Next course starts 30 June 2025

Fees

Early bird fee: £1125
until 22 April 2025
Full fee: £1250
from 23 April 2025

Location

Online
Eight sessions over four weeks:
Week 1: 30 June & 3 July 2025
Week 2: 7 & 10 July 2025
Week 3: 14 & 17 July 2025
Week 4: 21 & 24 July 2025
10am – 2pm BST per session with optional networking up to 30 min after each session

Cherry Yeung - Graphic Novel participant July 2024

Human beings have a natural need for storytelling. Every day we may recall autobiographical incidents, reflect upon memories, gossip or simply chat. But it is much more difficult to create a narrative that can engage a wide audience. We soon become aware of the importance of form. A narrative needs structure; it has to be built. Composition, tone, colour, pacing and tempo are the things we have to engage with.

This course offers a starting point to build your story.

Led by Andrzej Klimowski, the Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling offers a fresh approach to the subject. Aimed at releasing the imagination, this is an open opportunity for self-expression. The course is co-led by celebrated RCA alumnus and illustrator Miguel Angel Valdivia.

View our case study:

Case Study: Graphic Novel Summer School 2024

Above image: Cherry Yeung - Graphic Novel participant July 2024

About the course

Who should attend?

The course is aimed at students, practitioners and enthusiasts aged 21 years or above who wish to further their skills in creating picture-driven stories that can lead to the making of original graphic novels. It can also help those intending to embark on Master's-level studies or professionals seeking to discover alternative ways to expand their working methods. This includes but is not limited to:

illustration and graphic design students
recent graduates who wish to improve their illustration and writing skills
professionals working in illustration, visual communication and/or communication design
prospective RCA Illustration, Visual Communication and Writing students
anyone seeking an opportunity to experiment without professional constraint

What will you learn?

At the end of this course you will have gained:

a deeper understanding of contemporary approaches to storytelling, visual narratives and illustration in the context of graphic novels
insights on the potential of location, characterisation, materiality and perception in the creation of visual narratives and graphic novels
confidence in creating your own illustration and visual narratives
skills to work in a range of settings from traditional to contemporary, from print to electronic, handmade or computer-generated.

How will you learn?

Through a series of workshops, lectures, practical exercises and presentations you will:

experience the RCA model of 'learning by doing' in order to develop design and presentation techniques while building a portfolio
work with practitioners and educators to develop a critical, creative and insightful practice in a safe and nurturing environment in which to experiment
develop an enhanced notion of what a contemporary illustration practice can be
expand your skills and grow confidence in making your own graphic novel.

Post course, we may offer a 20-minute session per delegate with Professor Andrzej Klimowski and Miguel Angel Valdivia, where participants have an opportunity to get feedback on their work and discuss key take-outs from the course (optional).

Course structure

This course is delivered online and is highly interactive, through live learning with self-directed work undertaken by participants between sessions.

The course will run over four weeks, with two x 4-hour sessions each week with optional networking after each session.

Week One

Introduction to the course and its aims and objectives
An illustrated lecture by Andrzej Klimowski
Students present their initial response to the workshop theme in the form of sketches and drawings
Tutors comments.

Week Two

An illustrated lecture by guest speaker*
Second student presentation on Zoom and group critique

Week Three:

An illustrated lecture by guest speaker*
Third student presentation on Zoom
Group critique and discussion about Graphic Design, the dynamics of layout and the editing process

Week Four:

Final presentation and a discussion on how to further one’s work in a professional context.

*guest speakers to be announced soon

Disclaimer: The information given is accurate at the time of publication, however, the RCA reserves the right to amend the described course as circumstances dictate.

Online delivery

The course is organised in synchronous sessions in a live virtual environment that combines various digital platforms and tools.

Zoom
Using the videoconferencing service Zoom, the RCA's esteemed academics and facilitators deliver a mix of:

live lectures
case studies
guided assessments
presentations

Participants interact with the faculty and peers in breakout rooms in real time.

Miro

Participants engage in cross-functional team work with the use of visual collaboration tools.

Through the online whiteboard platform Miro, participants get to:

interact with various formats and templates
plan and brainstorm ideas
create processes and workshop activities in the digital workspace.

Moodle

The College's learning platform Moodle is personalised according to the course's requirements to provide participants with a secure integrated system where they can access the course content.

The hub hosts a range of useful resources to enable the learning experience, including comprehensive timetables, pre-reading materials, course slides, curated videos, tutorials and session recordings.

Slack

Participants stay connected and communicate via the channel-based messaging platform Slack throughout the whole duration of the course.

