Study Abroad Stories: From Art Student to Design Professional

Image credit: Maya Gangan

Maya Gangan, BFA ‘22, completed the Tufts in London program at University of the Arts London (UAL) in Fall 2022. She used her time abroad to explore a new city while transitioning from her life as an art student to that of a design professional. 

What made you decide to study abroad?

I was really excited to travel and live in another country, while also experiencing how a different country approaches art and design education. Before graduating, I also wanted to diversify my experience in design and take advantage of courses that didn’t exist at SMFA.

What made you pick your specific study abroad program?

At SMFA, I explored graphic arts through various mediums such as animation, printmaking, bookmaking, and more. I chose to take the Graphic Communications Design course at UAL: Chelsea College of Arts to have the opportunity to explore the same mediums through a commercial design lens. Prior to entering the design industry, I wanted to take my largely conceptually-driven experience and apply it to working with clients. This specific program drew me because of the real-life agency and brand-building experience it provided.

What types of courses did you take?

The Graphic Communication Design course was based on real-life experience. For the first half of the program we worked with a UK agency to answer one of their briefs: creating a sustainable, Gen Z-friendly fashion brand. Throughout the two months, we worked on everything from art direction and branding to website and social media creation, and eventually pitched it to the agency. Throughout this time, we had technical demos to learn different design programs and the industry-standard ways of creating mock-ups, as well as lectures on designers and how they approached similar projects. The second half of the program was similar in that we worked in groups to research one small aspect of the climate crisis and created an app that would be beneficial in the future. Overall, it differed from SMFA in that we only had one class here, however, the types of materials covered were broad. 

What has a day in life been for you while studying abroad?

The structure of courses was very different at UAL than at SMFA. Rather than having classes every day, we would have a lecture and demo twice a week, leaving the rest of the week to work on your projects, which were largely collaborative. On an average day, I would go from our housing in South London to the campus in Chelsea where I would work with my teammates on our live project or attend our weekly lesson. Following the class, my flatmates and I always had something planned about which new part of the city we would explore!

Can you tell us a bit about your art practice? What kinds of themes, styles, and mediums do you use?

My art practice is primarily based in digital design, across illustration, animation, and graphic design. At SMFA, I explored storytelling through themes of climate, fashion, history, and more with all three digital techniques. I also explored design by making books and zines. At UAL, I had the opportunity to bring these themes and the techniques I had learned at SMFA into commercial settings.

What was your most memorable experience while abroad?

I had so many memorable experiences while abroad from traveling with my flatmates to exploring all parts of London, but I think what most shaped the time as a whole was Queen Elizabeth’s death. We arrived in London shortly after her passing and witnessing such a significant moment and how embedded it was in all parts of the culture was really interesting. 

What from your study abroad experience did you carry into how you approached your classes, art practice, or career?

I think ending college with my study abroad experience was really helpful to me as I entered my career. The Chelsea course taught me how to take my art practice and apply it to a client-based setting. I learned a lot about balancing my own concept and aesthetic with a client's or business's ideas. The overall experience of living in a new country also helped me approach design through a more global lens, seeing how people and companies work differently across the world.

What advice would you give to other SMFA students studying abroad?

The program goes by really fast! The courses follow an independent structure that leaves a lot of time for finding inspiration, and exploring whichever city you’re in, so take advantage of it!