Student Profiles
Student Interviews
Johanna Elise Oja
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Alkesh Makwana
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Russell Hinton
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Russell and Alkesh
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Mina Nishimura
Student Profiles
Chris Pallaris - Multimedia Design and Technology
Chris Pallaris was awarded a 3D animation excellence award in the Computer Arts graduate showcase for his final year project on Japanese culture following a study visit to Japan.
Since graduating Chris has worked for Amazon as a graphics designer for online and offsite promotions for UK, French and German locales, then Microsoft as a user experience and art designer and is now a freelance designer.
Paul Croft – graduated in Multimedia Technology and Design in 2005
Paul started a new game development company called Mediatonic with fellow student David Bailey that employs over 30 staff and has developed over 100 titles for clients such as SEGA, Lego, Disney, EA and Nintendo.
Razel Villanueva: BSc Multimedia Technology & Design, 2012/2013 final year
Placement Year: 2011/2012
Company Name: Samsung, Service Department
Salary Paid: £18,000
Job Title: Web Coordinator
I found out about this opportunity from the Careers and Placement Office at Brunel, it was posted in the Placement folder in u-link, and I received an e-mail reminder which I found really helpful, so I knew when new job offers were available that catered to my skills. The Careers and Placement Office was very supportive and helped me improve my CV and how to prepare for interviews.
My main role was to maintain the official Samsung UK website and make sure it ran smoothly, and fix any problems, as well as report on it on a weekly basis. Throughout the year my responsibilities changed. As the company became more aware of what I was capable of, they started to give me important projects and I ended up facilitating meetings with Korean guests from HQ.
I was so nervous at first as this was my first corporate job and I wanted to make a good impression. So I spent the first couple of months being really shy and just listening and analysing colleagues’ attitudes, attire and what we were and weren't allowed to do. Gradually, as I came to realise that my colleagues as well as the managers were really down to earth and genuine people, I started to come out of my shell and became more confident to be myself around them.
At first, I wasn't given that much responsibility as all I had to do was check my e-mail, check the website and report on any problems. I waited till someone gave me something to do. However as time went on and I became more confident in myself, the responsibility just happened naturally and I ended up creating tasks and arranging meetings for myself rather than waiting for someone to tell me what to do. My manager and director realised this, and started to give me important responsibilities such as completing important monthly KPI's, supervising and providing training. Before I knew it, the responsibilities started to pile up and it felt overwhelming at first as this level of responsibility exceeded my expectations, but I was happy that the team started to rely on me a lot more.
The company did look after me very well and the people there were all very understanding and patient with me whenever I had a question. They provided me with a mentor, but I seldom contacted her as the team I was entrusted to, were all like mentors to me. Whenever I had a specific problem I knew exactly who to go to and they were always willing to help, so I had more than enough support from them. In one sense the company threw us in the deep end, and we had to learn quickly otherwise we'd be consumed by the workload. We all managed somehow, but the support we received at the beginning exceeded my expectation as they did not treat us as interns, but equal colleagues.
I did not receive any set goals by Brunel other than to make sure my placement tutor visits me on a regular basis, provided feedback so I can complete my coursework. Also, I had to do an oral presentation before the end of my placement on what I have accomplished during the year. My placement tutor was John Cosmas and he visited me twice in the year. The second time was when I delivered the oral presentation.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Samsung, and I am grateful for the experience as it has put my future career into perspective. The role I had in Samsung was very technical and had very little design tasks allocated to me. Therefore, I am hoping in the future I will get the opportunity to demonstrate my creativity to balance with the technical aspect. I don't want my role to be restricted to one or the other, as I enjoy both aspects. I met a lot of genuine people in Samsung and even though I may not keep regular contact with them in the future, I consider them all valuable friends who have supported me during my time in the company. To this day I still keep in contact with my immediate team and line manager who still invites me to non-work related events.
There were a lot of perks to my job and as Samsung is a global company there were a lot of internal and external events, giving us opportunities to try out new products, partners’ products, freebies, deals and rewards. During everyone's birthdays the whole department would give you a card, present and sing to you, whilst during Christmas there's a formal dining event. Finally, there's a staff discount portal that allows you to purchase Samsung products at special discounts.
