MA Creative Practice student, Robyn Barratt, tells us about her experience on the course and getting her dream job as an interior designer.

What made you choose this course?

Prior to my MA, I was studying for my degree, and gaining hands-on experience as an interior designer was my main focus. I wanted to stay close to my home town, Knaresborough, during studying, to allow me to focus on finding a job within the field. My degree led me on to my MA course alongside working full-time, so again I wanted a local flexible place to study. I also built a good relationship with the college so it made sense to stay there for my next educational step. 

How was your experience on this course?

The tutors at Harrogate College are more than happy to help. The staff in the workshop (especially Chris Poole) are so helpful and try to find a solution to any problem you come across. 

What were your main achievements?

My main achievement throughout this MA has been creating seven pieces of furniture from scratch. In my everyday job I create visual furniture and gaining skills for the physical side of furniture-making has been a huge learning curve.

How did you become an interior designer?

While studying BA Hons Interior Design, I knew how important first-hand experience would be so I made a list of every interior design showroom in Harrogate and determinedly went around handing out a CV and a small portfolio. This led to a job with a small interior design firm where I worked for over three years. 

Tell us a bit more about your role.

My role as an interior designer consists of designing client spaces; whether this is a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen or cinema room. I am involved with the full customer experience from taking their details to going out and measuring the space, creating a presentation of what the new space will look like and pricing this up accordingly. I specialise more in the design side where I create realistic CGIs (computer generated images) so the customer can see a realistic visual of what their new space will look like. 

What inspires your work?

I keep up-to-date with trends and network with reps to find out the latest products. This keeps my designs fresh and full of new ideas. Customers also can inspire my work with particular briefs that I wouldn’t come across every day. 

What’s next for you?

From leaving school I started my degree and then straight on to my master’s. I love education, however I am excited to have the chance to focus mainly on my career as there is still a lot to learn within the field of interior design. VR (virtual reality) is something which has become more popular over the last few years which is something I will consider learning about soon.  

Harrogate College celebrated the work of its MA Creative Practice students with exhibits from students from year 1 and 2 of this part-time course, featuring the work of artist in residence for 2018 -19, Angela Hall.

The college welcomed the mayor and mayoress of Harrogate to the event which made it extra special. They expressed their admiration for the high quality work and diversity of creative practice on display and offered their continuing commitment to supporting the Higher Education art and design courses at Harrogate College.

Danny Wild, the new principal of the college commented on the high standard of work and took the opportunity to talk to students about their experiences on the course.

MA Creative Practice offers a diverse collection of art practice and the show was indicative of that extraordinary diversity with students producing an extremely high calibre of work across their specialist fields.

Photographer Christopher Mainprize showed his mesmerising landscape photographs where he created photo-impressionistic pictures, embracing alternative ways of depicting time and space in a photographic based medium.

Stacey Sinclair, another photographer, utilised traditional analogue photography and historic dark room techniques to create two series which explored General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and depression. Her photographs are hauntingly beautiful hand-painted art pieces.

Robyn Barratt in complete contrast focused on millennials who in the future might adopt a more positive attitude towards the threat of ‘stuffocation’. She designed furniture of the future that would be returned to a warehouse where items are upcycled and recycled to reproduce new furniture which is on trend and incorporates up-to-date technology.

Sasha Bilbija’s final MA exhibition was a sensory and hyper-real showcase influenced by 19th century design theory and her son Theo, who has autism. The colourful and lively designs were a playful modern interpretation of iconic patterns by William Morris.

And finally, Gordon Wheatley’s intention with his Aerial photography was to show how nature if left alone was reclaiming disused industrialised areas. By using drones he showed these landscapes from a different perspective.

Also attending were alumni of the college now working on their own professional practice and students taking up places on the course this year.

Simon Hill who has done various photography workshops with the students in 2018-19 kindly offered to take photographs of the evening for the college.

The exhibition is open for viewing at the college until 13 September.

Harrogate College which has been part of the Hull College Group since 2008 will officially join the Luminate Education Group, one of the largest further education providers in the North, on 1 August 2019.

Committed to providing its 26,000 students and the 1400 full and part-time students at Harrogate College with the best education, Hull College Group, which provides a wide range of vocational courses for students aged 14-upwards in further education, higher education and adult education undertook a rigorous four-stage process to identify a suitable successor.

Luminate Education Group, which includes Leeds City College, Keighley College, Leeds College of Music and the White Rose Academies Trust, was chosen as it offered a further and higher education provision plus a wide range of vocation courses which will support and complement the education programmes at Harrogate College.

All 164 staff from Harrogate College will transfer to Leeds City College and Hull College Group will be working closely with Luminate Education Group to ensure a smooth transition. It will be business as usual at Hull College Group which includes Hull College and Goole College with no impact on staff and students.

Michelle Swithenbank, CEO at Hull College Group said: “We are handing over a strong local college which is in good health, to Luminate. We wish Harrogate College every future success.

“We’re focused on growing Hull College and Goole College and continuing to provide the best education and to serve our local communities.”

Colin Booth, CEO at Luminate Education Group said: ““Welcoming Harrogate College to the group is another step forward and will mean benefits for both students and staff. This news will mean that the Luminate Education Group has responsibility for 30,000 students in total, further proving our role in nurturing the skills for the future in Yorkshire, and beyond.”

Kevin Williams, Principal at Harrogate College said: “Harrogate College has benefited from the expertise of Hull College Group over a number of years. There is great opportunity for Harrogate College in the Luminate Group arising from geographic proximity and the opportunity to share best practice across the group. Our recent campus redevelopment, alongside this news, puts us in great shape for the future.”

The plans have been assessed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the Further Education (FE) Commissioner, with the official move from Hull College Group taking place with effect from 1 August 2019.