance.

Book your place

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Course overview

Introduction  

BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration offers students an experimental space to explore contemporary practices that stem from drawing and mark-making and to challenge the notion of contemporary fashion imaging. Projects involving a multi-disciplinary approach encourage students to redefine the future role of the Fashion Illustrator and the discipline’s commercial and creative applications. Students will investigate the visual language of fashion through the development of professional skills such as drawing, graphic and media design, animation, photography, moving image and computer-generated imaging.   

What to expect  

  • Students on this course develop a critical understanding of contemporary fashion; how it is communicated or promoted, its place within wider culture and its relationship with audiences and consumers.   

  • Students are guided to consider their practice within an industry context and to explore the opportunities and pathways for their professional and creative development.  

  • The course celebrates fashion imaging and illustration through an expansive curriculum that integrates traditional skills with new and emerging technologies at the forefront of contemporary commercial practice.  

  • Students benefit from experimenting in areas such as photography, moving image, 3D design, digital platforms, art direction and graphic design while an emphasising their drawing practices. Through a range of live briefs, collaborative workshops and personal projects that are supported by the expertise of lecturers and practitioners from the fashion industry and beyond.  

  • BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging & Illustration invites students to redefine the notion of fashion illustration, developing innovative visual content and solutions for a contemporary market that experiences fashion and community across multiple channels, both physically and online. By challenging the fashion industry’s conventions and responding to wider culture’s social, political and environmental issues, students will able to produce an innovative body of work, as well as being better prepared for work in the fashion industry.  

Work experience and opportunities  

Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a short work experience placement during their second year of study. This provides increased industry awareness as well as crucial experience and valuable contacts within the industry. The course has many links to the industry including DASH magazine, Apple, SHOWstudio and the many practitioners who teach on the course within a teaching capacity. The course has also worked with the House of Illustration and run live-streamed events with the Paris School of Art, some examples of the collaborative opportunities available.   

Mode of study  

BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration runs for 90 weeks in full time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks. 

Climate, Social and Racial Justice

We are committed to ensuring that your skills are set within an ethical framework and are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Course units

Year one 

  • Introduction to Fashion Illustration 

  • Cross Media Narratives 

  • Fashion Cultures and Histories 

  • Better Lives 

  • Fashion Illustration and Spatial Interaction 

The first year of the course introduces students to a range of studio practices in fashion imaging and illustration. Students will be introduced to a variety of mediums and media in order to give them contemporary skills in image making with an emphasis on the skills needed to locate, navigate and communicate information and ideas effectively and appropriately. Students will take part in lectures and studio-based activities that will inform project research and development and students will also have the opportunity to work in groups and on collaborative projects on the course as well as across the media programme.  

The first year of the course includes introductory sessions in digital imaging, graphic design and moving image. 

The course remains underpinned by traditional drawing and illustration techniques and practices and students will learn how these integrate with digital outcomes.  

The Intro to Fashion Illustration Unit is comprised of a series lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops to help the student develop learning skills at HE and the requirements of effective studentship at undergraduate level, in order to help build on skills in research, reflective analysis and the essential aspects of the creative process. 

Cross Media Narratives and Spatial Interaction Units are designed to get students to explore and challenge fashion imaging and illustration through an investigation of narrative and the environment. Students will be introduced to content production on digital platforms in the context of fashion specialisms of image making.  

Year one takes students through all aspect of research into practice, recording and documenting of ideas as well as testing and experimentation of materials, processes and techniques in fashion image making. 

Year two 

  • The Interactive Brief 

  • Critical Issues in Fashion Research

  • Creative Directions 

  • Situating Your Practice; Fashioned Spaces or Media Placement 

In the second year of the course, students are encouraged to integrate, experiment and explore fashion imaging and illustration techniques learned in year one, in an investigation of individual and professional practice-based approaches to fashion media production. The units require students to produce fashion media content for fashion film, fashion marketing campaigns while integrating analogue and digital processes. The teaching and learning will support and develop student’s individual visual language and approach to fashion imaging using a range of live and simulated briefs.  

Professional practice and work placements form a key part of the second year. Students will also continue to build on and develop skills in working collaboratively across the media programme, learning to install fashion imaging and illustration in innovative ways based on client need for a range of diverse platforms. Students will begin to identify how their practice is situated within the fashion media industry and how to produce content in the context of fashion communication. 

The second year is also about the student’s ability to broaden their understanding of fashion imaging and illustration through a series of project briefs supported by lecture, workshops and technical masterclasses. 

A variety of themed projects, external lecturers will enable students to consider the role of the contemporary fashion illustrator and image maker. The second year will also help the student to situate their personal professional practice and the student will also be encouraged to apply for industry placements in the Media Placement. 

Optional Diploma Year

CCI Creative Computing

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration (with Creative Computing).

