Set Design Course was a perfect fit for graduate

Harriet Priest graduates this week from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David with a BA in Set Design and Production and is also the proud co-recipient of the Performing arts Award (English medium).

Stacey-Jo Atkinson, Programme Manager, BA Set Design & Production said:  “It has been wonderful to watch Harriet develop and grow during her time at UWTSD. Throughout her time on the course, Harri has taken every opportunity offered to her and she has continuously developed her skills in design and making for theatre, TV, Film and events. She has always been committed, determined and unwavering and we wish Harri all the success in her career in the creative industries”.

Reflecting on her time at UWTSD, Harriet said: “I’m from Birmingham, and growing up I’ve always been drawn to creativity, whenever there was an opportunity to choose art or design, I took it. Staying in this field felt natural to me. What made me choose this course was how perfectly it matched what I was looking for. Everything it offered felt like a box I wanted to tick for myself, so when I got my offer three years ago, it instantly felt like the clear and obvious choice.

Although moving to Wales from Birmingham felt like a big step, Harriet says that it felt like the right next step to develop her skills further and explore her creative potential in an entirely new environment.

“My main aim was to apply myself fully and make the most of every opportunity the course offered” she said. “I’ve always been taught to approach everything I do with commitment and do it to the best of my ability, and that’s exactly what I set out to do throughout my time at UWTSD.

“For me, the highlight of the course was how much personal growth came alongside my professional development. I really valued being constantly pushed and supported by both Stacey-Jo  and Dave Atkinson as they helped me grow not just as a designer, but as a person too.

“I had the great opportunity to work with a theatre company in Birmingham called Women & Theatre, where I worked alongside an amazing designer to curate a local show. Alongside that, I also developed my own independent project exploring the relationship between digital and physical modelling in design, which helped me develop a new approach to design communication”. 

Although Harriet could feel overwhelmed at times when constantly pushing herself creatively and personally, she overcame the challenges leaning on the support around her whether it came from her tutors, course mates, or friends, which helped her stay motivated and carry on..

“I would definitely recommend this course as it has really helped shape who I am today and I wouldn’t be where I am now without I”, she said. “It’s helped me grow both professionally and personally, giving me confidence in my creative practice and shaping the way I approach design. Overall, it’s been such a great and valuable experience.

“My plan now is to keep growing within this field. I’ve started working in event crewing at arenas across Birmingham, which is giving me hands-on experience and helping me stay connected to the creative industry. I hope to keep building on that and exploring more opportunities in design and production”.

Further Information

Eleri Beynon

Head
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: e.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 01267 676790