Part 2: Continuation of 2023 uni (and other) applications for those pursuing art and creative routes

[Duchessofmuchness]

As requested transferring us all over hear for the continuation of the 2023 journey. Have so enjoyed the company and support of all on the first thread. Link to original thread copied below (I hope!)

2023 uni applications for those pursuing art and creative routes www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4626697-2023-uni-applications-for-those-pursuing-art-and-creative-routes

Last interview done and dc received offers from all university choices. So now they can just relax(for a little bit) and concentrate on mocks.

On a different note, I would like to know your opinion on AI and how it will affect the creative industries. I was listening to a podcast where it was discussed in general and hosts were saying how they were amazed Governments were not taking it seriously when it has the potential to disrupt everything.

Well done on the offers!

AI is a really interesting one. DD is certainly keen to work in lots of media which are hard to replicate (including ceramics, textiles) but not just for that reason. I imagine that a lot of the 'bread and butter' low-level work for illustrators/animators/graphic designers will shift to wrangling AI.

One significant point is that it's currently unclear who (if anyone) holds the copyright for AI-produced images, which means that publishers and studios won't touch it quite yet. Have to see how things turn out.

Thanks, we are very proud of her.

Yes I think copyright is key to helping to protect the creative industries especially as so much of AI-created art is basically created by absorbing the work of past and present artists. My opinion is anything 51-100% AI-created work should not be protected by copyright.

I think AI is going to really harm certain areas. I've used it myself and it's astonishing what it can up with in seconds - I have an Etsy shop and use it (my DD is furious). But the speed it works! I can design in minutes what previously took hours. I do declare it in my shop and I'm certainly not selling it as 'art', but I see plenty others who aren't as transparent and it's the same thing - why pay the higher cost? I crochet too and no one would pay me the actual cost of my makes when it can be made (albeit by hand as crochet cannot be done yet by a machine, unlike knitting), much cheaper elsewhere. No design is unique enough to warrant the money (not with garments and accessories).
I think a lot of entry level type jobs will be taken over. It was a reason my DD decided against animation as a career - there just isn't enough jobs and AI can do so much and is getting better all the time.
I read somewhere - can't remember where - how the creative industries have lost so many jobs recently (not just to AI), and the general idea that after the writers and actors strike was over production would resume just hasn't happened. And so much creative work is tied to the television and film industries in this country - costume designers, screen artists, background painters, set designers etc all feeling it. Even established workers are finding getting jobs hard. My DD follows a lot of animators on Insta who have great reels and experience but are still working 'day' jobs and constantly hustling without much reward. She decided not the life for her.
But it's not the first time technology has changed things. My own experience- trained as a graphic designer and started as a junior in the art department of a large publishing house. Within five years my job and the department was gone - desk top publishing had arrived and I had to pivot to a more production based role. No longer needed artists and designers to only do the technical, illustrative or page layouts - a bit of training and we did that PLUS all the production. My job was previously done by three people.

Yes, it's a worry. Sadly, I don't think any industries will be unaffected by AI - HR, law, accounting, finance, and medicine are all seeing big changes. I was listening to a woman talking about how she uses it to write her applications for grant money, I used to work with people whose job was literally this! I really hope Governments start paying attention soon, you can't tax workers when there are none!

Congratulations to your DC @Okisenough

Is the "experimental rather than commercial" course in the running?

My DS has one offer, one interview and 3 others (hopefully) looking at portfolios. Trying to to jump when he messages.
"Mum, good news.... I've got a lift for the morning. " 😆

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat Thanks. And yes it is as dc really likes the campus and feel of the place. DC did contact the subject leader to get some clarification and I think it was a case of poor communication more than anything else, so they feel a bit better about things now.

Good luck to your ds with his choices and interviews.

Well done to your DC fir contacting course and not letting one conversation put them off.
Good luck with the decision making. It can be difficult to decide if they worry or get FOMO.

How fantastic @Okisenough - 5 offers is fantastic. Are you doing offer holder days to decide? Are any of them conditional. We are more in stage of @HannahDefoesTrenchcoat - although on our case still 2 portfolios to go.

DS got his first offer on Friday. Conditional from LCF which is currently his second choice(although that moves around!). He was delighted and put a smile on his face after the stress of it all.

It requires a distinction in his FAD so that's going to focus the mind!

Dd heard tonight she'd got an unconditional offer for Leeds Uni. Massive relief she's heard back from at least 1 of her 5.

@mobilemay congrats!
It's such a relief isn't it. She's definitely going somewhere!

DS got an offer for Kingston today. Very happy

Yes, it most definitely is a relief. She liked the course at Leeds Uni so was really pleased for her. I remember after the open day she said 'I can see myself here'. Mind you, she liked the other courses she's applied to as well.

Congrats to all the offers. All their hard work is paying off.

@Duchessofmuchness they are all conditional on her A-level grades.
Yes I think we will attend offer days for her top choices and try to take a look around the local area to get a feel for the places.

@mobilemay congratulations! What a relief to get the first offer and unconditional too. Lifts the spirits.

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat - great news re another offer! They moved quickly after your DS got the portfolio in - that's great.

@Okisenough - offers days are such a good idea. Somehow different visiting with offer in hand.

On the home front here - Kingston portfolio due tomorrow. DS misread the brief and was working to 25 pages. Fortunately he told me as it's only 20!! Eeek. He'll have to edit harder. He's in college tomorrow so they should help him make final decision.

@Duchessofmuchness I didn't realise that you are still in portfolio purgatory. Is this the last one?

My DC is likely doing a different course to yours (architecture) so you might have a longer wait? I hope not but didn't want you to read anything into the time frame

It's a bit annoying thinking about the different portfolio requirements.
If the courses could agree say 15-20 images with up to 20 words per page, one portfolio could be sent with UCAS.

That would be way too sensible for them and also I suspect they like to ask for different things so they can say our course is unique from their competitors! It is a bit silly as apart from the very top courses, most are far less picky during clearing!

I really wondered about a standardised portfolio, too! Good luck, everyone.

DD had a job interview yesterday, so fingers crossed.

@mondaytosunday I have just seen the Instagram post of your DD Morley work experience. It looks amazing. A great plus point for their FAD course over UAL which is DD other option.

Agree with the suggestion that universities should have a standard ask for portfolios. DD2 has found it very stressful and time consuming on top of college work and in the end withdrew her application for ARU rather than put together another portfolio. She has four unconditional offers including for her current top two favourites so she decided to call it a day. (Well one is conditional on completing her current foundation year)

Yes she's having a very busy time there @ArtGarfield! Weather could be better but she has been all over Lisbon and definitely getting a taste of communal living. She says this trip alone is worth going to Morley for, though only 15 were selected and not just from her course. Back in a week! I've coped quite well without her - visiting her brother just now.

@JulesJules Congrats to your DD. Does she have a front runner?
I think if you firm an unconditional choice then that's it. No need for an insurance?

I think York StJ is still her favourite, she had a portfolio day including more of a tour of the art facilities which she hadn't had on the open day. She still wants to go to the offer holder day at Lincoln, when we went for the open day she was looking at Fine Art and didn't ask any q about illustration which is what she's going for now. Then she'll decide which one to accept, and crucially - apply for accommodation 😬

DS has an unconditional offer for Foundation year. So pleased for him, and he's over the moon. He's definitely going to accept as it's his first choice. Suddenly it's hit me that he really is going to be going away (several hours away).

@Aaarghthepancakes it's funny how the reality of an offer they really want is a jolt for us as we look to their next big step!You'd think we'd be expecting it after all this work 😁