Why I chose to study Design: Megan’s Story

In our ‘Why I chose to study Design’ series, we sit down with current Design Studies students to find out more about their journey towards selecting their degree and some of the highlights of their studies at Warwick so far. This week we spoke to Design and GSD student Megan about some of her favourite Design Studies modules and the stereotypes around Design that need busting!

Before I became a Design student

Before entering Higher Education, I was enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, where I was taking 6 subjects - English, History, and Design Technology at higher level, and Sports Science, Spanish, and Mathematics at standard.

I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a designer, with architecture being the first area of design I considered. However, I have always been drawn to the more creative side of architecture, and after realising how much maths is involved (a subject that I hated!) I decided it was best to keep my options open and explore the other types of Design degrees available.

One of my closest friends had just accepted an offer to study at Warwick, and they encouraged me to look at courses there so that we could both study at the same university together. As Warwick is typically well known for its Business and Economics programmes, I didn’t expect to find anything that suited me, so was pleasantly surprised when I found that they had just introduced a new Design Studies course, which was being offered as a joint honour with the GSD department.

I showed my mum the online information about the degree, and we were both struck by how open it was compared to other Design degrees across the UK - which were mostly very specific to a single design discipline such as Graphic Design or Illustration. We visited Warwick during an Offer Holder Day, where I was instantly enamoured by the beautiful surroundings and the convenience of the campus university setting. I immediately knew that Warwick was somewhere that I wanted to be, and this was only further solidified by Adela’s inspiring overview sessions and Ed’s printmaking activity.

How my studies are going so far

The Design course at Warwick is good at taking you through the unlearning process and challenging your preconceptions around design. Most of us are familiar with fashion design and architecture, yet design really is all around us and is so much more than just artefact creation. I was surprised by how many different areas of design there are and have been exposed to design disciplines and career paths that I wasn’t even aware existed before!

One of my favourite modules so far has been the studio-based Visual Practice and Curiosity, where we were able to explore natural materials and uncover how each can be used for various purposes. For my final submission I created a La Chamba pot (a type of cooking pot made of a black micaceous clay) and presented it as a visual representation of my Colombian roots.

I also enjoyed the UX with Service Design module, where our final assignment was to design an app that established a sense of belonging amongst Warwick students. The app I created was a student wellbeing companion that helped organise your workload whilst also motivating you to stay physically and mentally fit through daily assigned tasks! Within all the design modules, you are given space to self-reflect, which helps improve your communication and presentation skills ahead of your CRITs (group discussions and critiques of a piece of work to get feedback and improve it), allowing many of us to go into them feeling less intimidated by the process and more prepared.

I also love that the Design cohort is smaller in size compared to other courses, as I feel it has enabled us to build stronger friendships and form a tight knit student community. The small class sizes also make it easier to bounce ideas off each other and give encouragement, with all of Design’s module leaders being very approachable, encouraging, and most importantly, immensely passionate about Design!

There is a lot of independence and freedom when it comes to learning, with the flexibility of the modules allowing us to pursue the area of design that we feel most passionately about. I personally enjoy being able to create things with my hands within a studio environment, whereas my other classmates may prefer creating digital products or designing parts for the automotive industry. The course really does allow you to explore the area of design that interests you most, which is unique within the Design degree sector.

What I would advise those considering a Design Studies degree

When you enrol as a student at university it is very important that you learn how to manage your time as soon as possible. Towards the end of term, it can become quite intense with all your assignments from various classes being due at once, so it is vital that any questions you have about your tasks or portfolio are addressed as early as possible, as the teaching team will also be very busy around this time.

Design Studies assignments are very coursework and portfolio-oriented, so make sure you utilise all the workshops and skills sessions available. We are lucky to have our Creative Technologist, Rohit, who is very helpful with providing feedback on our work and providing guidance on operating the facilities, however, just ensure that you ask for his help ahead of time!

I would also advise taking photos and documenting your work throughout your studies, as you will be able to demonstrate your progress and how you have developed as a designer, which is crucial for your personal development and assignment reflections later.

My plans following graduation

Before entering Higher Education, I was considering moving towards a career in interior or landscape design. However, since embarking on the Design Studies degree at Warwick, I am now unsure of what I would do post-graduating as the course has made me aware of so many different Design jobs and career paths that I wasn’t previously aware of.

All I know for certain is that I want my future career path to not only be enjoyable and self-fulfilling but make a positive change in some way. Thankfully, I do feel confident that this course has put me on track towards that goal, so if you are like me and looking for something similar, then look no further than Design Studies at Warwick!