Why I chose Graphic Design and Animation
Ryan Griffiths
First Year - Graphic Design and Animation BA(Hons)
Hi, my name is Ryan Griffiths and I am a first-year student studying Graphic Design and Animation. I am a very creative and outgoing person, always seeking out new experiences in life.
Why I Chose my Course
Hey everyone, welcome to my blog, my name is Ryan Neil Griffiths and I am a first-year student at the University of Huddersfield, studying Graphic Design and Animation BA(Hons).
So, you are probably wondering why I chose Huddersfield out of all of the 100s of universities in the UK. The main reason I chose this course was because I am naturally a creative person and I wanted to play to my strengths and do something creative in my career. The University of Huddersfield seemed like the right place for me to go.
When I was thinking about where I wanted to study, there were several things that I wanted out of a university. I considered if I would I be able to get my dream career in Graphic Design at the end of the course, how was the course delivered, the facilities and the overall feel of the university. Huddersfield stood out from the rest, mainly because of the appeal of studying in the brand-new Barbara Hepworth Building and I also felt that the University of Huddersfield provided opportunities which would give me the best path to my dream career.
I had first learnt about Huddersfield back in 2018 where I was on a college trip in Year 12. The University staff had invited prospective students from my department to have a look around its facilities. I was impressed on that day with everything that was shown to me, and I just got a positive feeling about the place.
Looking back, I think the major factor of my decision of picking University of Huddersfield was the Open Day in 2019. That is where I got to see the University from my own perspective. I left knowing that this place would be the right choice for me, as I felt that I belonged, and I would be very happy here. It also helped to find out that Sir Patrick Stewart has ties to this University as the Emeritus Chancellor, and I am a huge fan of his performances!
The overall friendliness of the staff on the Open Day also helped in my decision making. They seemed very approachable and friendly people, giving me confidence that they could teach me whilst giving me the advice and help if needed. Speaking with current students at Open Day and seeing them do so well also gave me assurance.
Now, the main draw to the Graphic Design and Animation BA(Hons) course at the University of Huddersfield was the option to do an extra year of work experience and even the opportunity to go international. Even though that doesn’t happen until the end of my second year, the thought of going to another country and working in another culture really excites me and will allow me to expand my knowledge.
At the moment most of my learning is done online due to the Covid-19 restrictions, but that hasn’t stopped from keeping in contact with my classmates and asking for advice from the staff. If I am stuck on a piece of work and I need someone else to look at it and give me their opinion, they are only one text message or email away.
I did do a placement before I came to university, working in the marketing department and learning about what happens there. I really enjoyed doing that work placement and it gave me the confidence on the career path that I wanted to take.
The best part of the University is the facilities. Particularly the Barbara Hepworth Building which is the main building for the School of Art, Design and Architecture. I also like the university's library, which is the tallest building on campus, and is impressive having plenty of study books which is handy. I also like the Student Central building as well, with its Huddersfield Students’ Union shop selling all kinds of stuff, access to the iPoint desk for any problems, and handily, Starbucks is not far from the desk.
Luckily, I have been in Barbara Hepworth Building this academic year and I have had a couple of classes in there. We were social distancing but that didn’t make that much of a difference and I still enjoyed my class. I was studying on was on the third floor, which has some really good views across campus and Huddersfield. In one of my practical lessons, we learned about how to effectively use Adobe software to create layouts at professional level and were briefed and given advice on projects that we have to complete.
If you are a prospective student reading this, I would definitely recommend this University, just because it definitely delivers on the high quality teaching it advertises, and it makes sure that every student (included myself) is taken care of and given the correct support, particularly during these times.
On a more personal level, I am finding university so far in my first year of study to be very interesting. The current restrictions have made it a different experience to the one I was expecting, but I am still getting a very good experience and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for me!
If you have any questions about student life, Huddersfield, or would like to speak to a current student about thier experiences, feel free to chat now on UniBuddy.
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