Visual Communication

Graphic Design & Illustration Courses

At City Lit, our exciting range of graphic design and ilustration courses will give you a creative insight into working with images and text in an emerging and innovative area. Explore a range of concepts and creative processes, within the areas of graphic design, illustration, children’s book illustration and animation, learning how to produce work visually in a diverse and exciting way. 

Working with industry professionals and experienced tutors in our fully equipped design studios, students will have access to everything they need to complete their next creative challenge. Our studios offer space for creativity with all the equipment your need, including Apple Mac computers, Adobe CC software, Wacom tablets, a range of printers and scanners including access to our 3D printing and laser cutting digital suite.

We encourage playful experimentation, working with both analogue and digital tools. Our courses range from drafting story boards and cartoon design to film poster graphics, from typography and magazine layout to printed creative packaging and digital illustrations.

We host exhibitions throughout the year at City Lit Gallery where our students showcase their amazing work.

To arrange a conversation with our Visual communication coordinator about your interests, options and courses available, please contact our Visual Arts team at visualarts@citylit.ac.uk  

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you.

Filters

Items 1-15 of 17

Page
per page
Set Descending Direction
  1. Illustration 2
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 18 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Rod Judkins
    Developing illustration techniques builds on from the introduction to illustration course and enables you to expand your illustration skills. You will experiment with a variety of different projects and work towards finding your own unique voice and style within illustration. There will be an exploration into a wide range of different media, materials, processes and techniques.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £227.00
  2. Introduction to graphic design
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 30 May 2024 (and 6 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Pam Williams
    Our 'Introduction' courses provide a perfect way-in to a creative field.



    Graphic Design is everywhere; in our books, magazines, and newspapers. Emblazoning packaging at the corner shop to the mall. On our screens- phones, TVs, computers and tablets. To say it’s important would be an understatement.







    Don’t just consume. Learn how to use image and type to communicate your messages, emotions and ideas. Beyond this, learn about the movements and styles which have shaped the field of Graphic Design over the years, and how to find your place there.
    Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00
  3. Adobe Photoshop: stage 1
    Last Few Places
    Course start date:  Thu 25 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  George Stickney
    Learn about the potential and possibilities available to you when using Adobe Photoshop,and develop some practical skill and knowledge.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
    Rating:
    85% of 100
  4. Introduction to children's book illustration
    Course start date:  Thu 23 May 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Dee Shulman
    Our Introductory courses provide a perfect way-in to a creative field.







    The Children’s Book industry is thriving, largely due to globally rising literacy levels, and a growing awareness of the importance of early childhood education. As a result, Children’s Book creators are in demand.



    Our tutors will teach you the many and various skills you’ll need to illustrate books for children - from drawing and painting (analogue and digital), to sequencing and pacing visual narratives.



    You'll learn about the children’s publishing sector; gaining a sense of the different genres and markets for children's books, and where your illustration style might fit.
    Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00
  5. Layout design for print workshop
    Course start date:  Thu 6 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Andrew McCarten
    Take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool, with our Visual Communication Workshops.



    Workshops throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.



    Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no conceptual or contextual elements, although this varies by course.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00
  6. Botanical illustration workshop
    Course start date:  Thu 14 Nov 2024 (and 6 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lucia Vinti
    Take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool, with our Visual Communication workshops.







    Workshops throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.







    Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no conceptual or contextual elements, although this varies by course.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
  7. Adobe InDesign: stage 2
    Course start date:  Thu 13 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Gita Hahn
    Develop intermediate desktop publishing skills using InDesign on Apple Macs. Construct and lay out a multi column, multi page document. Work with text to create, apply and import styles, set up and apply master pages and learn good working practices.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
  8. Adobe Photoshop: stage 2
    Course start date:  Thu 13 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Michael Harding
    Learn a new specialist topic each week and develop it in detail. Increase your knowledge and experiment with the program's applications and special effects. Prior experience of Adobe Photoshop needed.
    Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £123.00
  9. Affinity photo: introduction
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 18 Jul 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Michael Harding
    Affinity Photo is a British engineered and fully featured cross-platform editing alternative to Adobe Photoshop. For photographers at all levels. We’ll show you how to use it effectively to process and edit your images to the highest standard.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
  10. Developing graphic design
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 12 Sep 2024 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Pam Williams
    Our 'Developing' courses help you take your next step in a chosen creative field.







    Graphic Design is everywhere; in our books, magazines, and newspapers. Emblazoning packaging at the corner shop to the mall. On our screens- phones, TVs, computers and tablets. To say it’s important would be an understatement.







    Don’t just consume. Learn how to use image and type to communicate your messages, emotions, and ideas. Beyond this, learn about the movements and styles which have shaped the field of Graphic Design over the years, and how to find your place there.
    Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00
  11. Adobe Illustrator: stage 1
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 31 Oct 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Gita Hahn
    Explore basic design and illustration techniques using Adobe Illustrator – the key high-end graphics software used to create logos and icons. Discover what you can achieve using paths, pens, colour, and type as you learn about infographics and designing with vectors.
    Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
  12. Illustrating people and places workshop
    Course start date:  Thu 5 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lucia Vinti
    ‘People’ and/or ‘place’ are present in most illustrations – and yet you’d be amazed how many illustrators try to avoid them!







    If you’re one of these ‘avoiders’, or someone who wants to improve their existing style of tackling these subject-matters, this course is for you!







    Through a combination of drawing on location, and from films and photographs back in the studio, you’ll get your ‘people and places’ practice mastered.







    Our Workshops enable you to take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool.



    They throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.







    Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no theory or context, although this varies by course.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
  13. Procreate for illustration
    Course start date:  Thu 7 Nov 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lucia Vinti
    Take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool, with our Visual Communication Workshops.







    Workshops throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.







    Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no theory or context, although this varies by course.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
  14. Colour communication workshop
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 14 Nov 2024 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Colour influences mood, meaning, even decision-making! In short, colour communicates. Learn how to use colour to hugely enhance your work’s communication with its intended audiences.







    Our Workshops enable you to take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool.







    They throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.







    Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no theory or context, although this varies by course.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
  15. Illustration 1
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 23 Jan 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Rod Judkins
    If you are interested in illustration and would like to explore the subject further, this course will show you a range of new and exciting approaches. You will learn many new techniques, whether you are a complete beginner or someone who would like to refresh their approach. On this practical course you’ll learn the practicalities of what it is to be an illustrator. This is not a computer-based course but there is help and advice with software for those who wish to use it.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £429.00 Senior fee £343.00 Concession £279.00
Page
per page
Set Descending Direction

Can't see a course you want?

Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.

Add me to waiting list