In this space, the academics, facilitators and delegates get to network, plan the course activities, share documents and files during the live sessions or offline.

Course outcomes

A collection of original drawings
Illustration - graphic novel publication (print and/or digital)
A certificate of online attendance at the end of the course
A project idea to go on an RCA MA programme if participants are interested in applying.

Admission criteria

Participants must be 21 years or over.

It is preferable for delegates to have:

an undergraduate degree in design or a background in illustration
a basic understanding of typography
a good level of English language.

*Limited number of places up to maximum 18 participants.

“What distinguishes this course from many others is that apart from giving students sound technical and theoretical advice, it focuses on artistic freedom and offers space for self expression.”
Andrzej Klimowski Emeritus Professor of Illustration
“The programme was professionally led with numerous resources and very accomplished tutors who provide excellent advice and really shape the course of your work until the very end even with aspects such as titles, never neglecting the smaller details”
Mia Jasmine Rhodes, The Courtauld Institute of Art Student 2024 Participant
“Great way to network with people from different backgrounds and countries. Excellent chance to get drawing in a supportive environment where you are given constructive feedback and encouragement by the course leaders and your peers. Good insight into developing your skills as an artist and storyteller for industry professionals”
Olivia Rissik, Secondary Teacher at Nord Anglia Education 2024 Participant
“An inspiring and quick-paced course during which pressure to consistently work on one's story is balanced with support, encouragement and wholehearted engagement shared by the course leaders and participants. It was a unique opportunity to partake in different trajectories of participants' stories and experience a variety of drawing styles, themes and approaches. A friendly litmus test for one's ideas.”
Anita Bernacka, Early Years Teacher 2024 Participant
“The course encourages you to deeply explore your instincts for the story you wish to tell. As a filmmaker, it was a much-needed exercise to free myself from the trappings of prescribed storytelling techniques. It was a thoroughly refreshing journey, mindfully guided by Andrzej and team.”
Adzlynn Fizra The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, July 2023
“The tutors took genuine interest in what we wanted to learn and develop in. I felt that I got a lot out of it, on a practical and inspirational level.”
Chiara Robotti The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, July 2023
“An amazing experience with people from diverse backgrounds and places, the course and the inspiring free approach the tutors propose, gave me the confidence to put my story-ideas directly into paper. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who wants to gain inspiration and confidence in illustration and narrative.”
Elli Kikidi The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, July 2023
“A fantastic experience, open and pragmatic! The innovative processes explored are keys to unlocking an exciting and experimental visual narrative practice.”
Stephen Dunne The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, July 2022
“The RCA course in Visual Storytelling helped me explore drawing techniques and tools. It taught me how to tell an enjoyable story and inspired me to be creative.”
Tobia Belluzzi The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, July 2022
“The Graphic Novel Summer School at the RCA exceeded all my expectations. The course leaders, facilitators and fellow students created a space for exploration, expression and experimentation that was very special. I felt energised by the experience and would heartily recommend it to anyone who looking to build their confidence, as well as frame of reference – you will have your world expanded in the most beautiful way.”
Laura Brown The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, summer 2021
“As someone who works in the film industry, you think you know your way around visual storytelling relatively well...until you meet Andrzej Klimowski and his team who introduce you to an entirely new world of story-driven visual narrative you can only get after decades of experience.”
Daniella Mangani The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, summer 2021
“The course reinforced my desire to create visual stories, and my love for the graphic novel genre. It gave me the confidence to present my work. I left the course brimming with ideas and excitement for all the new stories I will be exploring.”
Sanya Gupta The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, summer 2021
“An amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone looking to improve their illustration skills, a wonderful experience, story telling techniques. A real joy of a course!”
Eva Zhukovsky The Graphic Novel: Visual Storytelling participant, summer 2021
“The course is excellent in every aspect. I felt immersed in the cultural environment and renewed my views of art and illustration.”
Anjie Shi Graphic Design student, July 2019

Emeritus Professor of Illustration

During his career, Andrzej has made films and written graphic novels. He has designed theatre posters and book covers for leading publishers. He was Head of Illustration at the RCA for many years, and is now Professor Emeritus. He continues to produce graphic novels with his wife Danusia Schejbal, and works in graphics and produces illustrations. He also makes films. His work has been the subject of a retrospective at the National Theatre, London.

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Short course tutor

Miguel Angel Valdivia is an Italian visual artist currently living in Naples. He graduated from the Royal College of Art in the Visual Communication department in 2013, where he also taught as a visiting lecturer for three years. He recently published his first graphic novel, "Il divino inciampare”, in Italy. He is currently writing the storyboard for his second book.

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