British design education is renowned throughout the world. British designers are recognised for their exceptional creativity and are often influential in global terms.
Courses in fashion design, product design, furniture, theatre, jewellery and transport design, traditional graphic design, computer graphics, information design and design using multi-media, produce graduates who go on to make their mark in the design business internationally.
There is a number of interdisciplinary art and design courses operating throughout the UK. These provide the opportunity to experience a range of disciplines during the course. A student will usually specialise towards the end.
Many universities have Schools of Faculties of Art and Design, and these Schools or Faculties operate Courses, sometimes called Route-ways or Pathways, in a range of the listed design area. Some Universities have an extensive range of courses whereas others specialise in particular fields of art and design activity. If you are not certain of the area best suited to you it is important to identify a University that covers the range of areas you are interested in: it is sometimes possible to transfer between courses. Even if you are sure of your area of specialisation it is always interesting to be working, as a student or as tutor in a School with diversity. The work of fine artists and crafts designers can influence those working within the harder, more commercial end of the spectrum of design activity and vice versa.
You may wish to consider courses that include a significant proportion of business or management studies. A number of courses now combine study of design with business.
If you choose a course in industrial design it is good idea to check to see if there is a relationship with engineering in the same University. If you choose computer graphics investigate the computer resources but don't make the mistake of thinking that excellent resources equate to excellent teaching. It is always a good idea to find out where graduates go to work when they have completed their studies. This will be a useful indicator of the quality of provision.
Many courses will contain professional studies. This will help you find employment when you graduate, help you to work well within a professional design environment and even improve your chances of setting up a successful design business of your own.
At application, admissions tutors will look for evidence of your academic ability but they will usually ask to see examples of your work - your 'portfolio' of design work may be called for. Sometimes tutors will ask you to attempt a sample design project so that they can diagnose where your strengths lie. Others may ask you to complete a questionnaire about your approach to design or about your views on designed objects. This is all to help the staff get a picture of your existing skills and interests. Tutors will want to be sure that you are embarking on the course that is right for you.
Some of the teaching situation may appear more informal than you have experienced in your previous studies. Most schools and colleges of art and design have a teaching approach, which is about learning by doing. During your course there should be plenty of opportunity to undertake design projects - some of these should be in collaboration with industry. Do ask what projects students have undertaken in the past and what types of projects are lined up for the future. The extent of collaborative work with industry is another good indicator of course quality.
Design courses vary significantly - some have a mass production focus - designers for industrial production-whilst others cater for designers who intend to be designer-makers in the area of contemporary craft production.
The range of materials used by designer makers is extensive and many include glass, precious metals, printed and constructed textiles, found objects, plastic materials including automotive styling clay and ceramics. Talented and highly creative students transform these into extraordinary works. The results of the students' effort are usually displayed in a Design Show at the end of the academic year.
Product designers will also make and display their designs in an end of course Design Show. This will take the form of a display of models showing how the final production items would look. Computers are now used quite extensively to visualise the finished product design.
Tutors should be able to advise on the best drawing materials and familiarize yourself with if you wish to do some preparatory work before coming on the course. However, it may be better to wait until you arrive since the schools will know good suppliers of sketching and rendering tools and materials and often have an art and design shop on campus where you can buy what you need at a competitive price. Workshop materials and lecture materials are usually supplied.
These shows vary in size a scope but are usually the exciting high light of the academic year, visited by potential employers - on the look out for fresh new talent.
So what makes British Design Education so special? It is difficult to say. Perhaps it is the spirit and strength of the design community in the schools. Perhaps it is the collaboration of industry on design projects. Perhaps it is connected to the diversity of provision, the multi-racial, multi-cultural nature of Britain, perhaps is because of excellent teaching. It could have something to do with Britain's extraordinary history, or Britain's optimism for the future. One thing is certain - it has something to do with the students who chose to study here - students of whom we have every reason to be proud.
