Fáilte! My name is Miranda and I study Interactive Media at TAMK, and I have always leaned more towards the 2D graphic design side, rather than game development that some of my classmates study. This led me to apply to the Graphic Design path at the Design Bureau at National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin. This was my first choice, and second on the list was a similar place in Galway. Thinking about now, if I would apply again – I would put Galway as the first choice.
This choice^ is only because of the student city – because after having been on a trip to Galway and going to college in Dublin, Galway is the cuter town. Less people, and more small-town vibes that I am used to. But now, let’s not get caught up with what could have been. This is what it is.
ABOUT MY STUDIES
One of my favorite things during this exchange has definitively been the graphic design classes. We had a few different ones, but they all had really interesting briefs with real clients and our tutors (aka teachers) were pushing us with every task to go further and really try out all of the possible ideas we had. My favorite course was the book cover design one, where we got to have Jack Smyth as our tutor. He told us about his life as a book cover designer and how he got to where he is at. We had a few pre-tasks at first, where we got to go around all of Dublin’s bookstores and our task was to photograph all kinds of book covers – some that we liked and some that we disliked. I still have a folder on my phone with over 50 books.
Another task we did for that course was that our tutors gave us a bunch of paper notes with fake book names and authors – and then everyone picked one (and there are about 24 students in the class). This was a one day task – so then for about two or three hours we got to cut and scrap together a book cover in the size of an A3 or A4. I made two versions of mine: Holes In The Ground by Annie Dyer. I kid you not, this was one of the best things I’ve made in years.
Moving on from these two pre-tasks to the course – we finally got our real life book cover briefs. A list of three unpublished (one published book) that were quite different in genre, and then we had to pick one of them and design at least 6 different book covers for that book. At the end of the class we had a book cover meeting with Little, Brown’s publishing people, where we all got to present our three favorite covers. Down below are mine! I designed Goodlord by Ella Frears.
Overall, I would say that my studies in Dublin were quite different than what they are back home – the biggest difference I would say was probably time management. Classes start at 10, but pretty much everyone is always late – and I’m so used to everyone being on time and starting a bit earlier as well. There are good and bad things with this kind of schedule, but I really would prefer to come to class earlier in the morning so that I can also leave at a decent time.
ABOUT MY SPARE TIME
Student housing is quite different here in Ireland, but I did manage to find a host family where I can stay that wasn’t too expensive. My host family lives about an hour away from Dublin city, so I have been spending quite some time just in my shared room at home. Either making art, watching movies or crocheting. So, pretty similar to what I would do at home in Finland as well.
Of course it’s not everyday you end up going on an exchange, so a few more “unusual things” that I’ve done, when I haven’t had classes is e.g
- I’ve gotten on a bus and just been along for the ride (great way to see a lot, quite cheap, and you can sit on the upper floor!!)
- been on a couple of YES-trips with ESN (Erasmus Student Network) to Belfast, Sligo and Galway
- I’ve taken long walks around where my host family lives, in parks and trying to take in as much as possible of the countryside/mountains and horses and sheep all around
- got to know my classmates after college-hours – we went to a few museums, took a train to Bray and Wicklow, saw some baby seals
- spent some time with my host family and got to know them a bit better
And these are only a few things of everything I’ve done, I have gotten to know so many cool people and I’ve seen Dublin in different weather conditions, I’ve been warm and way too cold but all in all I’ve been mostly happy. Ireland is such a beautiful country, filled with history, myths, beer and a really cool language. It’s been a blast.
I do apologize if some parts of this post seems a bit negative – but I am simply missing home too much and I’ve had enough of my exchange. I have now spent just the right amount of time here, but I would like to leave! Truthfully; glad I came here, what an experience it’s been, but a bit happier that I’m going home. Grá mór !
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