University College Falmouth

 This was the earliest start to end all early starts! For my final interview in Falmouth my dad and I set off at 1am . . . -_-

The journey down went by very quickly (seeing as I kept falling asleep) but we knew we were in cornwall once we'd left the big cities behind and hit the fresh seaside air.

The walk down to the campus was like heading into a mini jungle as more and more leafy/ tropical looking plants sprung up at either side. I met two girls from essex in my interview both (as I was glad to see) had a hefty A1 portfolio like myself :)

After a introductary talk about the course and a tour of the immediate facilities we we're left to wait. I don't like waiting but I soon got chatting to these girls from essex and the time soon went. The interview itself went even quicker! I think it was because my portfolio had been viewed seperaty by two tutors before I had a one to one with a different tutor. It was a different style of interview and the interviewer had a really good poker face so I left not being able to judge how it went. But I had plenty of time to think of that later as I had remebered my camera! Which means I can share with you a brief insight into my adventure in Falmouth ;)

The menacing yellow chair that was abandoned half way up the hill.
... I later saw this chair a few miles down the road being sat on by a rather smug student.

Famlouth - home to extremely high pavements!

"By the sea mr todd - oh I'd know you'd loooove it"

This picture doesn't quite do this scene justice as the sun was just begining to shine as the wind died down. And the sea looked so blue!

 As it's late I'm going to continue my post about my adventures in Falmouth tomorrow, until then - Bonsoir!

Norwich University College Of The Arts

I would have loved to have uploaded this post sooner but I've been swamped by interview prep and coursework deadlines!! But now its friday I can finally post about my third interview, and once again I had to get up for an early start...

I was looking forward to seeing the area as I wasn't able to get down to an open day to check out the unviversity before hand. From what I knew Norwich was pretty close to Great Yarmouth, which gave me hope for an interesting mix of a seaside/city landscape. The main university building itself was a mix of old and modern architecture with bare brick walls against a white panelled roof and the door we came through was a large automatic door made of frosted glass.

I spent a lot of time people watching as I waited for my interview. I liked seeing the difference from one applicant to another each grasping their little (or in my case large) portfolio.

Unfortunately I had forgotten to take any pictures because I couldn't think of anything but the interview. I was so nervous! I shouldn't have been this nervous now that I was onto my 3rd interview but I guess that nerves are always a good sign...
i think.

I'd arrived there pretty early so I'd been waiting for about an hour before I was called through to set up my portfolio. I was interviewed by the course leader for graphic communications who told me the course was closely linked to graphic design. Then the interview began - instantly ending my nerves :) I was told that I'd only get asked three questions but it didn't feel like three questions at all. It felt like I was having a converation with one of my art teachers and I immediatly got talking about my life drawing, ideas and concepts behind my work. I think I did really well in my interview as I got to say all I wanted to and he even reccommended an artist for me to look at to aid my current work - it was definately something one of my teachers would do. Despite the nerves building up to the interview the interview itself was really relaxed. And it must have gone really well because I got an email two days later saying that they'd like to offer me a place on their course. Although they had made me an offer not for graphic design but for graphic communications. At first I was a little confused but the email explained that after careful consideration of my work they felt that I would be better suited for this course, which made me happy that my work had got them thinking :) :) :)

So now that I have two offers I've started thinking about where I want to study as I can see the pro's of both courses. But I've got time to think yet... and one more interview to go!

I'll keep you posted x

 


 

( I did manage to capture one picture on my way home though, which pretty much summed up the day. )

De Montfort

Less than a week after my interview I recieved a chunky letter in the post, containing non other than an offer from De Montfort!!!

I'm soooo happy right about now :) :)

De Montfort & Birthdays

I had my second interview yesterday at De Montfort, and for some reason I was even more nervous than I was for my first one!

In fact I was more prepared than last time - portfolio-wise. I had it ordered, labelled and even had time to tidy up my current sketchbook the day before. However I kinda had the slight problem of retreiving it from a locked mac room the following evening, - not realising ALL the art teachers had decided to go home early that night -_-

But luckly I befriended a cleaner who helped me on my quest to retreive my portfolio!

Note to self: Never leave my portfolio in the mac room.

Appart from that little hiccup everything else went smoothly and the interview itself wasn't half as scary as I'd thought it would be. The interviewer was really nice and seemed really interested in my work. In this interview they hadn't had a breif look at my work before hand so I had the chance to present my work and talk through some of the projects I'd worked on. Surprisingly he really loved my life drawings, I knew it'd be a different thing to add to a graphic design portfolio, but I didn't realise how much of a bonus it seemed to be. He told me it showed good evidence of visual communication, which I hadn't realise until then.

Later on it was my friend Andromeda's 18th, and we all went our for a meal at Ciao Bella's. We'd met during the London Art Trip last summer and it was a great chance to meet up with her and other people I'd met on the trip, eat a lot food! and have a good time.

It was a great end to a rather stressful day but on the whole I'd say my interview went rather well :)

Roll on interview 3!

Teesside

I'm currently applying to uni and I had my first Interview today :)

I really want to go into graphic design.

I feel that graphic design is a subject that embodies everything I’ve studied at college, not only in art in design but in my other subjects such as English literature and French. These subjects rely on you being a good communicator to explain your point of view and opinion or simply discuss and debate. With these skills I’ve learned I feel that I have gained very valuable and transferable skills in communication which I regularly bring across into my own creative work.

I even made a book!

 

In my book I talked alot about different aspects of graphic design by taking a simple statement as a starting point and expanding on it finding designers, examples of work to support each one.

        

I also came across a lot of good designers and illustrators that really interested me. 

MR.Lapin is the alias of Debora Lauwers, a designer in Belgium who runs a design studio called 'Postcard Of A Painting' with her boyfriend. I can see the strong influences in her work from artist like Jean-Michel Basquiat, and I like the use of French in her work. The fragmented sentences over-lapping the ‘lapin’ sketches create the impression that you’re looking into the scattered thoughts of ‘MR.Lapin’.



Mr.Lapin





Jean-Michel Basquiat - Tenor 1985



         

The similarities are endless :) . . . and to hold all my work I had a hefty A1 portfolio!!

The interview was really good. They tried to make it as informal and comfortable as possible, which really helped reduce my nerves. I was worried that they'd see my portfolio and think 'Why do you want to do graphic design?' because I'm not what you'd call your average applicant. But I wanted to make my portfolio as honest as possible - so I put in a range of everything!

Photography

Past/ current sketchbooks

Life Drawings (I <3 life drawing)

My independent mini book researching the subject

And some mount boards of past work!

But once I got talking about my work I felt more confident about it and I gave it my best effort.

"Your work is different...

                                     In a good way"

This was the best feedback I could have asked for, now all that’s left to do is keep my fingers crossed xxx