Graphic Designer
I survived the foundation course, happily with the top marks, which also earned me a voucher for one of Manchester’s academic book shops. I knew exactly the title of a book that I wanted; one that I’d noted on the desks of some older students. Graphic Design: Visual Comparisons by Fletcher/Forbes/Gill. Those guys were among the stars of the design world at the time (Alan Fletcher and Colin Forbes would go on to form Pentagram in 1972).
It was the start of another term. This time I knew where I wanted to go. I joined the other survivors of the foundation-year, ready for some design learning in earnest. Quite a few of our previous group, including Mick and Pete, had made the cut. There was also a handful of new students. A couple had completed their foundation at other colleges, including Art, a Dutch guy who was here avoiding his national service. Then there was one face we knew, Pawel. Older than the rest he’d already completed the first year of the Dip course, but failed and been held back to try again.
Our course tutor was new, not just to us, but also to the college. He’d studied in Glasgow and worked in interior design (part of the plan to broaden the course?).
He handed out our new timetables. There was a buzz of real interest as we studied them. I noted the ‘real’ graphic design subjects – typography, photography, technical drawing, printmaking etc. Some expected items such as History of Art, English, and Design Method filled out the curriculum. Then there were surprising and curious additions – including Psychology and Professional Practice for Designers!
It took a while to get into the swing of the year. The start of term is always busy with freshers’ week and other social interruptions, added to the avalanche of new subjects and new tutors and lecturers to be introduced. We were it by the recruiting sergeants of the various union societies, from the chess society to the caving club. There were great opportunities to pursue new activities, or built upon current interests and hobbies. I started with what I had some experience of. I signed up for the drama society, and joined the climbing club. I also put my name down for the rugby club. As I approached the membership desk, I was filled with foreboding. Salford kids did not grow big on bread and dripping. Playing with my peers I could play in most positions, even hooker. But as I stood at the club table, I was getting neck ache looking up at the encouraging recruiters. I realise that if I joined I would be competing for places with private-school boys who regularly consumed more protein over breakfast than I had in a week. Worse, for some strange reason, the college attracted a fair proportion of students from far-flung corners of the Commonwealth. They were big. No, they were giants! I put my name down taking some solace that their vitamin D levels would be severely depleted by my native atmosphere.
My main extracurricular passion was (and still is), music. I played in local folk clubs and with a few bands. I had assumed there would be a college folk club or society. But when I enquired the response was negative… but with an enthusiastic; “It would be great if you would start one?” More of that later. Back to design.
Just my type
Work and play
The lure of fine art
Many of our tutors and lecturers had originally studied fine art, in fact some were practising artists, teaching to subsidise their artwork. We had access to the drawing, painting and printmaking studios. So we exploited the opportunity to develop our fine art skills alongside the staff.
Work experience
I was to learn that our college had an excellent reputation and had little problem finding interesting work placements. However, I realised they were selective about which students were placed where.
Graduation
Let’s be honest, a good many art students are not committed to hard work. The upside is, that design is actually fun and engaging so it doesn’t feel like hard work. It didn’t then and many decades later it still doesn’t. But most of us tend to work at a steady pace throughout the year. However, the final year focuses the mind and throws any shortcomings into sharp contrast.