We spoke to BA (Hons) Visual Communication student, Lucy Seymour, on studying at Leeds Arts University, why she loves Leeds and her plans for after graduating...
Why did you choose Leeds Arts University?
I applied for Leeds Arts University as I wasn’t set on one university, and my art teacher’s daughter studied on the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design course and highly recommended it. However, after coming to my interview, I knew this was the place where I wanted to study – all the staff were super friendly, I thought the facilities were unbeaten in comparison to the other universities I had visited, and the size of Leeds Arts University made it seem a friendlier and more community-led environment.
What made you select BA (Hons) Visual Communication?
I chose Visual Communication as I wanted freedom in my practice. When I began looking at courses to apply to, I steered more towards animation, however, I was more interested in 3D motion graphics and creating an experience for the audience. During my interview with the Course Leader, it was mentioned that one of the current students at the time was learning projection mapping, something I had been interested in learning, and also something no other university had offered. This comment further demonstrated to me the breadth of the course and the endless opportunities and practices one could experience.
What do you really enjoy about your course and the University?
Visual Communication is a great course to bounce off other practitioners, as we all have different specialisms, so more inspiration is found when everyone is doing their own thing. I find this also helps when producing communicative work, as sometimes you can get caught up in the technical and visual aspects of a piece, rather than the message. Everyone on the course is really close too, we go to each other’s exhibitions and hang out a lot outside of university, the tutors have done well to throw us into different group projects to build this bond.
What do you plan to do after university?
After studying at Leeds Arts University I’d quite like to stay in Leeds for a while. There are a lot of creative companies in Leeds, and I’ve already worked with a couple of them, so hopefully I’ll be able to find some work with motion graphics. I’d also like to live in Amsterdam for a bit a few years down the line, as they have a strong motion graphics industry.
What makes Leeds a good place to study?
Leeds is a very student-centred place, and I think the city has successfully adapted to such a population. There are lot of impressive places to hang out, in both the town centre and the Hyde Park area, and there are always interesting events and exhibitions to go to and get involved in.