At the WdKA Illustration department, you will be trained as a visual specialist who is able to interact - through their work - with different audiences.
We believe that a contemporary illustrator does not necessarily need to possess specific technical or craft skills. Contemporary illustration practice is diverse and constantly moving beyond the boundaries of other disciplines.
At the WdKA Illustration department, you will be trained as a visual specialist: a concept developer and critical visual storyteller who explores possible artistic solutions coming from a strong conceptual grounding. We believe that Illustration offers an excellent opportunity for critically questioning and discussing art, design, politics and the illustrator’s position in relation to these fields.
Illustrative works can take a wide variety of forms, styles, and can be found in many different contexts. Examples include publications, animations and games, but also product designs, exhibitions and events.
Illustrators need to engage - through their work - with different audiences. You will learn to work in flexible partnerships which experts and amateurs. In our projects, we highlight different aspects of the contemporary illustration practice: telling and sharing stories, the balance between self-initiated and commissioned illustration activities, the historical and contemporary impact of illustration on people and society and future challenges and opportunities in the field of illustration.
WdKA Illustration alumni often work as freelancers, but also within collectives and/or for commercial or institutional employers such as Volkskrant, De Correspondent, Funk-e, Wobby Club, Studio MAKY, Boijmans and Kunsthal Rotterdam. Our network of external partners includes Amnesty International, Poetry International, Villa Zebra, TENT Rotterdam and the Dutch Organization for Designers BNO.
Opportunities for exchange with partner institutes in for example Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States of America
Cover project: Alter Ego Project (photo by Ines Peeters Navarro)
Open Days & Recruitment activities
Want to know more about life at the Willem de Kooning Academy? Check out our extended programme, full of (online) activities and interaction with student ambassadors and tutors via this link.
Knowledge & skills
- Narrative, informative and authorial illustration
- Relevant research
- Entrepreneurship
- Ability to work independently and in collaboration
- Software
- ...and more
Career opportunities
- Illustrator
- Interdisciplinary image maker
- Comic artist
- Image maker for game industry
- ...and more
Stations
Most study activities take place at the Stations (Workspaces). All students, regardless of their bachelor programme or year, are welcome to work at the Stations. These are places where students can test their ideas and figure out how to turn them into fully functioning creations. They can experiment with tools, techniques, materials, and equipment, and receive support and inspiration by working with fellow students, tutors, and instructors.
For more detailed information about our Stations, please visit this webpage
Dual Degree programme
Are you artistically talented, and at the same time thirsty for academic knowledge? The Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and the Willem de Kooning Academy (WdKA) offer you the possibility to combine theory and practice within a five-year Dual Degree programme. Students completing the RASL programme obtain two bachelor degrees: one from the EUR (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science) and one from WdKA (Bachelor of Arts).
