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

@mondaytosunday LCF is moving to Stratford ( East London). I think the area is next to what’s technically called Queen Elizabeth park but I do t know if that’s really stuck as a name. I think it’s mostly called the Olympic Park. I also think Stratford had tried to rebrand itself Stratford East to differentiate itself from Stratford-upon-Avon but I hope it doesn’t stick. LCF is moving to near Queen Elizabeth park but it’s not moving to Queens Park because you’re right, why would you!

@PhotoDad I would love to know more about the idea that unis will start charging (home students under 19?) for the level 3 art foundation. I’m pretty sure HE institutions reigned in their level 3 teaching as they couldn’t charge home under 19 for it and any funding from the government was much less than £9k but art courses were quite staff and space intensive. I get the impression that some unis have got round this by doing a four year degree so students can get the loans and therefore the unis can get the funding. I know FE is a mess though and the government have thought about what to do about this (Augar? Report?) but I’ve not heard of any implementation but I’d love to. DD has a few years and we need to prepare for changes!

@PerkyBlinder you’re daughter sounds like she’s got some wonderful choices and from what you’ve said Manchester does sound perfect for her. I really have no idea how normal students in London manage. My family struggle with two wages! There’s a few houses around me rented out to students for thousands a week, no baked beans and rice for those students!

@ArtGarfield I meant Queen Elizabeth Park. I've been there as my family are West Ham supporters. Sone nice new buildings but the area is still not great. I'd much prefer Shepherds Bush! Anyway not at all relevant fir my dd as she's into animation and will go outside London after Foundation (and FAD is Foundation Art and Design diploma).

@ArtGarfield I had a little look at the local uni where my DD had considered a FAD (in the end she decided to go straight for degree entry). Since last year it has changed from offering a FAD to offering an Integrated Foundation (with normal degree fees) so perhaps that is a trend! But uni websites are still showing this year's info, so keep an eye on whether it becomes more widespread.

By the way, I'm happy to share my DD's illustration portfolio if people PM me. I can't quite work out how to easily reduce it to a useful format here! But here are two pics, one showing "process" on a commission to illustrate a poem, and one her (distinctive) own "dark folklore" style.

So that's it! Foundation year over. It's been lots of work and lots of stress for DD. Last weekend was particularly bad but the FMP went in on Monday and it's been celebrations and relief all round. I don't have any FMP photos yet but will get some from the show. We have a private view on Thursday. In a rare show of sibling unity DS is coming home a bit early from his year abroad so he can be at the show (& after party 😬)

For those interested KSA has the following shows
Foundation: 27 May - 3 June. 12-7 weekdays / 11-4 Saturdays. Closed BH and Sundays. Penrhyn Road Building.
I think there's a day for prospective students but not sure which one.

The undergraduate show is 10-16 June. I've taken a screenshot from their Instagram

Oh and I have no idea when the grades are released 🙄

Love your DD's work PhotoDad. She is very talented!

Foundation year also completed for DD. She's had such a confidence and skills building year after a difficult two years of A levels. She got distinction, I'm very proud of her as some of the work pushed her well out of her comfort zone.

Sending huge congrats @Philandbill So many of our kids in this thread have had challenges (to put it mildly) and so it's wonderful to read that that have thrived and achieved so much.

Well done to everyone whose DC have completed! I know that it's peak A-level season for those applying, and other students are looking for fresh challenges. Anyone about to graduate?

My own DD has secured the summer job she applied for, a month's full-time paid internship for her university, producing illustrations for a new online module. We're all pleased as punch, as it's a good sort of thing to have on her CV (and in her portfolio). Good that a uni offers these opportunities to its own students, and it involves a nice chunk of cash too!

That’s excellent PhotoDad. Even better that it’s paid. I hope she enjoys it.

We've been on a full loop with DS. From Fine Art - architecture- product design - art therapy - occupational therapy and today it’s definitely Fine Art again!

There’s toluene as he’s just finishing year 12 and the first year of the UAL diploma/BTEC.

These threads have been super helpful so thank you to everyone a year or two (or 25) ahead of us.

There’s plenty of time that should say.

