DI3S05 - Client Studies 01 Aug 2024 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: DI3S05
Module Title: Client Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Games and Design
Faculty Sub Group: Design
Module Leader: Liam Barrett
Module Team: Matthew Morgan, Elizabeth Norris, Emma Marshman
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
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 Aug 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

Prepare the student for employment and entry into the creative communications industry as a skilled and knowledgeable employee, creative practitioner or entrepreneur.

Support the student in a period of supervised work experience.

Enable the student to recognise and develop their personal strengths and talents and identify potential career options that will allow them to use those strengths beyond graduation.

Content Summary

This module provides a knowledge base of the business underpinning required to function as a freelance illustrator and work in the creative industries. Students will learn about key points in setting up as a freelance individual, small business start-up, working for an agent/agency or within a larger creative team. This will be achieved through a short placement of 70 hours where students are required to document and report on real world examples of illustration practice. This placement can also be used to achieve the Grad Edge Award, in line with USW Careers services and resources.

This module therefore aims to teach, through experiential learning, the main business principles and processes of real-world illustration practice. Key areas covered will include pricing, sizing and timing, fees and rights, commissions and contracts, agencies and studio set up.

The module will be delivered through a series of lectures and seminars, combined with an appropriate work based placement and documented report, in order to provide students with a foundation of knowledge and understanding that they can develop further in their future careers.

*If students are unable to obtain a placement, a live brief aligned to industry will be completed as an alternative.

This module contains a six-week immersive learning element.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Tutorial 1
Project supervision 6
Work based learning 70
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 36
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 1
Groupwork 6
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Reflect on the nature of professional practice in their discipline and identify the gaps between their work-related capabilities and disciplinary expectations.
LO2 Reflect upon the way their work experiences or role has contributed to their professional practice, using this to develop future personal/professional development.
LO3 Develop and critically appraise an action plan of their experience and skills developed within the context of a graduate recruitment process and informed by their career plans and aspirations.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Work Placement 1 Undertake a 70-hour work-based industry placement OR complete a live project brief provided by industry. Provide a documentary journal of the process of working in industry/on a live brief together with an up-to-date CV. 0 N/A 60 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 Students will be evaluated on the work produced during their placement to assess the quality of their output and adherence to professional standards.? 0 N/A 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Work Placement 1
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Association Of Illustrators, (2008), The Illustrator's Guide To Law And Business Practice, Association Of Illustrators.

Ilasco, C. (2010), Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business, Chronicle Books.

Rees, D. (2014), How To Be An Illustrator, 2nd Edition, Laurence King.

Taylor, F. (2012), How To Create A Portfolio & Get Hired: A Guide For Graphic Designers And Illustrators, 2nd Edition. London: Laurence King.

Bassot, B. (2016), The Reflective Journal, Red Globe Press, London.

Bassot, B. (2017), The Employability Journal, Red Globe Press, London

Neugebauer, P. & Evans-Brain, P. (2009), Making the Most of Your Placement, Sage Publishing, London.

Derek Brazell (Author), Jo Davies (Author) (2022) Getting Illustration Clients