Applying to university can be an exciting but also daunting experience so we thought, who better to explain the process than one of our very own students.
Lorraine Wireko-Brobby is a BA (Hons) Creative Direction for Fashion student at London College of Fashion. Originally from Manchester, Lorraine moved to London to pursue her creative passions. Chatting with us, she shared her experience and advice on applying to UAL as a Home student.
Tell us a little bit about your experience of applying to UAL?
Applying to UAL was straight forward and easy. I applied through UCAS. I found visiting the multiple colleges, talking to past and present students and engaging with outreach programmes like UAL Insights helped me to understand and decide which degree to apply for.
Most courses at UAL ask applicants to submit a personal statement. What did you write about in yours?
In my personal statement, I talked about my interests (such as video editing and reading), my current course and the pieces I was working on. I thought it was important not just to list but to go into depth to demonstrate how I was engaging with my projects. I also mentioned my other curricular pursuits and how I benefitted from them. For example, the UAL Insights programmes gave me the opportunity to explore different mediums and experiment. Lastly, I talked about all the things I was eager to learn during my degree and how they would help me to launch a career in the industry I am interested in.
As part of your application, you had to submit a portfolio. Please tell us how you went about building yours? What sort of pieces did you include?
I used a combination of my personal projects, college projects and pieces I created on my foundation diploma to build my portfolio. I checked to see what my course criteria asked for and aimed to show a range of work that reflected that. I included pieces like mood boards, trend boards, documentary photography, illustrations as well as scanned pages from my sketchbook. My main objective for my portfolio was to include work I was proud of – work that told a story and highlighted my creative strengths.
Now you have a more in-depth understanding of your subject area, is there anything in terms of your application that you would have done differently?
Honestly no. I already had a good foundation of knowledge and I catered my application and portfolio to secure a place on my course. I also took a foundation year as it was one of the entry requirements for my course at UAL. This really helped me to refine my skills and improve my overall confidence. However, the whole reason I applied for my degree was to learn more.
What are your top 3 tips for those wanting to apply to UAL?
Do your research. It's important to understand your degree beyond its title so you know what to expect and what you can get out of your education.
Your application is important. It's a great opportunity to introduce yourself to UAL so start strong in your portfolio and end strong.
And collaborate! Collaboration is a great way to meet new people, share creative skills and engage in fresh opportunities in and outside your practice. Your network is your 'net worth'.
Tell us a little bit about your course? What’s it been like so far? Do you have any favourite moments or pieces of work that you’re particularly proud of?
I’m really lucky to have found a course that sits so well with my personality. My course is all about creating a vision for the brand. For instance, building advertising campaigns through the use of animation, illustration, set design, video, apps and more.
We focus on how to make brands better by responding to our personal experiences and skills. Brands came come in the form of an individual, a fashion house or a company. For instance, one recent project I worked on was all about bringing a brand back to life. I focused on the magazine, Sleazenation, which launched in 1996 but ended in 2003. Being able to present new digital ideas for this 'relaunch' was interesting and cool.
The conversations we have during our lectures and seminars are always really interesting and enjoyable. They actually inspired my friends and I to develop a podcast, which touches on global perspectives surrounding the industry.
Why did you choose to study in London and at UAL specifically?
I wanted to study at UAL because it's dedicated to its students and their creative passions. It also has a tremendous track record for success.
If you want to study a creative course, London is the best place for it in terms of the resources, the events, people, museums, exhibitions, parties and so much more. The fast-paced environment mirrors the industry I want to head into. London also gives you this new sense of independence, of endless opportunities and perspective.