DI1S04 - Colour And Communication For Illustration 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: DI1S04
Module Title: Colour And Communication For Illustration
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Games and Design
Faculty Sub Group: Design
Module Leader: Matthew Morgan
Module Team: Liam Barrett, Emma Marshman
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100062 - illustration
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

This module aims to:

  • Teach students the importance of colour, its role in visual communication and its application to illustration contexts.
  • Develop an awareness of the theory of colour and key principles of visual communication.
  • Provide insight into the practical application of colour through printing, screen and interactive digital formats.

Content Summary

In this module students will develop awareness of the importance of colour, its application and communication in the context of Illustration. Through this module students will have the opportunity to become proficient in working with colour in relation to design solutions and understand the language and terminology of colour for particular contexts of visual communication.

Students will be introduced to the theory of colour, colour in the environment, how the application of colour transforms visual language and how industry uses colour in practice through printing, screen and interactive formats.

This module will be theory and practice based and will be made up of lectures, seminars, practical sessions, supervised project and studio time and tutorials.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 6
Seminar 6
Project supervision 24
Practical classes and workshops 12
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 71
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 1
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate an awareness of colour and visual communication principles.
LO2 Apply colour to specific illustrative tasks in order to communicate a particular message/narrative/theme.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Project Output 1 Colour & Communication practical assignment attached to an illustration brief with contextual outcomes. 0 N/A 60 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 A visual and written case study of an illustration context. The main focus of this study will be the use, analysis and understanding of colour theory within illustration practice (indicated wordcount is equivalent). 0 1600 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Project Output 1
Case study 1

Reading List

Anderson Feisner, E. (2006), Colour: How To Use Colour In Art And Design, Laurence King; 2 Edition.

Bergström, B. (2008), Essentials Of Visual Communication, Lawrence King.

Gage, J. (2000), Colour And Meaning: Art, Science And Symbolism, Thames And Hudson Ltd; New Edition.

Leeuwen, T.V. (2010), The Language Of Colour: An Introduction, Routledge.

Berger, J. (2008), Ways Of Seeing, Penguin Classics; Reprint Edition.

Sausmarez, J. (2008), Basic Colour: A Practical Handbook, A&C Black Publishers Ltd.

Adams, S. (2017), The Designer's Dictionary of Colour, Abrams Books.

Deuchars, M. (2018), Colour, Particular Books.