Studying our Animation BA (Hons) course aims to provide you with the core knowledge and skills in animation, graphic design and illustration on exciting taught and self-driven projects in a beautiful old factory building in Luton’s Hat District located in the Creative Quarter, that is 20 minutes from Central London. Beginning with our Context and Ideas unit, you will be introduced to key theories on animation and art and design in general as well as its effect on culture and society. In more practical areas of art and design, our unit in Thinking Through Making will encourage you to take creative risks and develop an aesthetic sense through using various technologies, software, print, RISO, web, AR and different work processes and ideas. You will have the freedom to discover your own creative processes through experimentation and, as a result, use a range of media to communicate your ideas.  

To diversify your skill set, our Introducing Studio Practice unit will allow you to develop discipline-specific skills and experience such as independent learning, self-confidence, collaborative working and reflection, and apply them in other areas of study. Similarly, you will learn to manage these creative risks in our Animation and Illustration: Developing Materials and Methods unit. Here, you will develop the technical skills for image making and storytelling using animation and illustration digital and analogue 2D and 3D processes. These skills will help you significantly in our Communication Design: Exploring Materials and Methods unit, where you will look at new ways of experimenting with creative production methods to develop your studio practice.   

 To further deepen your insight on contemporary art and design practices, our unit in Critical and Creative Contexts will allow you to explore issues and critical debates around art and design that you will use to inform your Final Major Project in Animation. This research-based project will allow you to pursue your creative interests as you demonstrate your skills and abilities through production. Another area of project work involves our Collaborative Enterprise unit, where you will collaborate in group settings to apply your knowledge and expertise in a wider professional community. To help you with the research and analytical skills needed for project work, our unit in Context and Meaning will allow you to critically examine a range of texts on art, design and visual culture while placing this theory and practice into global contexts. This will also be helpful in critically evaluating your own creative work.   

To prepare you for your career in animation, our unit in Creative Futures will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need for a professional creative role. Whether you aspire to become a freelance artist, designer, teacher or pursue further study, this unit will support you in developing a career that suits your ambitions and interests. Furthermore, this unit will encourage you to participate in live projects, competition briefs and other group work while developing your creative persona online, in exhibition and elsewhere. You will be taught how to market and self-promote your work using online media tools. To add to this, our unit in Developing Professional Practice will teach you to incorporate independence and professionalism in the presentation of your work while also developing your confidence to take creative risks through live projects solving real world needs, from local community engagement to global problems such as the climate emergency. Finally, you will also have the opportunity to undertake a Professional Practice Year (Art and Design) that will give you the career-related experience you need to make informed decisions about your chosen field.