In respect to obtaining a job with them afterwards, I did not receive any formal contract with Samsung on a specific role as departments and teams can change in a year’s time. However my Department, director and HR were very keen for my return after graduation, and I hope that there will be a job available for me that caters to my future aspirations.
Samsung gave me the opportunity to grow as a person, as well as put my future into perspective. It's an invaluable experience that taught me to believe in myself and gave me a newfound confidence to pursue my dream career.
Marija Tiurina: Multimedia Design and Technology
Placement Year: 2011/2012
Company Name: Mediatonic
Job Title: Games Artist/Animator
Salary paid: £14000
I am a 3rd year Multimedia Design and Technology student. I undertook placement in a Central London-based games design studio called Mediatonic.
This opportunity was provided with the help of Brunel Careers and Placement office, which I am very grateful for, as it was a brilliant chance ! The Director of Mediatonic came to Brunel to talk to the students about what the company does, and what is included in the placement offer.
I applied immediately and was among the first students on my course who were invited to join the company for a placement year. I could only take up the offer if the placement was paid, which it was, as I had to financially support myself whilst doing my University course.
My salary was 14k, which is enough to be able to afford to live in London.
My contract stated that my role in the company would be "Games Artist/Animator", however I spent most of my time creating still images for the games. My activities involved creating whole new worlds, environments and characters for the games, as well as being able to quickly create eye-catching pitch and concept art. Every task I was given was enjoyed immensely - it let me express my creativity, and get amazing experience whilst working for industry giants like EA, Disney, GREE and others. Obviously, before starting my job I was slightly nervous, which is natural for someone inexperienced to be introduced into a whole new environment. However, quite soon I realised that this was a perfect place for a placement student to work at, as I was always well looked after, supported, listened to and given help when needed, which made me feel relaxed and confident.
I was visited by my personal tutor a number of times, and there were tasks and assignments to be fulfilled and submitted throughout the year, such as a company essay, design report and placement presentation.
I am sure that choosing a sandwich course was one of the most important decisions I made - it helped me gain some experience, clearly showed how the industry works, and gave me an idea of what I could be doing after graduation.
One more important thing to mention is that the company was not only a group of professionals I worked with, but also an amazing team of unique talented individuals whom I could always rely on.
This placement changed a lot in my life, and might have even been a starting point of my future career, and it was mentioned that I might be welcome to re-join the team after graduating.
A university placement is a great opportunity which every student should seriously consider - it might commence a whole new chapter of your life.
Hugh Wyeth graduated BSc Multimedia technology and Design July 2010
I chose Brunel because I had seen it featured in the Computer Arts magazine graduate showcase several times and my Design Technology teacher had completed a Design course at Brunel too. It was also one of the few universities that offered a Multimedia (media technology) and Design course at the time.
In the first year we covered most digital design topics which was a great way of figuring out what area I wanted to specialise in. By the end of the second year I had decided to concentrate on digital 3D modelling and animation and sought a placement in that area. I was lucky enough to get a paid placement at Mediatonic, a company run by Brunel Multimedia graduates. I was the sole 3D artist in the company and worked as primary artist on a number of large projects, for clients as diverse as Universal and Pixar. It was a great experience and prepared me for my final year at Brunel and proved to be a great help in being employed after graduating.
For my final year project, I decided to make a short 3D film about my dog, Rosie. I chose to do this as it would allow me to use all my knowledge in 3D to produce something I could use in job applications after graduating. I used 3D studio max and Mudbox to create and render the animation and then After Effects to composite the shots and finally Final Cut Studio to edit them together.
I loved my time at Brunel. The tutors and lecturers were very warm and easy to talk to and had a lot of time for us. The facilities at the university were incredible, by far the best I've seen in any university and it removed the usual technical barriers present in other universities, allowing us to pursue any ideas for our projects.
I'm now employed as an Architectural Visualiser at Foster and Partners, a large architecture practice in London.
I think students should choose Multimedia at Brunel because it can nurture any aspirations they have and support any idea with great resources and teacher support. At the end of the course, you'll be one of the most employable graduates too!
