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

Yes that's my point @Lottsbiffandsmudge - my cousin who did geography worked in HR etc. The fact she had a degree was more important than what she actually studied.
But DD wonders if an Animation degree, where her coursework is very particular to that, going to be seen as having the same sort of transferable skills as another more 'normal' degree? Not that she has much idea of what else she would do!
When picking her A levels we did discuss what else if art doesn't pan out (not just job wise, but her interest in doing it as a career). That's why she switched from Biology to Psychology, as Social Anthropology is an area of interest, and with her predicted A/A stars she should be able to go to a good uni.
Of course, I don't think most jobs need a degree, though I can see why a 21 year old may be more attractive candidate than an 18 year old. When I started out (1980s) I'd say well less than half the journalists had a degree. I bet the vast majority do now.
Ironically, her A level Art teacher has a degree in ...Geography!!

@mondaytosunday my understanding is that animation at Herts produces very employable graduates and they score highly in the Rookies awards. Many jobs are under threat from AI, including certain legal, accounting and medical functions.

Your DD could for example take a history (or any degree), then a law conversion course, plus professional exams and still find herself without a pupillage / training contract. Everyone knows that there are too many graduates competing for those roles, but it doesn't stop them from trying. She already has a leg up with you by her side.

I went to an opera recently and the best thing about it for me was the staging, which incorporated multi media film and animation.

@Soma yes UofH is on her list. She's interested in 2D over 3D but knows there's not a lot in the market for it here (though we did like that the opening credits for the most recent Bridgerton series was 2D animation). She's already checked out Gobelins in Paris for a Masters!

@mondaytosunday I can't wait for you to report back in 5 or 6 years telling us how well Little MondaytoSunday is doing and that she's been nominated for various animation awards!

As my DD's course-leader is fond of saying, once you start looking you see the work of designers everywhere. There's a lot of animation around (and illustration/graphic design are needed for most products).

AI is a worry. I think that it will eliminate a lot of the 'entry-level' work (salaried or freelance) but there will always be room for experts (just as with copywriting etc). The trouble is climbing that ladder before any rungs are removed, which is why DD is so keen to get whatever work experience she can and start making contacts/gaining a name in the field. At least, that's the plan! She was incredibly fortunate to land this one-month internship that she's currently halfway through and is loving producing art for the client every single working day, 9-5.

She also wants to 'live to work' and has very low expectations about income and lifestyle, so long as she gets to do her art (even if it's as a side-job). Fingers crossed for all our DC setting out along that path.

Congrats to your daughter! Well done and I hope she's really pleased, she deserves it.

Thanks @Okisenough
@PhotoDad I did graphics so yes it is everywhere.
And the internet is such a great resource! In a deep dive about unis I looked up who did those opening credits for Bridgerton and then looked at where the directors of the studio (small, London based, just the kind of place my daughter wants to work as she doesn't want to freelance) got their degrees. Very interesting (two UCA Farnham, one CalArts, one CSM, one self taught, one UWE but a weird sounding course, one at Southampton. A mix of graphic design, illustration and animation. Masters from RCA, Gobelins and Westminster.
But I found an interview with one of the directors who said after graduating he was hired as a runner and worked his way up, and that those jobs are now done by interns (maybe those in year out placements?). Just means it's even more important to get as much experience as possible alongside going to uni! And seems bank of mum and dad has to support them a bit longer too...

Congratulations on the prizes to your DD, @mondaytosunday.

As you might recall, DD has signed up to do a work-placement after her second year. We can afford to continue topping up her loan a little, but she's thinking that an unpaid internship would still be worthwhile if it's somewhere good (which would mean dipping into her savings account; she didn't need to in First Year). I think that's probably a sensible strategy? Although obviously a paid placement would be even better if at all possible! (She is unsure about salary versus freelance, but I know that illustration, graphics, and animation all have different ways of working.)

An MA in Children's Book Illustration is also tempting her, if she decides to go that way. (Ideally she'd be doing covers etc for young adult or mainstream books rather than picture books, but who knows?)

Interesting about Bridgerton credits, dc went to UCA Farnham open day and loved it. Impressed with tutors and ethos. Will be top choice for animation degree after doing the arts foundation. The fact it's small and relatively quiet is a bonus, lol.

It's a very exciting day in our household; we are accompanying dd to the opening of an art exhibition which includes 4 pieces of her art! She has been granted a day off school to attend. It involves a seven hour round trip for her, but that's just incidental!

Gosh exciting @FriendlyLaundryMonster! Well done!
@Okisenough I wrote about our experience at Farnham on another thread (I think part 2 of those seeking creative routes)? We went to the open day this week. Damn it was hot! But upshot is we cornered a just graduated animation student and picked her brain for 20 solid minutes before she was called away to lead another group of students for the animation talk. My daughter is trying to see through the PR talk and get to what it's like from a students POV. But all the faculty we met seemed happy to chat, relaxed and enjoying the day - always a good sign!
My daughter has already checked out if they have a magazine club...

@FriendlyLaundryMonster well done to her and I hope you all have a wonderful time.

@mondaytosunday I will take a look at the other thread. Thanks and who knows maybe one day our dcs will meet in real life whether in a classroom or in industry!

So the show dd in was a great success and someone wanted to buy one of her artworks! We didn't even expect this as it wasn't that kind of show. Now, we don't know how to price it? Or if she wants to sell it! Any pointers on this front. She is only 15 but had a lot of praise at the exhibition and was told she was 'star of the show' by two Heads of Art. She's also now thinking she will take commissions (slowly, maybe over summer) as she has been asked. But, also don't know how to price her work. So glad she got some lovely feedback and praise after all her hard work and some reassurance that art is the right path. One art contact has suggested she go to a specific art atelier in Florence to study. This is a whole other thing to investigate. I don't suppose you could get a student loan for the tuition?

Sounds terrific @FriendlyLaundryMonster! Well done. No idea about pricing Art though.

Us neither 😂

@FriendlyLaundryMonster That's amazing! Pricing of art can be a tricky thing... but like most other jobs it can be considered as material + labour + profit. Oil paintings will be more expensive than similar pencil drawings!

For reference, DD who knows about these things, charged £100 for a commissioned A3 pencil drawing which took roughly four hours and the client thought that was fair.

Good luck to everyone in Open Day season; glad @mondaytosunday got off to a good start! We only did a few (aftermath of Covid plus long distances).

Thanks @PhotoDad , that's really useful.

DD has finished her illustration internship and (as well as being paid) she's received glowing praise from the higher-ups in the uni who have seen the finished project, and the possibility of more work. Hopefully that will translate into good references when she looks for a placement year. It's been such a good experience for her, and to be honest it surprises me that more universities don't use their own students for work like that. Doing what she can to help make herself employable!

@PhotoDad Thats absolutely super; good for her!

She was producing roughly one of these a day each following a brief;

@PhotoDad They are wonderful 😍

Ha they look great @PhotoDad! If that's a game introducing ARU it looks an intriguing place!
Daughter fell down the stairs yesterday and her back is killing her so now not sure if she can handle the two plus hours drive to Bournemouth (and of course back) to attend the AUB open day tomorrow. I posted about our visit to UCA on the other thread and it would have been nice to compare them. My main take from AUB's website is they do collaborative work, not their own films, whereas UCA they do two short films second year and a year long project final year of their own idea. Wish they did a bit of both!

Love those!

Sorry about your daughter’s fall monday