Emily Springall

Visual Communication - MA

Emily lacked confidence in her creativity and design abilities before studying her Master’s. Choosing to continue her studies at BCU has allowed her to explore her creativity in a supportive environment and taught her the skills she needs to make her way in the design industry.

"Taking my studies further didn’t cross my mind until I got to the last year of my undergraduate degree. After completing my dissertation, my tutor asked if I’d considered further study and suggested I look into it.

At first it was a difficult choice, as despite being passionate about design and visual communication, I had internal barriers with my confidence and self-esteem that I had to overcome. I felt like I wasn’t a good enough designer to be able to cope on a creative postgraduate course, and I was worried the content would be too difficult for me to understand. Studying at BCU already meant I could easily ask the lecturers about the course in detail. The choice was made much easier once I’d researched the course more thoroughly and spoken to the tutors about any concerns I had.

I did consider some courses at other universities, but I knew deep down that if I was going to do a Master’s it would be at BCU as I didn’t want to leave the community I’d become a part of. My tutors had always been accommodating to my needs to ensure I felt comfortable and supported in class - nothing is too much trouble for them. I chose to stay at BCU because I knew I would continue to receive this level of support.

Plus, the fast track application made it really easy to apply – I submitted my application in just a few clicks. The process was quick and simple, and I was contacted whenever updates to my application were needed, such as uploading a portfolio and responding to an interview request.

There are quite a few differences between undergraduate and postgraduate study, despite staying at the same university! At Master’s level, the class sizes all tend to be a lot smaller, meaning we work closely together and collaborate on projects. We were also encouraged to talk to and collaborate with other postgraduate design courses, enabling us to become a part of the wider BCU postgraduate community.

I feel like undergraduate study helped me to learn new skills and the fundamentals of design, whereas postgraduate study has taught me how to apply these skills in the real world. I’ve learnt how to communicate with clients whilst working as creative lead on design briefs and had to juggle multiple projects at once, which has taught me the importance of timekeeping and delegation to meet deadlines. I also have more awareness and a deeper understanding of cultural context and the application of design theories, which helps when designing for different audiences. The skills I’ve learnt on my course have made me feel more comfortable working as a freelance graphic designer, as I now have the knowledge and experience behind me to help me succeed.

I’ve always been a creative person, and my postgraduate degree has helped me to develop this passion further by giving me the tools and opportunities to explore my creativity. I’ve been able to learn from experienced tutors to develop various skills and gain a deeper contextual understanding to apply and consider within my work. I’ve loved being able to explore in a safe creative space without restrictions. For me, during my undergraduate study, I felt like a student learning how to become a designer, but during my Master’s, I felt like a designer learning how to find my own style.

I’ve changed massively since becoming a student at BCU. When I first started studying at university, I was very quiet and shy. I got overwhelmed easily and didn’t always feel confident enough to ask for help. I’m now much more confident in myself and my abilities, BCU has helped shape who I am, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

To me, ‘I AM BCU’ means becoming my true self, without fear of judgement."