"Hugh works for an Architectural Visualiser at Foster and Partners, one of the largest architecture firms in the world. He produces 3D animations for pitches, competitions and concept building designs and has worked on projects for clients ranging from Bloomberg to the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority."
Marija Tiurina, current Level 2 Multimedia Design and Technology student (October 2010)
I am a second year Multimedia Technology and Design student within the School of Engineering and Design in Brunel University. I have always been interested in Art and Design in general, however I decided to dedicate myself to Digital Art and Design rather than Fine Arts. This choice has lead me to Brunel - the University with amazing teaching standards, spotless reputation and one of the strongest Engineering and Design Schools in the UK.
On arrival at Brunel, I was surprised to find that the equipment required for my course, the teaching standards and the educational system in general was better than I had ever expected them to be. One aspect I found amazing was feeling safe and confident, as you can ask for help anywhere and anytime, as well as receive support on anything you need. The atmosphere within the University is filled with a unique feeling of trust and belonging, which creates that warm feeling of 'being at home'.
I have applied for a sandwich course, which includes an industry placement in the third year. I think it is a brilliant opportunity for those willing to gain experience of working in industry and to come back to the final year of the course with confidence. The choice of companies to work with during the placement year is enormous thanks to the Placement and Careers Centre, which is always there to help you find the best placement possible. Working hard during the second year of the course will allow me to find a successful placement during my third year. I already had some placement experience in the Summer of my first year at Brunel thanks to the collaboration between Brunel and the Windsor Fellowship Organisation. Under the latter scheme, a number of students underwent training sessions and were then incorporated into the secondary school system. Here I was able to have my very first teaching experience at a London school. I was a teaching assistant within a school’s Design and Technology Department, observing the studies, delivering parts of the lessons and getting involved in the school life, which I saw as a "melting pot" of different cultures, various backgrounds and unique personalities.
A great thing about Brunel is that there is always a chance to express yourself and show your work to the crowd. There are a number of contests held each year and students are encouraged to participate, as it is a great opportunity not only to introduce yourself and share your experience, but also to top-up your experience portfolio which will be a vital part of your future career. I had a chance to take part in the "Design in Brunel" competition during my first year, and was awarded first place within the "Digital image" category. I think it was a great experience of testing my design skills, whilst being encouraged to continue my studies.
The Multimedia Technology and Design course at Brunel was a great choice and I am sure that the best part of my student life is still ahead, as the course gets more and more exciting. If you have a desire to gain excellent knowledge in one of the best modern UK universities, if you love Digital Arts and wish to join one of the most progressive industries in the modern world, you will always be welcome at Brunel University.
In July 2008 Jason Peacock graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Multimedia Technology and Design BSc
"I came to Brunel with a double award AVCE in ICT, an A-level in Business and an A/S level in Media Studies. When looking for a multimedia course I searched the UCAS database for a university with a good reputation and which offered a course that covered a wide range of disciplines. This search wasn’t simply aimed at London based universities, but across the UK.
Multimedia Technology and Design at Brunel offered a much broader course outline and a wider selection of modules than many of the other universities I came across. I visited the university and the department on a UCAS Open Day, where I had the luxury of talking to an academic who was actually teaching on the course and who was very pro-multimedia.
My interview was much more than someone simply pointing out aspects of the prospectus and instead I felt it was much more personalised and tailored to my needs, which was unlike the automated response and generic interviews I had experienced in other university interviews. The special attention I received in my interview was one of many reasons that I chose Brunel.
The course was brilliant. Quite surprising was that a lot of my peers were from an art background, but the good thing about the course is that it allows you to start at any point of skill base, and in the first few months of teaching everyone is brought up to speed so they are comfortable with both the hardware and software packages used on the course.
For those that have come from an art background they can be rest assured that this course accommodates any skill set, even those that have not used a computer before. The starting point for all students is the basics in Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash. These applications provide the most fundamental toolkit that any student will need to succeed in multimedia.
