My Dutch friend and I are exchange students in the 3rd Year Graphic Design program. Our tutor had invited us to attend a 4th Year Presentation today to get us more familiar with the program here. After, we both also hoped to speak with him about what our projects would be and what our schedule would be. We both arrived at the presentation and were introduced to everyone. The 3rd & 4th Years share a studio so even though we're not technically in the same class we will be seeing these folks around. The presentation was essentially an informal crit. The 4th Years have some sort of show coming up so they were showing their progress on that project in particular. Everyone has very different projects and only some are working on the same brief. As was explained in my meeting after, every term there are new project briefs. They write new ones every year and the students choose which briefs to work on. Looking at this term's schedule we will be doing 2 projects. However, when it is time for a new project there will be fresh briefs as well. They go through a lot of project briefs here that's for sure. It's kind of nice to think the professors always need to be thinking of new/better projects. It's also nice that every student will leave school with a very different portfolio, between being in a different year and answering different briefs. Hearing about all the different projects was very interesting. They're really innovative, some are even based on designing for the future and future technology. It was definitely great to sit in on.
After the presentation, my friend and I talked to our tutor and coordinated meeting after lunch. Fortunately, we didn't have to go far because the school has a real nice eatery downstairs. Lots of familiar burger & fries type choices at a good price. Got myself a tasty chicken sandwich with chips (french fries). Then we went back upstairs to meet with our tutor. He explained our 3 briefs and told us we only needed to choose one. We can really only choose from 2 because one requires the letterpress workshop. He said he's already a bit crowded in there but this same brief will be offered for project 2 if we're interested. I didn't even look at the brief and I'm interested! I definitely want to take advantage of the fact that there is a letterpress here! He went over our schedule (we don't have a crit until next Friday Jan 18) and gave us a quick tour. The school also has it's own textile printer that we have access to. It's not screenprinting, it's essentially a printer that prints your design straight on the fabric. I also have to find an excuse to use this machine :)
After this my friend and I walked back to where I live and the rest of the school buildings are located. The international office is holding a reception for all the international students tonight so she'll hang out in this part of town for that. We did a bit of necessary shopping. Now that we finally have a studio desk and our assignments, we needed some school and design supplies. I looked up the local art store and we went to buy some sketchbooks we could start working in. Then we needed school/office supplies. She wanted to go to a place called "Tiger". I had walked by it a few times and never been inside. I admired well-designed objects through the front window but avoided going in, thinking it would be expensive. Instead we go in and I am pleasantly surprised that they have EVERYTHING and it's affordable Best of all it's gorgeous Scandinavian design, my favorite! I suppose Tiger can be compared to Ikea in that way, great design made affordable. However instead of furniture, Tiger specializes in the smaller trinkets that fill a home. It was awesome and I can tell I'm going to do as much shopping in there as possible. I tried to restraint myself so I just grabbed scissors, a small stapler, a map of Europe and some snacks. I found some rice cakes with a layer of chocolate when my friend pointed out some wafer-looking things called Dutch Waffles. I tried one and OH MY GOSH! Where have these things been all my life?!? I see an addiction in the making. Between stroopwafel and Tiger itself....oh my.
My 2nd souvenir: a map which I will mark with all the places I go!
The delightful Stroopwafels (I don't have any at this point so Wikipedia to the rescue!)
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