CCI Apple Diploma 

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Apple Development. This will give you an opportunity to become an accredited apple developer alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration (with Apple Development).

Industry DIPS 

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an industry placement for a minimum of 100 days/20 weeks. As well as developing industry skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion. 

Enterprise DIPS 

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an enterprise placement year where you will explore a business idea from proposal to minimal viable product (MVP). As well as developing enterprise skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion. 

Year three 

  • Collaborative Experimental Practice 

  • Dissertation Media 

  • Personal and Professional Project 

The third year of the course sees the student engages in a combination of individual research, creative practice and production and the development of an industry focused portfolio of work.

A focus on collaboration and experimentation provides new ways to investigate and contextualise their discipline and methods.

Supported by tutorial, lectures and seminars, students will develop, plan and position their professional practice, by applying previous teaching and learning in the discipline. 

Learning and teaching methods

The following teaching and learning methods are employed to support the integrated achievement of the course outcomes:

  • Demonstrations.
  • Industry guest speaker program.
  • Lectures.
  • Seminars.
  • Workshops and tutorials.
  • Group discussions and team working.
  • Self directed study.
  • Work experience or simulation.

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • Creative Spaces
    Creative Spaces, Annabel McLaughlin, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Dear, Little Me
    Dear, Little Me, Elissa Shafeek, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Portraits
    Portraits, Tamika Pennie, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • My Body Is Not Mine
    My Body Is Not Mine, Alma Longo, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • In-Lite Magazine
    In-Lite Magazine, Elly Rodbert, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Armoured Hands
    Armoured Hands, Olivia Dufour, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration, London College of Fashion, UAL

BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration X Soho Exhibition

Workshops

Student work by Veronika Ficek | BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration

Student work by Charlie Ellis | BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration

Latest news from this course

Staff

Alex Mein is an illustrator and lecturer living and working in London. After training in BA (Hons) Fashion Design at Ravensbourne he freelanced as a textile and fashion designer before progressing into menswear buying. From 2012 to 2019 he lectured in BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Styling at Middlesex University whilst consulting as an art director. Alex's personal practice concerns observation, identity and portraiture. Through drawing he documents a range of identities and shared experiences, whether through the casting of individuals or drawing people observed in public spaces. His clients include Gap, Liberty London, Mulberry, Nike, DJ Honey Dijon and Harvey Nichols. His work has been featured in publications such as Solar, Nylon, Slashstroke and Fashion Drawing 2 - Illustration Techniques for Designers.

Itai Doron is the programme director for Fashion Media courses. He is an established photographer with particular interests in fashion, portraiture, social documentary, body politics, identity and queer theory. Working as a lens-based artist since graduation from Goldsmiths College of Art, Itai has twice received the UAL research project award to develop a body of work on immigration, combining social documentary with notions of fashion. Itai has a proven track record of public dissemination of visual and written work through exhibitions, publications, and academic research and was invited to deliver talks and lectures about his research at various international academic conferences. He has exhibited at the White Cube gallery in London, and participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions in the UK, Europe, Japan, Israel and the United States. He has authored a selection of photography books, including End Of Real in 2005, Yassin in 2009, Chokras’ Mahal (Boys' Palace) in 2011, and Fifteen Minutes With You in 2012.

James Davison studied Graphic Design (BA Hons) at Central St Martins and graduated in 2006. His work references queer/pop culture, comic books and fashion. After working as an illustrator in New York he now lives and works in London and is known for documenting fashion shows and backstage. Clients include MAC Cosmetics, Nike, Dover Street Market, i-D and GQ. Alongside lecturing at UAL, James is also a co-founder of ‘SketchSesh’ drawing sessions that merge fashion illustration, set design and life drawing. SketchSesh has worked with designers such as Nasir Mazhar, Louise Grey and held sessions amongst others at The National Gallery and The National Theatre. James’s first book is scheduled to be released in 2019, published by Montez Press.

Ana Stankovic-Fitzgerald is a lecturer and artist. Originally, she studied drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture in the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Arts in Belgrade, specialising in Fine Art Painting. Ana has been teaching drawing, illustration and creative visual communication at London College of Fashion since 2003. Over the years, Ana has established and taught numerous drawing and illustration courses for UAL, including London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins. Her teaching practice also includes an extensive range of workshops and masterclasses which Ana for various clients in the UK and abroad, including Victoria & Albert Museum, Design Museum, Fashion Space Gallery, Clerkenwell Design Week, Royal Collection, Nottingham Trent University, Designskolen Kolding University, Sichuan Fine Art Institute, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, Chengdu College of Arts and Sciences and Sichuan University. Her work was selected for the 'Best of British Illustration' in 2001 and exhibited at numerous venues abroad and in the UK including Royal College of Art.