HTML coding can be a bit daunting to begin with, but it’s with programs such as Flash and Director that students can begin to explore what the Internet offers them. Supporting this self-exploration of the Internet, the course and lecturers encourage students to embrace and immerse themselves in emerging technologies and initiates such as can be found with “Open Source” communities.
Initially used in relation to software Open Source now describes a development methodology, which offers practical accessibility to a product's source (goods and knowledge) for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge http://www.opensource.org/. One of the most contemporary examples of how powerful Open Source projects can be is found with a recent movie release entitled “Big Buck Bunny” http://www.bigbuckbunny.org/ created by designers worldwide using an open source software package “Blender”, which is a free 3D modelling program http://www.blender.org/.
One of the modules I particularly enjoyed in my final year was Emergent Technologies as it acknowledges that media is ever changing and requires a great deal of time and effort to keep up to date. The department’s green screen studio, high definition cameras and editing suites are prime examples of how the department stays at the cutting edge of the latest technological advancements and how student work and research can influence crucial decisions in new facilities.
The course is designed to continually stretch and challenge students. This is seen in both the brilliant facilities which almost invite students to say: “What can’t I achieve?”, and the course itself, which is always inspiring you to take your work to the next level.
Another interesting aspect about the course was a brilliant module all about business planning and legal advice. At the time of studying the module I didn’t fully understand or appreciate why we had a business module on a Multimedia course, but this all became clear when we looked into the dangers faced by Multimedia professionals in respect to copyright, intellectual property rights and protection. Thus my advice to new students is never shun a module. Instead embrace each module, no matter what it is about, as they are all relevant to your future success!
On my placement year I worked for a television graphics company called Wurmser. It was a paid twelve month placement and, on interview, I saw that the company offered so much more in comparison to other companies, e.g. they had a good reputation, provided brilliant facilities and had strong relationships with the likes of the BBC, SKY and ITV.
I first started there working as a graphic designer, but within the first few months the 3D Designer left and I was given the job of producing work for the ITV’s Formula One Grand Prix coverage. So my role became that of a 2D/3D Motion Graphics Designer. It was very challenging and I had a huge responsibility, with a big company to answer to if I failed! On top of my primary duties I also produced a company website, provided IT support and created interactive DVDs amongst other things.
As I became comfortable in my role as a designer I also got involved in graphics operating e.g. taking the graphics I’d created, inserting a name and then superimposing that graphic onto live footage.
Having worked with companies like ITV, BBC and SKY I came back from the placement year with such huge drive and motivation. I felt the placement was a module on the course itself but a “real world” module. Owing to this real world aspect, I grew up in a year and came back a totally different person.
My final year project was a “Music Video Showcase”, which used the premise of a music video to showcase my abilities across the various disciplines I’d covered in my studies. The project took me five months from the initial idea of a music video; four months taken up by the animation and one month in research and the development of my ideas.
The workflow for the video began with hand-drawn illustrations that were then scanned into a PC, manipulated within Adobe Illustrator and finally composited within Adobe After Effects. My video lasted four-and-a-half minutes. Prior to this, I had only produced a 17 second animation! Just to put the whole project into perspective, a second of animation consists of 25 separate frames/images.
Given the scale of the project I put a great deal of time and effort into researching both traditional and the more contemporary animation techniques in an attempt to bring the old analogue workflow into a digital age.
The final animation received a huge amount of attention from both within and outside of the university. To name just a few it first appeared in the Computer Arts Graduate Showcase 2008 (Issue 150) where it received the “Award of Excellence” in the Animation category. It was then featured both at the Made in Brunel and the New Designers graduate exhibition, where I competed with thousands of students and eventually claimed the Hallmark Cards PLC Award, which consisted of a cash prize and a four week placement at Hallmark’s international headquarters in Bradford as their first new media animator! For details, see http://www.newdesigners.com/page.cfm/link=86.
Hallmark were interested in how my video was able to convey an emotion and a message through an animation piece, which they hoped I could bring to their range of e-cards amongst other things.
For a closer look at the project, further details can be found here: http://jlponline.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/music-video-showcase/.
The course at Brunel has for me been a life changing experience. To go out in the world with the knowledge gained on the course and the opportunity to do a placement was fantastic.”
