Guto
Davies

Final Year BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design student, Guto Davies talks us through his experience at NTU so far.

What is it about NTU that made you want to study here?

Being on such a highly rated course really appealed to me. I was interested in the course structure and type of projects I knew we would be working on. NTU has such a range of projects and this excited me because I didn’t know yet what kind of designer I wanted to be. I saw the variety of projects as an opportunity to discover what drives me as a designer.

Nottingham as a city seemed to be full of life. As a big fan of sport, the city seemed like a great fit. From being able to watch Nottingham Forest and the Nottingham Panthers to the possibility of joining a sport society, it was hard to say no to that!

Having the opportunity to go on a placement year ultimately persuaded me to study here. I knew I wanted the opportunity to go abroad as a part of my studies and so I saw studying at NTU as the best way to do it.

What have you enjoyed most about being a BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design student?

The thing I’ve enjoyed most is the variety of projects. They have all opened my eyes to the many different avenues within design that I can pursue in the coming years. The projects that stand out most are ones where we have had the opportunity to work directly with a design brand/company. I've been lucky to have worked with the likes of Magis, The Conran Shop, as well as Allermuir.

What's the student community like at NTU?

Simply put, the student community is very welcoming. One benefit from doing a hands on course like BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design is that you get to know your course mates really well, not only from being in the studio or workshops but also from the chance to go on study trips together.

I was a member of the lacrosse society for my first, and briefly, for my second year before the Covid lockdowns. I had never heard of lacrosse before coming to NTU but I was encouraged to give it a go and I honestly I loved it. Being a part of a team both on and off the field has been one of my favourite experiences here at NTU.

How do you find the facilities we offer here at NTU?

The facilities available are great. Having a studio to work in not only on timetabled studio days but also throughout the week makes a huge difference. The studio environment is both a great place to work and also get to know course-mates.

The CAD facilities and machinery are very accessible. From first year all the way through final year CAD skills are taught to us and we are encouraged to use the facilities given to us.

Having such a welcoming and experienced workshop team, as well as great machinery and general workshop facilities, has certainly helped my projects. To be able to quickly go from modelling in cardboard in the studio to the workshop, and to ask any question or to further test ideas is one of the most valuable things that I have found here at NTU.

What do you think about your course staff?

Kind, constructive, direct and full of great ideas and recommendations. The course staff are constantly pushing us to find who we are as designers and to find our own creative voice. They aim to guide us into being responsible, unique, forward thinking and sustainable designers. Due to their vast range of design experience, every member of staff has a new perspective to offer. They're great at adapting to each student as we all have our own approaches to design.

Does the “real” NTU match what you’d imagined?

Yes, 100%! Although my friends all had positive experiences at other universities I am extremely glad to have gone my own way to a city and university where I did not know anyone. Differently to my friends who have all stayed together in groups at other universities I have been able to meet so many great people and have made many new friends.

The experience pushed me out of my comfort zone at times but I feel that I have developed and matured here as a person. I'm more confident in my social skills and my experience at NTU has certainly helped prepare me for the years to come.

How would you promote NTU to potential students in 10 words or fewer?

NTU is full of great unexplored experiences, opportunities and challenges.

You can find out more about Guto's design work by following them on LinkedIn and Instagram.