It has reached the end of my Graphic Design Summer Course at Central Saint Martin’s. Originally, I wasn’t looking forward to a full day of critiques, but today ended up being a lot more fun than I expected. I don’t mind critiques, but I just get really antsy and restless during them. Today’s class was rather casual and relaxed. I was all pumped because I got up early and left early for class, but then I realized after I got there that I left all my work in my dorm room. Oops, my bad. Luckily, they let me go back and grab it, but it was another 20 minute Tube ride back and then another 20 minute ride back to the school. We ended our class an hour early so our teachers could take the class out to a pub for a drink. It was pretty freakin’ cool that we got to do that, haha, definitely not something you see in American Universities. It was really awesome to be able to see everyone’s work and you could definitely depict the different styles and methods people have towards Graphic Design. Quite the learning experience if I don’t say so myself.

I’m not going to lie, this Graphic Design Summer Course was really intensive, but I’ve learned so much or at least picked up some tricks of the trade that I want to bring back with me home. Putting 13 different people from entirely different backgrounds and educations in the field has definitely been an amazing thing. The people in my class have been a lot of fun to work with, and it’s kind of sad that it wasn’t towards the end of class that we all started to see each other’s true personalities. At first, I think I had a rough time trying to adapt to certain teachers because we seemed to do things differently. I just felt like I had trouble communicating my ideas correctly and maybe that’s why we had a little confusion at first. Overall, this course has taught me different approaches and methods of starting projects. I’ve noticed a lot of things in my style of GD, and I really want to start expanding and improving in by incorporating different types of media and methods that I’ve observed from my fellow students.

Even though at times I’ve felt really sophomoric around them, I’ve been able to really pick up and observe the differences from Fitchburg State, and how things are taught at Central Saint Martin’s. I’m happy that I got to go out and see things outside of the Comm. Media Department. I’ve realized that the students back at FSC all have a very similar style of design, and we’re all in a rush to just get work done that we don’t really notice or take the time to try out different things. So enough babble about learning and the wonders of worldly perspectives, and I’ll just end it with the fact that the last three weeks have taught me so many things that I wouldn’t have learned from back home.

My fellow students in the course are pretty amazing in their own ways. I really loved the diversity and the fact that yea we’re all Graphic Designers of different levels, but I never felt that we were at all competing. It was all purely a mutual learning experience for all of us. We helped each other out, and definitely learned a lot from one another if it were something about GD or even their own home country and culture. The ages ranged from early twenties to thirties, and it still felt like we were all college kids trying to have a good time. A bunch of us have been going to pubs and started showing our true personalities outside of class. They’re all a bunch of really fun people, and I’m really sad that we haven’t started hanging out sooner.

So now to for an actual update of events, yesterday we had our farewell dinner for the API program I traveled here with. We went to get Thai food, and it was spicy to say the least. I’m not going to lie, I’m not a huge fan of it, and it made my stomach make funny noises. After dinner we all went to see The Sound of Music, which was amazing. I haven’t seen the movie since I was a way little kid, so I didn’t remember most of it. I forgot how many famous songs came from this musical. When the musical ended we all went to a pub including our Resident Director to get a drink. It was a really good time, and lets say we all discovered some funny things that we did not expect to hear from certain people. I’m really sad that it’s coming to an end because I really liked my Res. Director, Rachel, and she has definitely taught me a lot about London.

The last couple days has allowed me to realize how much I really love London. Yea, it may rain all the time, and everyone may be in a rush to get places, but in the end I can really see myself living here and being happy. I’m really thinking about either going to graduate school here, or even trying to get a job or internship here. All I know is that I don’t’ want this to be the last time I’m in London. I know I still have another three weeks ahead of me, but it has finally hit me how much I really love this place.

I’m getting kicked out of my room by 10am on Sunday to move to Furnival House in Highgate Hills, which is a really nice area. I don’t get to check in until 2pm though, so I’ll have to figure out a way to stow my luggage away. I’m also seeing my Jacko/my friend, Heather, who is staying in Cambridge to take a course, on Saturday. It should be a good time; I also plan on seeing Les Miserables with some people from my GD class tomorrow night. Hopefully, my wallet won’t be empty by the end of the weekend.

Until next time,

K.Pho