Bhavisha Patel graduated in July 2008 in BSc Multimedia Technology and Design
"I liked the fact that the degree brought together loads of different aspects, mainly IT and Design. Other Universities have media courses, but on visiting Brunel and viewing all the facilities e.g. BITLAB, MAC Labs and PC labs, along with the displayed student work, I felt wow!! I could be doing that too! Another positive aspect was the integrated campus; all facilities were located in one place. There was no need to catch a bus from one area to another like many of the other universities required.
Did the course meet my expectations? Yes, and perhaps a bit more. Why? Essentially, because of the diverse ranges of modules taught at level 1 and 2, in addition to the range of software you learnt e.g. Photoshop, 3Ds MAX and Final Cut Pro, to mention just a few.
My A Levels were IT and 3D Product Design. In year 1 we were taught the basic design principles in both lectures and studio workshops and this was reinforced by assignments. Additionally these were re-iterated with further expansion in year 2. Together these principles provided a solid foundation on which your own individual design styles started to develop. There were many assignments, thus they quickly helped you develop good time management skills. Some lecturers demonstrated their enthusiasm for the teaching material through their style of lecturing and delivery. In particular, the lecturer teaching Databases for Multimedia Applications was always enthusiastic and approachable for extra help if needed. I found this module helped me immensely with my final year project.
My Final Year Project was called “OCO - Office Colleague Orientation”. This was an online interactive induction application, which enabled new employees to explore their office environment and colleagues before starting work. The tool exploited MySql, PHP, Flash ActionScript, 3Ds Max and Video. The project idea arose whilst working in my placement company. It was here I began to realise that all employees had different experiences when first joining the company. Some came in to roles and were introduced to their direct colleagues, but felt rather isolated in respect to the bigger company picture e.g. other departments, and positions in those departments. After researching new employee data and turnover rates, I found that employees make a decision to stay within the company, within the first few months of joining. Thus, my idea was to produce an orientation package, which would be delivered to new employees via a web based application, as soon as they had signed their job contract. The specific programme I developed was created from the information I gathered on my placement year. Aspects making up the programme include the physical location of meeting rooms and facilities, departmental overviews and colleague introductions with pictures. On the whole this programme aimed to help new employees have a smooth and comfortable transition process when joining a new company. Therefore, in the long run helped companies reduce their new employee turn over rates.
Why should applicants choose Brunel? Well, many things: one amazing aspect was the diversity of culture at Brunel and the broad range of students you could meet. Additionally all the facilities were available on campus and the university provided a great student life. It was very varied from the gym to dancing classes i.e. salsa to the nights out in the student union. Brunel has been memorable and is definitely an experience I will miss! Finally, the course itself has been challenging, but very exciting! For those who want a varied and hands on degree this is definitely the option to go for."
Karisma Kawol graduated in BSc Multimedia Technology and Design in July 2008
"I came to Brunel University in 2004 with 3 A Levels in Graphic Design, Media Studies and ICT gained from Stanmore Sixth Form College. The reason I chose the Brunel Multimedia Technology and Design degree was because it encompasses a wide range of multimedia and digital aspects, including everything from graphic design using Photoshop and Illustrator, website using HTML and Dreamweaver, animation using Flash and 3D Studio Max, video and sound using Adobe After Effects and other editing software, photography and the list goes on!
One reason I chose Brunel was when visiting on UCAS Open Day I was extremely pleased with the multimedia facilities available and the work displayed. The staff and students were friendly and helpful. The location is ideal being near to the airport, shopping centre and transport e.g. bus and train station, with easy access to London. All these elements encouraged my final decision in choosing the correct university.
Studying at Brunel has been a lovely experience from the start to the end! The lecturers were inspiring, helpful and approachable, complimented by a good sense of humour. The lab facilities were great with the latest software and a range of equipment which was available to rent out at our needs.
runel’s campus fulfils the needs of a student with a huge library, shopping facilities for your daily needs, a pharmacy, cash machines, a cafe, clubs and bars. The campus has a nice natural environment which is lovely to take a walk when you need a break from assignments and studying. Brunel is in an ideal location being walking distance to a shopping distance, close to the airport and easy access to London.
