Submitted by Emily Brymer on the 2016 summer session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Art…
VCUK directly exposes Visual Communications students to the international influence of London-based design and art. The meat and potatoes of the program consists of multiple lectures from iconic designers/design agencies. Some of them have produced successful, iconic work that’s a landmark in pop culture, and others are constant producers of work locally impacting their communities. For instance, we heard Peter Saville, creator of the iconic Joy Division album cover, give insight into how the design industry functions in contemporary society. On the contrary, Hat-Trick, a local design firm, designs stamps for Royal Mail. Visiting their firm made me realize how something as simple and mundane as stamps have their own exciting, meticulous design process, and so do other things I don’t pay attention to; this realization has made me more observant. The other major aspect is visits to art galleries and museum exhibitions relevant to contemporary English culture. Our major visits have been to the British Museum, the Tate Modern art museum, the British Library’s Shakespeare and Punk exhibits, and the Saatchi gallery’s immersive Rolling Stones showcase.
