BA (Hons) in Design (Visual Communication) - WD137

PandyAndy

I'm thinking of going back to WIT in 2011 as a mature student and sorta toying with the idea of doing Graphic Design. I haven't given it much research yet to be honest, also toying with the idea of Architecture lol... slowly getting old and don't know what to do haha.

Is there anyone here, or anyone here know someone doing it, that can advise me if there's anything I should be doing up to then i.e portfolio work, what the course is like, your own personal experiences etc. And yes i iz 4rtistcally t4lented at dr4wing gud matchsticks men

MitchKoobski

Graphic Design will involve drawing drawing drawing drawing drawing drawing drawing from 9 to 5 everyday.

PandyAndy

Hahaha no way, man. You're surely wrong, I always thought it was something to do about medicine

Not The Real Scarecrow

Reckon you're too late for applying at the moment. Being a matre student you'll have to interview and definately need a decent portfilio cause a fair few people are applying for it lately. Depending on where you're from there's usually courses run for a year helping people get their folio's together and getting it comprehensive enough to get you into college. So as you're prob too late to apply I'd asvise going that route.
On the architecture bit, think you need a fairly decent ability in tech drawing to apply and if you're a mature either experience or similar courses behind you.
So many mature students applying these days the competition is getting very tough so the more you have behind you before you apply the better chance you have of getting in.

Chochese

Hi PandyAndy,

I'm curently studying this course in the WIT. I do recommend it if you're interested in getting into Graphic Design. The lecturers know their stuff and you'll learn quite a bit if you're interested and engaged in the course. You'll explore many aspects of the course in first year, touching on design, typography, photography, illustration and the like. After second year it becomes a little bit more focused and once you hit third year you pretty much have your mind made up as to what Major/Minor and Support you will choose.

The facilities are okay, printing can be a bit of a headache at times and if the Mac labs are full it can be a bit frustrating (until you hit 4th year when you have a shiny nice Mac lab all to yourselves). If you have the cash by second year, I highly recommend investing in MacBook to combat this. You won't regret it.

First, second and third year are all on the same floor of the building, so there's a good community spirit and camraderie around the corridors.

If you have any questions, drop me a PM. I entered the course as a mature student too

PandyAndy

Cool, thanks for the replies Meatwad and Chochese.

@Chochese, what point did you sign up for it i.e as stated thinking of starting Sept 2011, as Meatwad mentioned I'd be too late to sign up now even though its 16/17 months away?

I've seen the building too, I did Art there when I finished school a few years ago but lack of motivation and general laziness stopped me from attending :rolleyes:

And thanks for the advice on getting a Macbook, I'm actually thinking of getting a laptop anyway now so maybe a Mac is something to consider

Edit: Forgot to ask, what applications do you use on Mac that you can't use on Windows?

Not The Real Scarecrow

ah you'd be grand for signing up for 2011 I though it was this september you were going for. Think you apply sometime in jan or feb through the cao. If you're a mature student I'd head into the local vec sometime after easter and start getting stuff ready for grants and stuff. The sooner you start the process the quicker it all gets sorted. I applied years ago as a late applicant aaround september or start of term. didn't get the grant till the following march, cause of one thing or another.
I'd definately get in contact with the college its self, you might have a bit of luck this year as sometimes extra spaces pop up and late applications are accepted through the college or cao themselves.People sometimes turn down the course as well quiet close to registration so you could end up getting offered a place there short notice.

PandyAndy

Ah no worries, Meatwad

I'll wait till 2011 to apply, won't be 23 until this Dec, and I can also save up for all the fees etc. I doubt I can get the grant although no harm asking and if they say no then no harm applying haha

dinsea

hi, I'm interested in this course! Does anyone who did this have info about this course and what was their opinion bout it? What's the work load like and do you have to be very good at drawing......I'm alright but not amazing or anything!! thanks

looksee

I did this course about 10 years ago when it was still a 3 year diploma. Don't attempt it if you are not prepared to put in 9 - 5 plus 3 or 4 hours each evening. I had no problem doing this as I really enjoyed the course and just worked as long as there was something I could do/improve.

There is a bit of an idea out there that art students do nothing and its a doss course, but I can promise you that graphic design will keep you very busy.

I would not consider that I am good at drawing, but it is important and it is possible to learn. As someone else said, you have to be willing to engage - no one is going to open up your head and pour ability into it. Being creative on demand - which is what graphic design is - is hard work, but very rewarding.

GD is very disciplined and requires an eye for detail. Its also regarded as a bit of a 'poor relation' of Art, it used be called Commercial Art. However it requires all the creative abilities of 'Art' - and a good deal more than some (:D) - and in fact most of the 'great masters' worked on commission, so they were 'selling their art' too.

mc_coster

im thinking about going to WIT this year for vis com,i still have to wait till the 23ed. i know a few peolpe in DIT and IADT doing the course , just would like to know if they be different in anyway???i only ask because most other colleges ask for a portfolio

nijel

I have been looking for a thread like this for ages! I only found the wit course on dvc the day before my cao, and had been looking for something like it for ages! so i put it down as a number five but now wonder should I have put it higher.. architecture in dit is my no.1 and i just cover my ears when a hear how bad it is.. in some ways i hope I get less than 400 so I wont get my top 4