This course has taught me everything I ever wanted to know about Multimedia from effective graphic and web design to how 3D animation works. I used all the elements I had learnt from the course in my final year project titled “Mauritius an Island of many colours”. This was an internet-based promotional tool for Mauritius introducing my branding strategy in the form of various multimedia features. It was a website that aimed not only to promote the island, communicating its culture and natural beauty, but also to help both tourists and businesses in Mauritius. The website was interactive, branding the island and incorporating this in to an interactive media experience. The project utilised my taught skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver and editing software.
I enrolled on a 4 year thick sandwich course, where on my third year I did a work placement at Yell.com and was employed as a graphic designer, producing adverts for the well-known Yellow Pages. This was my first job in my career field of being a designer and my most memorable one to date. Brunel supported me from finding my work placement and also arranging a visiting tutor to see how I was getting on. This work placement helped me boost my confidence in working for a well known company as big as Yell.com, in such a large, office environment. I learnt many valuable skills including team work and how a huge organization functions. I would definitely recommend all students doing a work placement as not only is it a break from studying and allows you to earn money, but also gives a chance to work in your chosen field and increases your job prospects after graduating.
In sum, I chose the Brunel Multimedia degree because the course was not just about graphic design but how it is applied to a range of media like web design, animation, video, 3D and so on. This really appealed to me as it encourages creativity and allows your imagination to come to life during the duration of the course. I liked the fact that the course was not just based on art and sketch books but involved designing digitally using a range of software to include PhotoShop and Illustrator.
During the Final Year Project exhibition (MADE IN BRUNEL) I was approached by a web design company called Webexpectations.com, in which I specifically sought a temporary 6-week contract with them to gain more industrial experience and after that I was to consider full-time employment with them.
I can definitely say that choosing the Multimedia Design and Technology course at Brunel has been a pleasurable experience from the start to the end!"
Karisma's final year project
Amardeep Singh Shakhon and Gurmit Singh Shakhon graduated in July 2007 in BSc Multimedia Technology and Design
Gurmit joined the BSc Multimedia Technology and Design course at Brunel in 2003 after transferring from another University purported to teach Multimedia Computing, but “was essentially a computer science course”. Gurmit’s brother Amardeep was already at Brunel on the same course and encouraged his brother to come to Brunel because the multimedia facilities were exceptional in comparison to the other universities he had seen.
Both brothers felt that Multimedia Technology and Design at Brunel was amazing. Amardeep said “It teaches so many multimedia disciplines under one degree title. On arrival the Dean said we are an institution where you can work and play hard and you can be and achieve pretty much what you want to. That set the scene for me to aspire to do well.”
Speaking about the course Amardeep said “Staff are passionate and they inspire you and through that inspiration make you have an appreciation and respect for academia.“ The brothers also commented on the support that they received from the special needs department. Both being registered dyslexics felt that prior to Brunel they had received little support for this issue. Gurmit was pleased to receive special help with computer facilities and extra time in exams.
Amardeep worked for IBM in Hursley on his industrial placement year as a graphic technician. “It was definitely a great experience there. I won two achievement awards for exceptional personal development and teamwork. No one else had ever achieved 2 awards like this.” After his placement, Amardeep took a second year out to establish a website development company called “Mapleonline.co.uk”. At that time Gurmit was offered a place with Microsoft for 1 year, but the role did not quite fit what he wanted so he joined his brother, using his placement year to help establish the company. Amardeep said “ Our company is based in Riverington Street, Central London. Within 6 months we acquired our own premises and now have a client base of approximately 25 clients. These include MTV, London Fashion Week and Mozafarian (based in Knightbridge).
How did the multimedia course help to establish your company ? Amardeep said “Everything we now use in our successful company was learnt on the course. Multimedia Technology and Design is like a stirring pot with many different modules. The real value of the course is when you link the subjects together. The trick is to see these relations rather than keep them separate. We found company success required us to adopt a flexible and forward-looking approach. The great thing about the multimedia course is that we can at any time diversify. We are keeping our options open whether to diversify into broadcasting, 3D graphics and Game design, web development or sound engineering - the course has given us all these options and rather than restricting ourselves to website development we are now see ourselves as a multimedia solutions company.”
