Martina Hodkova

"What I've probably enjoyed the most on my course is the hands on model making in the workshop. Being able to see your designs take form and making the prototypes helps you see what may need developing.

"What I like most about NTU is the balance between work and the social side of things. There is always something going on so if you balance your time well, you can do everything.

"My placement experience has been great so far. I've been doing more graphic design, where I have definitely learnt some new skills, for example learning to use Illustrator quite thoroughly and some new skills on Photoshop.

"Some of the work that I have been doing includes designing posters, a newsletter update, a Pixar Cars leaflet and I'm in the process of designing and putting up a Film Wall, which has probably been my biggest project so far.

"It's been challenging as the people overseeing the project went away to LA for two weeks, so I have been managing the project, as well as helping to organise the printing of vinyls when we didn't know the budget and getting designs signed off as there were a lot of people involved.

"My placement has definitely helped me realise that I have chosen the right career – in design. I'm not totally sure which path of design I will go down, graphic, product, or any other as I like to do anything interesting and I like a challenge. I think my final year will help me decide, and all the design skills I have learnt are transferable so everything I have learnt so far has helped me along the way.

"One of my highlights has been when I designed the newsletter update, the director of my team sent it to the director of the whole of Disney Consumer Products in LA to have a look at.

"Another one has been, when I designed the Disney Pixar Cars leaflet. This was for the Cars Tour, which is still going on now in different countries. A couple of the cars from the animated movie have been made into real cars, and are being toured around Europe and my leaflet is accompanying them in all the different countries. It's good to know that my work is in contact with so many people, and internationally!"