Kate Greenslade is a multimedia image-maker, working with traditional mark-making techniques, digital compositing, photography and video. She earned a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Concordia University in Montréal (2002), an MA in Photography from the Royal College of Art (2004) and an MA in Illustration from Camberwell College of Art (2016). Style, posture and place are important narrative features of Kate’s research-based projects - her subjects can appear naïve, even humorous, but on closer look explore experiences in relation to the complex pressures of urban life. Kate's work has been exhibited internationally, presented at London and Toronto fashion weeks, and is included in a number of gallery and private collections in Europe and North America. She has twice been selected for the Association of Illustrators’ ‘Prize for Illustration’. Kate's short film, Idol Mind, was nominated for ‘Best British Short’ and won the ‘Audience Award’ at London’s Eastend Film Festival. In addition to her art practice and teaching, Kate works freelance with a range of clients producing editorial and spot illustrations, and artwork for music and book publishing.

Dahren Davey is an associate lecture in Fashion Imaging and Illustration. He is London based artist with a focus on portraiture. Davey graduated with an MA in Fashion Design from the Royal College of Art and began work in the studio of Vivienne Westwood soon after. He then went on to work freelance as both a designer, fashion illustrator and researcher for both high street and designer brands, and magazines. Alongside this, he has worked for the past 20 years as Senior Lecturer in Fashion at University Level. His artwork consists of portraits; mostly men. The portraits are made of with a wide variety of different media. Davey like to constantly experiment with style and aesthetic in order to convey a wide spectrum of mood and technique. Although the media and stylisation are constantly changing, his signature style is retained.

Claude D’Avoine is an associate lecture in Fashion Imaging and Illustration. Claude D’Avoine is a London based graphic designer specialising in print, branding and art direction. Since graduating from the University of Brighton he has gone on to freelance for a variety of clients including The Victoria & Albert Museum, JW Anderson, M.A.P., Suburbia, Central Saint Martins and Wired Magazine. He has worked as a Senior Graphic Designer for luxury brands such as Dunhill, Burberry and Mulberry.

Industry Guest Speakers include:

Nellie Eden - Editor, Dazed Beauty

Unskilled Worker - Artist, Gucci

Richard Haines - Illustrator, Artist

Matthew Whitehouse - Deputy Editor, The Face Magazine

Jon Emmony - Digital Artist, Creative Director

John Booth - Illustrator, Designer

King Owusu - Illustrator, Model

Ellie Tsatsou - Film Maker and Photographer

Clodie Worboys - Digital Designer, Sensergy

MMRMS Studio - Fashion brand

Helen Bullock - Illustrator

Megan St Clair - Illustrator

Poppy Waddilove - Artist

Alice Neale - Photographer

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

One or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications.

  • 112 UCAS tariff points from two or more A Levels (preferred subjects include, Art, Design, English, Maths);
  • Distinction Foundation Diploma in Art and Design;
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma in Art & Design;
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma;
  • Access Diploma or 112 new UCAS tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma;
  • 112 new UCAS tariff points from a combination of the above qualifications or an equivalent full Level 3 qualification;
  • or equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 25 points minimum;
  • and three GCSE passes at grade A*-C or grade 9-4.

Entry to this course will also be determined by assessment of your portfolio.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English Language Requirements

IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements

Selection criteria

The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

  • A strong interest in fashion, visual imagery and an awareness of technology
  • An understanding of the need for a critical and analytical approach to the area of study
  • An approach suited to the demands of the course and the projected career futures

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

Home students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W225

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

International students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W225

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages
  • showcase your technical skills in drawing and creative visual imagery such as hand drawing and digital image making
  • demonstrate your engagement with technology for image production
  • demonstrate your ability to effectively present ideas in a visual context
  • include work in progress to illustrate how you experiment and develop ideas from initial concepts to final outcomes
  • include research to highlight your knowledge and awareness of the cultural contexts behind the contemporary fashion industry

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2024. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

All of our undergraduate courses are concerned with the development of your personal and professional skills. On your course you will evolve from learning basic skills in your discipline through to a position where you are an independent creative thinker capable of making an effective contribution to the relevant sector of the fashion industry. Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills are embedded in all units on every course. Speaker programmes with contributions from alumni, members of industry and others are a part of many courses, as are work placement opportunities in industry.

Graduates who wish to continue their education at postgraduate level are encouraged to progress to suitable courses within the College, the University or elsewhere.

Career paths

Many graduates prefer to seek employment as soon as they have completed their undergraduate studies. BA Fashion Imaging and Illustration students pursue careers in animation, art direction, curation, and freelance fashion illustration.

Recent graduates include Isabella Cotier who frequently collaborates with Gucci and Vogue and Robson Stannard whose work has been featured in Wonderland magazine. Other alumni include Guhee Kim, nominated for the World Illustration Awards 2020, Olivia Moore who has worked with Erdem and Paul Smith as a print designer and Bex Cassie, an art consultant and curator at SHOWstudio.