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.

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  1. Developing illustration
    Course start date:  Mon 22 Apr 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lucia Vinti
    Our ‘Developing' courses help you take your next step in a chosen creative field.







    This course will help progress your illustration practice by further exploring the practical skills (using a variety of analogue and digital media) and conceptual skills (researching and developing your ideas) integral to the discipline. You will also begin to consider which of the many ‘applications’ of illustration your developing personal style might lend itself to; for example, editorial, fashion, book, or product illustration, to name a few.
    Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00
  2. Introduction to illustration
    Course start date:  Mon 21 Oct 2024 (and 4 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

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







    Illustration is a form of visual communication which often exists alongside text. Illustrations can help to explain or clarify (or sometimes contradict) the words on a page. Most of all, you could say, they bring the message 'alive', by making it more immediate and exciting. For this reason, illustrations are found across books, magazines, newspapers, websites and social media channels.







    Learn how to create powerful illustrations on our exciting range of Illustration courses.
    Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00
  3. Developing graphic novels
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 23 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Stephen Marchant
    Our 'Developing' courses help you take your next step in your chosen creative field.







    Comics – once considered lowbrow, or seen as exclusively for children, now occupy a higher cultural domain. Partly thanks to a re-brand, (as ‘Graphic Novels’), no weighty subject is off-limits. A graphic novel has even been nominated for The Booker Prize!







    Alongside official publishing channels, exists a lively ‘zine’ culture, where comic and graphic-novel artists can legitimately self-publish and sell their work through a network of independent shops and fairs.







    Learn how to create Comics and Graphic-novels with City Lit, and – once you have developed your practice – how to navigate this thriving sector.
    Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00
  4. Graphic design studio
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 3 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Andrew McCarten
    City Lit Studios provide time each week for you to commit to working on a personal project or portfolio, alongside your peers. A tutor will be on-hand to provide insights and guidance, as and when you need it.







    Studios are for experienced learners with a burgeoning creative practice they wish to hone, in a supportive environment. For example, those who have completed a Beginners and Developing course in a relevant subject, or have equivalent industry experience.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
  5. City Lit Pro: Infographic design with Adobe Illustrator
    Course start date:  Mon 3 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Andrea Marzano
    City Lit Pro courses are tailored for accelerated learning for busy people who need to learn key skills for the workplace. On this practical course you will develop your skills in Adobe Illustrator, with a focus on creating infographics to present complex data in a visual, fun, attractive and impactful way to engage your audience.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £449.00 Senior fee £449.00 Concession £292.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  6. Botanical illustration workshop
    Course start date:  Mon 16 Sep 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. Typography, typefaces and font workshop
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 30 Sep 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Andrew McCarten
    All designers know, images are powerful. But have you ever considered the look of your text? In other words, the typeface? It’s amazing how many designers overlook this powerful aspect of communication. Words are powerful (of course), but it’s not just what they say, it’s how they say it. On this workshop, learn how to harness the power of type.







    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
  8. Introduction to graphic novels
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 3 Feb 2025 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Our 'Introduction' courses provide a perfect way-in to a creative field.







    Comics – once considered lowbrow, or seen as exclusively for children, now occupy a higher cultural domain. Partly thanks to a re-brand, (as ‘Graphic Novels’), no weighty subject is off-limits. A graphic novel has even been nominated for The Booker Prize!







    Alongside official publishing channels, exists a lively ‘zine’ culture, where comic and graphic-novel artists can legitimately self-publish and sell their work through a network of independent shops and fairs.







    Learn how to create Comics and Graphic-novels with City Lit, and – once you have developed your practice – how to navigate this thriving sector.
    Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00
  9. From traditional to digital illustration workshop
    Course start date:  Mon 30 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Adobe Creative Suite is the principal software used by Illustrators and Designers all over the world. On this course, learn how to take scribbly sketches and inky splotches into Adobe Photoshop and transform them into illustrations, collages, pattern designs… the possibilities are almost endless; thankfully, you will also be taught a crucial skill of digital illustration - knowing when to stop!







    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
  10. Illustrating people and places workshop
    Course start date:  Mon 4 Nov 2024 (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
  11. Logo and branding design workshop
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 11 Nov 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    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
  12. Magazine design workshop
    Course start date:  Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Gillian Fielden
    Love magazines? How about creating your own?!







    Nowadays, there are plenty of apps that will do the design work for you. But, this course will teach you the design principles underpinning these softwares, empowering you to innovate and create original formats that aren’t yet ubiquitous.







    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
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