Ming-Shan (Aria)
Wang

Can you tell us about your Masters project?
“My Masters project is about the combination of art. I love classical music, however, it seems that I am the only one among my friends who enjoys it. I want to discover the reason behind this, and to express classical music by means of visual design. My target audience is people aged between 20 and 39. Although they already have preconceptions about it, it will be easier for me to stand in their shoes and gather research for people in the same age group as myself.”

What do you enjoy most about your course at NTU?
“There are many resources and techniques that we can use, such as risograph printing, screen printing, and debossing and embossing. I rarely saw these techniques used when I was doing my Bachelors degree in Taiwan. Our studio is really nice and fully equipped with Macs and nice printers. We can easily buy art utensils in the School’s art shop, and print magazines in NTU’s print shop. I also love the teaching methods as they are mostly workshops.

“Creative thinking is formed by one’s experiences and communication with others, and you can’t jump straight ahead to the solution. Instead, you should think outside the box to explore more and get inspired. With the new techniques I’ve learned from my workshops, I’ve made some great progress. Also, I have learned how to push the boundaries of visual design, through trial and experimentation, and testing it on audiences.”

What made you choose to study at NTU?
“I got my Bachelor in Graphic Design back in Taiwan and I am passionate towards the subject, and wanted to learn more about it. Also, NTU’s School of Art & Design was ranked really highly and has a good reputation. They also highly value the visual design process. There are also lots of resources to support students with assignments and experiments.”

What do you think about the facilities available to you?
“The library is open 24-7, and there is even a dedicated room for postgraduate students. In addition to course materials, the library also offers guidance on critical thinking, and using references.”

As an international student, what do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?
“I think Nottingham is a great place to study, as the city isn’t too big or too small. You can find everything you need here. The weather here is pleasing, mostly sunny. There are also some fantastic oriental restaurants downtown, with reasonable prices and great quality of food.”

Why would you recommend your course to someone thinking of studying MA Graphic Design?
“NTU has great resources and my tutor has been really helpful, and always gives me great advice or guidance for my project. The workshop experiences are quite thoughtful and interesting. We don’t have to hand in a dissertation; instead we put our time and effort into experimenting and exploring more about the field of design.”

How do you think the course, and having a postgraduate qualification, will help you to progress your career?
“The course will definitely help me a lot in my future career. I came here straight after I graduated from my BA degree. I now have some work and internship experiences that I can combine with my study here at NTU.”