Emma Kingsnorth - Graduated June 2006 in BSc Multimedia Technology and Design
"I studied the 4 year thick sandwich BSc Multimedia Technology and Design course at Brunel. I graduated in Summer 2006.
I was attracted to Brunel because of its great reputation for technology and engineering courses. On looking around Brunel, I was impressed by it's wide range of facilities (academic and otherwise) and its situation was ideal, with easy transport links to both London and home for the weekend.
I really enjoyed my time at Brunel and studying was made easy with so many modern and invaluable facilities. A new, well stocked library provided essential resources to supplement my studies and projects. My department provided an impressive film and video lab, a new and well equipped photo lab, a choice of PC and Mac suites with the latest programs, the high-tech Bit-Lab centre and a range of the latest equipment, all for the use of the students for university or personal projects.
The lecturers were passionate about their subjects and their enthusiastic teaching made lectures and learning enjoyable. Lecturers were always on hand to help further if necessary.
Assignments always provided further learning about a subject and provided a good opportunity to work in teams, use new equipment and visit new places.
Brunel provided a lot of hands-on teaching which was ideally suited to the Multimedia course. Getting to grips with new equipment, learning new programs or sharing experiences with course-mates made for exciting and memorable learning.
I took my year in industry placement at Yell, working as a graphic designer. This year provided me with invaluable experience in time management, new skills and gave me real responsibility for the first time.
My placement gave me a chance to work alongside a number of other Brunel students from other courses. My student colleagues soon became firm friends and we enjoyed getting to know each other professionally and socially. The friends which I made on placement were very important in my final year, where we were able to offer each other support, help and encouragement to strive for a successful year.
My final year project was a major undertaking in my final year. I was quite ambitious in my expectations of myself because I was determined to push myself to learn new skills and create a project I could be proud of.
I created an interactive application called 'switch' which allowed users to find clothes to match the ones they were already wearing.
Creating 'switch' meant that I had to build upon my knowledge of Macromedia Director gained in a second year module, but it was not just skills in programs that were learnt. I also learnt time management skills, how to manage a large-scale project and the importance of sharing skills with others.
My project supervisor provided support whenever I needed it and always found time to discuss any problems or stresses that I might have. He provided professional knowledge of programs which I was using and was able to help me structure my project to ensure I finished it successfully and on time.
The highlight of my final year was Made In Brunel - an exhibition showcasing final year projects by Multimedia, Design and Engineering students. The show was a great success, attracting interest from high profile companies and managers from across the country.
The show was a fantastic experience for all participants and provided opportunities to network, communicate and share ideas in a creative and enthusiastic environment.
My project was picked for press publicity and was featured in a national newspaper, which was a great confidence boost in my abilities.
I was offered a job offer even before I had taken my final year exams and I believe that it was my wide range of skills and experiences, especially those learnt in the undertaking of my final year project that helped me to secure the job which I am working in today.
I work as a Web Designer & Developer, in the New Media department of Yell.
I decided to take the Multimedia course with the ultimate ambition of working in the web industry. Brunel has helped me to realise this ambition and prepared me well for my working life.
Brunel has shaped me into a well rounded, skilled and experienced person, and the great reputation of Brunel University makes me a sort after Multimedia graduate."
Ryan, who studied Multimedia Technology and Design, was sent on a dream mission by the British Museum to help solve the mystery of Theban Tomb 99 in Luxor, Egypt. This is the final resting place of Senneferi, a nobleman who is believed to have invented banking, and whose statue stands in the museum's Egyptian gallery. Using computer graphics, Ryan reconstructed the tomb after digitally photographing similar burial chambers that are in better condition. The images are then be put onto CD, DVD and the internet for educational purposes.
"I have a great interest in ancient history so I contacted the British Museum to see if they had any work for a student with my skills. I thought if I aimed for the stars, I might reach the clouds. This project is just amazing! It will now become part of my final year project and I'd love to do something similar to this when I graduate."
