The 5 Ws: Picking the design university that’s right for you

So you want to study design. Great! Higher education is the perfect setting to build a network of like-minded peers and equip yourself with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the creative workforce.

Now, it’s time to decide which university you want to apply to. There are many factors to consider, and it’s worth taking the time to make a well-considered choice, looking beyond reputation and branding and considering which university aligns with your priorities. 

Words by: Greg McIndoe, the founder of Headless Greg, a Birmingham-based creative studio that houses his work as an illustrator, designer, and journalist. Accessibility to the artists is one of Greg’s great passions; he has spent the past 5 years working with social projects aiming to make creative education equally accessible to all.

Personal experience: Learning the hard way 

You might be thinking: what makes you such an expert on choosing a university? The truth is, I’m not an expert. My first two attempts to get into university were complete failures. While disheartening at the time, my experience as a double-rejectee has taught me a thing or two about what not to do.

Looking back, the reason those first two rounds of applications were unsuccessful is clear: I was picking the wrong universities to apply to based on flawed reasoning. I chose courses because they were in my hometown and I didn’t want to move away yet; because my sister had gone to the same university, so it felt familiar; because the art school was “prestigious”; and because it was where my friends were going to study too. None of these are valid reasons.

My third attempt was successful and, again, now I can see why. I had properly researched the course and university to make sure it was the right one for me. I studied Illustration at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee. Throughout my studies, I felt comfortable and supported while also constantly challenged. It was the ideal environment for me to discover new things about myself as a creative and as a person.

In my opinion, when searching for a university course, you should think about the five Ws: who, what, where, when and why.

When: Picking the right time

Before delving into other Ws, let’s question whether now is the right time for you to study. 

In the UK, it is often assumed that you should go and study at university as soon as you leave high school. If someone doesn’t follow this rigid path, they can feel like they are falling behind. Zoom out geographically, however, and it becomes clear that this pressure is not universal. The average age of a first-time student entering higher education varies drastically from country to country—in Switzerland and Denmark, it’s 25 years old. There is no correct age to study.

You don’t need to study right now. You don’t need to study at all. There are other, far less costly, avenues that can still lead to a dream career. “University fees are extremely high, and if you’re not going into a profession that requires a university degree to practice, such as a doctor, lawyer or architect, do you need to go?” questions multi-disciplinary designer Simone Brewster. “Is there another way you can learn how to do these things? Becoming an apprentice is a great way to get experience and potentially earn money while you learn. It’s worth not putting all your mental eggs in one basket and looking at the various routes you can take to get where you want to go.”

Why: Finding the reason to study

Why do you want to study design? The simple answer should be: because you are passionate about design. But do you know exactly which area of design you’d like to end up working in, or are you just wanting to get creative and figure that out along the way? This could be the difference between you studying a general foundation—where you get to try a little bit of everything before choosing a specialism further down the line—or a more specialised course.

Working as a professional designer takes more than just practical skills—you need to be good at working with others. Studying design should teach you how to network, collaborate, and communicate. It’s worth considering which people skills you might like to hone while you are at design school. These can be just as beneficial as the software you master. “I went to Salford University, which at the time, prioritised networking,” says Jaheed Hussain, graphic designer and founder of Fuse. “It got me out of my comfort zone and led me to have a large network by the time I graduated. This was only possible because we were encouraged to connect with local agencies and invite them to events we organised as students.”

What: Choosing the course by its content

“Prospective students should prioritise module content!” says Connie Noble, freelance illustrator and tutor at Falmouth University. “It sounds super boring, but there is no point in going to study a degree if you don’t like the modules being taught. For example, if you want to focus on picture-book work but many of the modules are incredibly conceptual, collaborative, or focus on animation, then you are not going to get what you want from the course.”

Identify the areas of design you are interested in and cross-reference them against the contents of the courses you are applying to. You won’t find a course that tailors to your every wish (and trying new things you might unexpectedly fall in love with is part of the magic of a creative education), but you will find modules that overlap with your areas of interest.

A university course is more than just the core curriculum, too. Guest lecturers, live industry briefs, and work experience opportunities may read as fun little added extras in a university prospectus, but they can add a huge amount of value to your education. “I’d prioritise a university that has established industry connections and regularly invites guest lecturers to speak on the course, set live briefs and offer portfolio reviews,” says designer Bethany Sparks. “My first job out of university came from chatting to one of our guest speakers.”

Where: Being sure about the place you’ll be living

You will spend a significant amount not just studying, but living wherever you choose to go to university. Make sure it’s somewhere you feel happy to call home, even if it is only during term time. “My firm priority was considering where I would be living, and what kind of ways I would engage creativity outside of my coursework,” says illustrator Mairi Isla, who has studied in Edinburgh, Orkney, and Dundee. “When studying something creative, the activities you do out of your studies really influence and enrich your work.”

University has the potential to be quite an intense and insular experience if you live your entire life on campus. Remember, there is life outside of university grounds; cities to explore and people to meet. “Moving to a place that has possible groups you can plug into that aren’t directly related to your course, like sports clubs, might be a way to connect with like-minded people,” says Simone Brewster.

Who: Knowing the people you’ll be studying with and taught by

Who will you be taught by and alongside during your time studying design? Designer and founder of Good Nugget, Leo Young, says: “I’d urge prospective students to look closely at who’s teaching a university course. What’s their experience in the real world?” If a tutor has experience that you are particularly interested in learning from, that is a valid reason to choose a course they teach. And it’s not just a lecturer’s professional experience that matters, but their lived experience too.

“Choose an environment that celebrates diverse voices and perspectives.” Leo Young adds. A university should prioritise recruiting a diverse roster of both students and staff. Campus should represent a slice of life; all socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities should be proudly represented. You deserve to be taught in an environment that feels comfortable because you’re surrounded by people who both have and have not led similar lives to you. Don’t settle for less. 

The next step: Researching a university

Once you have your priorities in mind, it’s time to thoroughly research all prospective universities. There are so many different ways to do so. “Physically go to as many of the universities you are interested in seeing as possible,” says Eliza Hatch, educator and founder of Cheer Up Luv. “Speak to students on open days, connect on LinkedIn or on social media. Research the course and similar courses at other universities, compare the access to facilities, the hours of contact time with tutors, look at the space in which you will be learning, and find out the amount of tutorials and lectures you will have.”

Whether it is in-person at open days, degree shows, and other student-led exhibitions or online via the university website and alumni social media channels, the key is to find out as much information as possible. Treat your university search like a research project. Gather all the relevant information, filter it down based on your priorities, and compare and contrast universities to find the perfect fit.

There is so much to consider when deciding which university to apply to. Some of it is practical, but a lot of it is personal. Remember: there is no such thing as the best university, only the one which is best for you. Trust your gut. It will lead you to the place that brings the best out in you.

Designers and illustrators who’ve contributed to the text:

Simone Brewster: simonebrewster.co.uk 

Jaheed Hussain: jaheedhussain.co.uk 

Connie Noble: connienoble.co.uk 

Bethany Sparks: bethanysparks.com 

Mairi Isla: instagram.com/mairi_isla 

Leo Young: https://goodnugget.co 

Eliza Hatch: elizahatch.com