Not many can claim to have designed a royal wedding dress worn by a famous member of the British monarchy. Clare Waight Keller, a graduate of Ravensbourne University London in Greenwich, can.
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion alumni is no stranger to high-end and luxury fashion. Givenchy’s first female Artistic Director also boasts an impressive designer’s résumé, having worked with names such as Chloé, Gucci, and Calvin Klein. No wonder Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, personally handpicked Keller to design her iconic minimalist bridal gown in a ceremony that was witnessed by millions worldwide.
That’s the kind of headway that Ravensbourne graduates receive once they’re out in the world. A specialist creative university, Ravensbourne’s cutting-edge philosophy on modern design attracts nearly 5,000 students from over 50 nationalities to its mosaic-clad campus building.
Perched against London’s famed O2 arena, the building’s eco-friendly design evokes a sense of movement and abundant creativity, serving as a preview into the inventive minds incubated within its modernistic walls.
A window of opportunities awaits
When it comes to postgraduate employment, Ravensbourne is winning the numbers game. A total of 90% of its graduates progress into the workforce or further studies within six months of graduation, with 76% employed in highly-skilled jobs, according to the 2020 Graduate Outcomes Survey. Like Keller, students are highly sought-after in creative sectors, owing to the university’s focused curriculum tailored specifically for the industry.
Ravensbourne is the quintessential learner’s nexus for aspirants of all ages. The university offers courses in design and digital media, from pre-degree level all the way to postgraduate studies, in addition to short professional courses. The range of programmes available for students are industry-aligned, featuring direct studio projects and workshops for foolproof knowledge in their chosen stream.
While studying in London may be costlier than other destinations, the payoff far outweighs its disadvantages. Prospective international students are eligible for financial aid through scholarships such as the Undergraduate International Scholarships and EU Scholarships, awarding students with up to £3,000 in fee discount.
If you’re a woman interested in advertising, the Helen Landsdowne Resor Scholarship grants £10,000 to those with 12 months remaining in their design-related course, complete with one-on-one mentoring and a guaranteed internship placement. Local students in need of funding can look into other bursaries and scholarships for assistance.
Students who wish to pursue an undergraduate degree at Ravensbourne can choose from 10 clusters of subjects, including Fashion, Animation and Illustration, Architecture and Interiors, and TV and Film. Its Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Interior Design Environment Architectures, a programme accredited by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), steers students towards crafting their own spatial language in interior design. Learners will never run out of ideas, especially after the launch of weekly TUESDAY coffee talks, where prominent industry figures share valuable insights into their work over coffee.If you’re keen on bringing artistic concepts into life, Ravensbourne’s award-winning Product Design degree is almost entirely project-based, allowing for freedom in experimentation. Imagine being a London-based designer-in-training, with faculty industry connections to companies like Apple, Samsung and the European Space Agency. The sky’s the limit when you’re already proficient in the latest industry knowledge integrating ergonomics, digitisation and sustainability throughout the design process.
Take your design skills to the next level
Learning is taken up a notch for those opting to pursue a postgraduate degree, where Ravensbourne courses have been designed with the industry, for the industry. The proof is in the pudding — the university is ranked second in the UK for overall postgraduate satisfaction with a 93% score among students. Boundaries in experimental design are continuously demolished in The Institute for Creativity and Technology, where postgraduate degrees in courses like Master of Design in Service Design and Master of Design in Social Innovation anticipate consumer needs for game-changing product innovations.
Those possessing an entrepreneurial streak can opt for a degree in Luxury Brand Management or Design Communication, aided by the presence of CreativeLab, the Institute’s in-house creative agency. Whether you’re strategising displays for the next fall collections, or sending a message through thought-provoking visual expressions, the Lab’s purpose-led projects supply endless resources for compelling design output.
Creativity is no longer detached from digital evolution, and students will also benefit from Ravensbourne’s Incubation+. This tech-driven collective connects graduates with stakeholders and investors in a collaborative environment, fully-equipped with an MR/VR lab and exhibition spaces to galvanise businesses in maximising their potential.
A true mecca for burgeoning designers, Ravensbourne University London epitomises the amalgamation of talent and innovation in one of the world’s most global cities. Its cosmopolitan setting, state-of-the-art facilities, and experiential course structures across disciplines readily gear students with a distinct advantage to innovate their respective industries upon graduation.
Start your journey in design and digital media here.
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