Great news @PhotoDad - such a boost to her confidence too!
Here A level hell. History tomorrow and my daughter has been revising at least six hours a day. I fear burnout! Then 2nd Psychology Thursday then half term break (not a break for her though - ever more revision and have added in doctor appointments for vaccinations, blood tests and x-rays in the run up to treatment).
And, will you be surprised? Still nothing from UAL!

DD's internship is even better than she had hoped. She and a fellow intern (a graphic design student) are producing 2D static and animated art assets, and UI elements, for a simple computer game, that will be used to introduce new students to information about the university. She's quite chuffed that all of next year's first-years will see her art.

They have a lot of creative freedom on a loose brief ("design six locations based on these themes, and five animated characters to inhabit each") and are enjoying working together (DD is relieved that she can pass the fiddly typography on to someone else for a change.) Then it will be passed to techy types to fit together into a game on the uni's VLE.

I'll admit I nagged her to look for these opportunities (while she was busy with coursework deadlines) but in my defence she's very glad that I did.

Good luck to those still with exams! (DS is in the middle of his GCSEs. He is not artistic at all; although he is fairly musical, he's planning on a science/maths route.)

That sounds amazing @PhotoDad Hurrah for your DD.

I took dd to one of the big Scottish art college graduate shows at the weekend. I loved the variety and the design. There was performance costume, landscape art, immersive pieces etc. Dd is only interested in painting and drawing (and quite traditionally so) and was impressed with only a couple of artists who seemed really talented on this front. She is 15, so just looking at what others do on art degrees. Some of the work from those graduating with a Fine Art degree didn't seem that high a standard! Dd is really good at drawing and painting. Where do I take her to show her students excelling at these mediums?

I can highly recommend the Scottish Art School experience. We used to know people at GSA and Edinburgh and DoJCA.

The only downside was as English student, there weren't many who went direct into second year from England. Scottish students do y1 which was equivalent to foundation course. It's probably a bit different now with so many students skipping foundation courses, which is a shame, but Perhaps more English students may do the four years in one go at Scottish Art school instead.

Thanks @Windywuss . What's DoJCA?

I am incredibly biased but she should look at the work produced in illustration courses. Online if you can't get to degree shows...!

Thanks @PhotoDad . She just wants to paint beautiful oil paintings or draw. I'll see if I can find some illustration work for her to look at.

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, now part of Dundee Uni but they kept the identity I think for the art school.

Not an exhaustive list, but good places for illustration include Falmouth, Kingston, UAL, NUA, ARU. All of them should have student work on their websites.

(DoJCA is Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, which is the art school at Dundee University)

A lot of the graduate show work seemed to be abstract or 'gimmicky'. A blue cross on a white background etc just isn't something she thinks is amazing. Interestingly the two artists who were marked as winning scholarships had both produced amazing paintings and sketchings, in the more traditional sense. But some of the others were doing bizarre things like displaying some water, with a plug artfully placed beside it etc. or they'd made simple sand patterns. It makes her think anyone can do an art course; you don't really need talent and to question what she'll learn.

@FriendlyLaundryMonster My DD does an impressive rant about "conceptual art." Fine Art degrees tend to be less structured than design ones, as I think we discussed a while earlier! It's definitely worth checking the webpages for individual courses to see what is on offer/expected (some places have drawing classes, others don't).

@PhotoDad Mine too! Thank you.

@FriendlyLaundryMonster To give you some perspective, I did fine art in a Scottish Art school twenty years ago. The was plenty of conceptual art then however a good amount of 'skills' based work too. In fact, I'd say we were a bit surprised when the final classification was pinned up on the notice board,that most of the more traditional work had got the higher grades (which hadn't necessarily been our experience throughout).

Of course things change, but the facilities were superb and there was plenty of life drawing. I'd be surprised if that's changed.

Lots of my contemporaries are well regarded and known in the art world now.

Ideas ARE important though. I think it's good to be open minded and enjoy the debate. That's should be part of the experience!

@Windywuss Vive la différence! I do think it's important to look at course details, though, and I too hope that life/observational drawing is still practised.