Graphic design & illustration

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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5 Items

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  1. Introduction to graphic design
    Course start date:  Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 3 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 £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00
  2. City Lit Pro: Adobe Creative Cloud intensive stage 1
    Course start date:  Tue 8 Apr 2025 (and 5 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    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 Adobe Creative Cloud course, covering Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, you will learn key tools and techniques to develop, deliver and optimise vector graphics, photographic images and page layout and design.
    Full fee £599.00 Senior fee £599.00 Concession £599.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  3. Developing graphic design
    Course start date:  Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Our 'Developing' courses help you take your next step in your 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
  4. Book cover design: weekend workshop
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 5 Apr 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Alison Barratt
    DO judge a book by its cover! That’s what buyers do, which publishers know only too well of course. That’s why ‘cover designer’ is a whole job in itself – often distinct from book designers (who deal with the rest of the book).







    If you’re an author/illustrator submitting picturebooks to agents and publishers – a compelling cover design is essential. And the same goes if you’re self-publishing, of course.







    Learn from a seasoned designer/illustrator all the ingredients of brilliant cover design, and, most importantly, how to create one for your book – be that something you’ve created yourself, or a favourite tome you want to pay homage to.







    You’ll journey from traditional media to Photoshop, applying the keystone principles of layout design as you go. You’ll also learn about effective typography, and how to apply type to your designs.











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    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 £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £169.00
  5. Pet Illustration: weekend workshop
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 12 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Learn techniques to create a winning illustration of your furry/feathery/scaly little darlings! Over a fast and furious 2 days explore a dazzling range of image-making techniques: drawing and painting, photo-manipulation, collage, table-top printmaking... for starters. Take home an evocative illustration (or several) for your pet’s approval.







    -



    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 £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £169.00
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