Textile Design - Student Profiles

Lynsey Coke

Course: Textile Design
Date: 2006 - 2009

Having visited Duncan of Jordanstone on an open day, I was completely drawn to the lively atmosphere and bustle of the student community. From friends and tutors, Duncan of Jordanstone had been recommended for it's impressive facilities and first class reputation.

Throughout my three years at Duncan of Jordanstone, I enjoyed being taught by industry professionals. I was taught by the likes of Johanna Basford - Textile Designer and Illustrator, James Donald- Weaver and owner of Concrete Wardrobe in Edinburgh and Lindsey Gardiner who successfully writes and illustrates children's books. I believe it is extremely important to learn about the industry you are entering whilst studying at University.

As well as the great tutoring, there are great facilities within the Art College. The Textiles department is vast, has hi-spec equipment and lets you experiment with their wide range of facilities such as the Laser cutter or tremendous print room.

“As a city, Dundee doesn't take long to get used to. Dundee thrives on Art and Design, especially along the Perth Road, which is home to the Dundee Contemporary Arts and the Art College. There are almost always art exhibitions here. If you are lucky, you might get a flat, or house with a sea view, which is beautiful, even in the cold winters!”

At my degree show, I sold a few rolls of my digitally printed wallpaper, and headed to London. At 'New Designers' (an exhibition for all the design graduates in the U.K) I was commissioned by trend forecasting agency WGSN to create artwork for their Kids-wear S/S 011 colour trend. I am currently working on a commission for a family home in Highbury, London and studying an MA Design for Textile Futures at Central Saint Martins. Two of my tutors and Textile Designers, Linda Florence and Kate Goldsworthy; graduates of the same course that I studied at Duncan of Jordanstone are now teaching me. When I finish the MA, I will be showcasing my work in different areas all over the world, which the design course at Duncan of Jordanstone has prepared me for.

www.lynseycoke.co.uk

Cate Gillon

Course: Printed Textiles (HONS)
Date: 1997 - 2001

I chose to study at Duncan of Jordanstone after attending all of the Scottish art college open days. Duncan of Jordanstone seemed creative yet unpretentious with good facilities and friendly staff. I could see it had closer links with the University than other art colleges. I wanted the opportunity to meet a range of people interested in different subjects and DJCAD together with Dundee University provided this.

Dundee was really good fun - I made great friends while staying in Belmont halls, and good friends from college too. It is an extremely sociable campus, because things are so close together. The Union provided a really good night-life and hilarious club nights. Extra curricular activities for me included a brilliant university ski holiday to France, doing my bronze medallion swimming award in 2nd year, and working on the Entertainment Crew in the Union in 3rd year, as well as making various outrageous fancy dress outfits for house parties. I have since stayed in contact with many people from Dundee who studied a really wide range of subjects.

“Duncan of Jordanstone was great. The studios and printing facilities were excellent with long hours, with good technicians and helpful staff.”

I have gone recently gone freelance and am working as an editorial and PR photographer based in Cambridge. I assisted commercial photographers in Edinburgh, did work experience with a couple of newspapers and then started as a freelance editorial photographer in 2003. I got my first full-time job with a small agency Atom, which no longer exists, then worked at the Edinburgh Evening News, the Herald in Glasgow, and for a year and a half as a news photographer in London for Getty.

I got into photography during a photography block I did in my second year at college and continued to do photography work throughout my degree making use of the darkrooms and studio facilities at the college. I took photographs as research for my textile work, developed many images into textile designs and the results inspired my degree show work. I was also awarded an F & A Bradshaw award bursary from college which funded travel to build up a photography portfolio. My degree inspired my passion for photography, helped train my eye in colour and pattern and resulted in me entering a career that I love.