Art and Design at university; for past, present, and future students and parents

[PhotoDad]

I've been on a wonderful thread about applications for art/design applications for the coming academic year, and I thought it might be useful to have a more general place for people at different stages of the process to share advice and hints. The normal MN advice about universities is often not applicable to these subjects!

I'll keep this short because I personally don't like huge posts that appear at the top of each page, but I'll add some starting thoughts below. I know that there's a huge range of experience here and a lot of support, so please do ask questions, or share triumphs and disasters.

The original thread is here:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4626697-2023-uni-applications-for-those-pursuing-art-and-creative-routes

Also she has had some paid work creating a poster for a local play and won an art competition with a watercolour painting that was bought for a £1000 . Should she include that and mention it or will it be irrelevant and considered showing off.

I would include those pieces in the portfolio. Don't make a song and dance about it, just include it in the caption/title ("Paid commission" and "First Prize in NameOfCompetition"). At least, that's what my DD did!

In DD's foundation course, part of the advice on portfolio design was that the portfolio should tell a story of growth, so she should arrange it in a way that shows not just what she can do now but of how much potential there is for future development.

Thanks

We went for an open day and chatted for the illustration tutor for ages. She talked about the portfolio reflecting your interests and how you could take something and go somewhere with it. So if you like a book, design a cover, do some drawings based on some quotes etc. do work in lots of mediums, even if you don’t like it, then say that.

We are on the verge of DD doing some volunteer work with an artist and she said she will pay her for a future project as she recognises the value of being able to say that.

I thought I would pop on here to give an update after reading so many lately. My youngest, is doing an animation degree at University of Herts. It seems like only yesterday that I was discussing the pros and cons with some of you! They are very dedicated to the craft and very focused on doing freelance projects whenever the opportunity arises. Because of the concerns about AI, DD has taken their degree rather seriously ( I sometimes worry too seriously but hey ho) but they also really enjoy it and appreciate the great advice, networking opportunities and input from the dedicated staff. It has so far gone very well, they have had the chance to do a number of paid commissions and recently won an award. No placement year because DD thinks the amount of freelance they've already done will be enough. We shall see. Although there are no guarantees I think that despite the fears many have about 'creative' degrees, they can be a worthwhile choice.

Good luck to all of those graduating, going into 2/3rd years or about to start!

Mine is worried about it. She currently has a place on media production but and interview to change to graphic design and illustration. Her worry is everyone is telling her not to change that she will have no future.

@RockyKeen it's a tricky one. The scare stories about what AI is doing and will do to all industries and jobs are alarming. Therefore I guess the question is which degree does she think will provide her with the most skills she can utilise for a freelance career (sadly I think most creatives will have to go down this route) and which will she enjoy the most. Can she speak to current students, do they get the opportunity to do work experience, network and paid commissions. Do the lecturers still do 'creative' paid work outside of their academic stuff and so can provide real life/industry advice? From what I can gather from my DD's experience, if you can make an impression on some of the 'industry' people you meet, they do remember you and help with advice and even paid projects. And the flip side is of course, this is three years of her life so it's a good idea she picks a degree she will enjoy doing and find satisfying. I wish your DD all the best in making her decision and for the future.

She got in to the course without an interview in portfolio only . She seems happy, so I’m happy .

My daughter has ended up doing Painting and Printmaking at Glasgow school of art.
She thinks she will need a laptop particularly as it involves essay writing.
Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for what type of laptop she might need?

Has she had a kit list from the course organizers? DD got a frankly ridiculous list of "basics" from her college but it was quite handy in terms of indicating the level of tech that would be needed for the course.

I don't think she has had a kit list yet as it's still Freshers week but I'll check.

Exciting times! If she just needs the laptop for essays, then almost anything will be fine. If she is expected to use it for digital artwork, she needs to find what software is required and what hardware will run that.

DD1 has an enormous screen on her computer which she finds really useful. Obviously not a laptop 😁
And round two started here today, DD2 started her art foundation year at the same place DD1 did hers four years ago, an easy bus ride away. All good so far, she's had an interesting day.

DD has a laptop, but at home she has a laptop plus monitor setup, and she's planning on buying a monitor for her unit accommodation once she's settled in and knows how much desk space she has (especially as she will need to fit a sewing machine as well).

DD is looking at art foundations for next year.
Kingston, UAL, Morley or Working Mens College.

We looked around a few last year and was unimpressed by WMC which seemed a bit too much like school.

She will live at home in London and commute. She’s interested in Kingston but it’s a long journey from us. UAL seems ok but so many students-maybe it’ll be a good place to find her tribe. Morley has rave reviews on here, and I know the campus, but I’m worried it’ll be too small for her.
I’ve known a few people drop
out of the art foundation because they found the commute too much and the work not much different to A level but if that happens then she’ll have to have a gap year.
Does anyone have any new info on the foundations, or any London ones she has missed?

Croydon School of Art (at Croydon College) does an art foundation. It's new this year, so I'm not sure what it's like.

I dropped DD off at university yesterday! Her accommodation is pretty luxurious, her flatmates seem lovely and Wimbledon has some great charity shops, so it's been a success so far - we'll see what the first term brings.

My knowledge of Foundations is mostly not up to date as I stopped teaching on one seven years ago (and it no longer exists) but a friend’s daughter started the Kingston one a few years ago and dropped out very early. It wasn’t the commute (though that would have been long) but she felt really institutionalised there. I think it’s a good FAD but maybe a bit more school like than it could (and, in my opinion, should) be.

Thanks @Borka sorry not to have responded sooner but I got logged out and couldn’t get back in. I think Croydon is a bit far from us, we ruled out Brit school application a few years back too. Useful to know though as London arts foundations are few and far between and it’s a perfect location fit a colleagues child.

Are they UAL halls @UnimaginableWindBird , or is it a mix of students from various places? Is this a costume course?

It's a costume course @ArtGarfield. The halls are private, but UAL book out a whole chunk and offer subsidised rooms for students whose parents have a household income of under £68,000.

Interesting @artant . My DD would hate a school vibe. She will go to the open day but hope she gets into UAL!

Gosh! Sounds exciting. I would love to study costume. Keep us updated!
I had no idea universities did subsidised halls and that’s not even a low income. That might make a lindon uni more attainable. Do UAL advertise that or do you get a place then get told?

They're are details on the UAL accommodation section of their website.

How ate all the artist offspring getting along? Settling into to new years, courses or jobs? Going to open days and making plans for the future? Applying for new things?