Skip to main content
Short course

Graphic Props for World Building and Storytelling Short Course

Graphic Props for World Building and Storytelling Short Course | On Campus
Gain an exciting overview of graphic design and illustration for paper ephemera and prop making. Learn to merge illustration and graphics to create vintage and period paper designs.

Next start months
February 2026
May 2026
July 2026
Tutor(s)
Augusta Akerman
Price
From £490.00

Course description

Course overview

This inspiring short course at Chelsea College of Arts explores the art of graphic design and illustration for paper ephemera and prop making. Students learn how to merge illustration and graphics combining both analogue and digital technologies to create vintage and period paper designs.

During the course, you'll build your confidence and create a series of designs, concept pieces and mockups which may be used for graphic props for films and immersive experiences. Work produced may be added to portfolios to convey ideas.

The course delves into the intersection of film, art, graphics and design. You'll be encouraged to experiment with drawing and printmaking alongside working with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

This course is available in multiple formats: a 5-week evening course and 2-day course. If a certain format isn't listed please check back for future dates.

Who this course is for

This exciting course is aimed at anyone interested in paper graphic props for film or immersive design. It would be an excellent fit for creatives who want to explore more vintage period design creating facsimiles of ephemera - a popular illustration and graphic style. Some knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator would be helpful but is not required.

Key information

Topics covered

  • Graphic design and illustration for paper ephemera and prop making
  • Vintage poster and packaging design
  • Printmaking lo-fi techniques
  • Specific use of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
  • Time period image research and project organisation

Learning outcomes

  • Gain a better understanding of the role of a graphic designer in a film/theatre/concept context
  • Have researched graphics from various time periods creating image collections to help with development
  • Be able to organise a project
  • Have experience of initial sketching and development
  • Have experience of lo-fi printmaking stamp and tetra pack
  • Have insight into font creation analogue and digital
  • Have insight into file organising and project management
  • Be able to create a design vintage graphic poster (or similar project) using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
  • Be able to create a design for blade sign (or similar project) using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
  • Be able to create a design for vintage packaging design (or similar project) using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
  • Understand file setup for displaying images to client
  • Digital badge and certificate of attendance

Materials

  • Sketchbook
  • Drawing materials
  • Laptop with up-to-date Adobe programs Photoshop and Illustrator

Tutor

Augusta Akerman

Augusta Akerman is an Illustrator and Graphic Designer with 16 years experience of working across various creative industries. After Graduating from the Glasgow School of Art in 2008 with a BA Hons in Fine Art Photography she has worked as a Set Decorator and Graphic Designer for film, television, and commercials, before studying for an MA in Illustration at Camberwell College of Art in 2013.

Since 2014 she has been commissioned by the South London Botanical Institute to produce a bespoke wallpaper and was nominated as a 'One to Watch' in the Homes & Gardens Fabric Awards. She has exhibited her artwork in London and Edinburgh and has been a Senior Designer with MinaLima, the graphic design studio for the Wizarding World™, Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.

More recently Augusta has worked with HarperCollins and The National Trust producing 24 illustrations for Britain's Ghosts by Anna Groves.

Book a course

Loading