At London College of Fashion, the Fashion Imaging and Illustration course continues to prove that hand-drawn skill remains at the heart of innovation, even as the discipline moves into digital 3D spaces and immersive world-building. This year’s cohort of students demonstrate how the timeless art of drawing can anchor contemporary explorations of identity, culture, and technology, creating work that is both deeply personal and strikingly future-facing.

Sunny Lyu’s project Escape reflects on the emotional and psychological bonds between humans and nature, born from her own experiences with the restorative power of plants. Through imagery inspired by greenery and the mindful rituals of care it invites, Sunny explores how urban dwellers seek solace in houseplants, creating spaces to pause and breathe amidst modern pressures. Her work acts as a gentle visual reminder of the grounding role that nature continues to play in our lives.

In contrast, Ming Wei critiques the seduction of fashion itself. Inspired by the discomfort of wearing visually stunning but impractical boots, his project The Logic of Over-Fashion interrogates how belief systems and branding create value. The central piece is a colossal walking fashion structure, pristine above yet absorbing people into its spectacle below. Referencing Japanese consumer aesthetics, designer toys, and fashion marketing strategies, Ming Wei highlights the ways in which desire and conformity are shaped by the illusions of fashion’s authority.

Evie Conde-Flack’s work ventures into the uncanny, reinterpreting Japanese folklore and Edo-period ghost stories to reflect on the paradox of hyper-connectivity and isolation in contemporary life. Drawing from Lafcadio Hearn’s translations, she creates spectral figures wandering through concrete labyrinths, weaving together horror, mythology, and urban alienation. The result is an atmospheric exploration of how folklore continues to mirror modern emotional dissonance.

Equally rooted in myth but with a distinctly different lens, Katie Strucinskaja reimagines Slavic folklore through sculptural fashion forms. Her project blends memory and heritage with contemporary design, transforming cultural motifs into bold, textured narratives. Each piece functions as a chapter in an unfolding story, inviting viewers to step into a living fairytale that is both nostalgic and modern.

From heritage to intergenerational tensions, Yuyan Yang’s A Wish, A Weight centers on the symbolism of the Chinese fish lantern. Traditionally tied to prosperity and unity, the lantern also embodies societal expectations that weigh on younger generations. By merging traditional painting with digital techniques and 3D modeling, Yuyan captures the delicate balance between blessing and burden, tradition and individuality, offering a thoughtful reflection on identity within culture.

Finally, Jolie Wood’s Nepenthe offers a poetic exploration of femininity and resilience. Through digital collage that incorporates fragmented silhouettes, lace textures, and geometric patterns, she creates a visual space of refuge where anxiety is softened and strength is celebrated. Her work is both an artistic sanctuary and a commentary on the ongoing assault on women’s freedoms, reframing escapism as an act of survival and love.

Together, these projects show how drawing remains the foundation of fashion imaging and illustration, even as students embrace digital technologies to expand their visual universes. The hand-drawn line, whether translated into 3D modeling, collage, or installation, grounds their work in craft while allowing them to reimagine the possibilities of fashion storytelling. This generation of UAL talent doesn’t just illustrate clothes—they build worlds, blending heritage and innovation, critique and poetry, always beginning with the power of the drawn mark.

The Talent Behind UAL’s Fashion Imaging + Illustration

The Fashion Imaging + Illustration course at London College of Fashion is shaped and inspired by a team of practitioners who bring a wealth of industry experience, artistic vision, and teaching excellence. Grounded in traditional drawing yet fully engaged with digital innovation, these lecturers and artists guide students to experiment, push boundaries, and develop their own creative voices.

Leading the course is Alex Mein, illustrator and lecturer, whose practice explores observation, identity and portraiture. With clients including Gap, Nike, Mulberry, and Harvey Nichols, Alex balances commercial and personal work while mentoring the next generation of image-makers.

Itai Doron, programme director for Fashion Media, is an established photographer whose work spans fashion, portraiture, and social documentary. With exhibitions at White Cube and publications worldwide, his research-driven practice addresses themes of identity, queer theory and body politics.

James Davison, illustrator and co-founder of SketchSesh, draws from queer culture, comics, and fashion. Known for documenting runway shows and backstage moments, his client list includes i-D, GQ, Dover Street Market and MAC Cosmetics.

Ana Stankovic-Fitzgerald brings decades of teaching experience in drawing and illustration. Trained as a fine artist, she has taught internationally and led numerous workshops with institutions such as the V&A, Design Museum, and Royal Collection.

Kate Greenslade, multimedia image-maker, works across drawing, photography, video and digital collage. Her research-driven projects often use style, posture, and place to explore pressures of urban life, with exhibitions spanning Europe and North America.

Dahren Davey, portrait artist and illustrator, brings a wealth of industry and teaching experience. Having worked in Vivienne Westwood’s studio and freelanced across fashion design and publishing, his portraiture practice reflects a constant experimentation with media and mood.

Claude D’Avoine, graphic designer and art director, specialises in print and branding. With experience at Burberry, Dunhill and Mulberry, as well as freelance work for the V&A and JW Anderson, he brings an eye for visual identity and design innovation.

Together, this team offers students the rare opportunity to learn from working practitioners—artists, designers, and image-makers who ensure that the course remains deeply rooted in drawing while embracing the tools, technologies and cultural conversations shaping fashion’s future.

Link to course: https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/c/london-college-of-fashion-ba-hons-fashion-imaging-and-illustration