Ryan McGinley

What MA Course did you study with us and when did you graduate?

I studied MA Design, choosing to specialise in Industrial Design. I graduated in December 2010.

Why did you choose Northumbria School of Design, and what did you know about us before you applied?

I had a few options available to me; I looked at RCA, Delft Design & Engineering, and UMEA Institute of Design.  I was awarded a scholarship from the Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and had the luxury to look at different institutions.  I knew about the famous design alumnus and the great new facilities available at the school.  I spoke to a few lecturers and was sold quite easily on the course

What do you most like about Newcastle, and how do you find the city?

Newcastle is a great place to live.  There is always something happening in and around the Design School.  Be it with course-mates or directly design related in the school.  I personally lived in Jesmond (a 20 min walk away from school) and enjoyed the lifestyle that part of town had on offer. 

How do you find the cost of living in Newcastle?

Newcastle is very economic for students; rent and socialising are much cheaper than the south of England.  

How do you find your tutors and the staff within the School?

The tutors I leaned on most were Andy Tennant and Joyce Yee, both had differing views, but both were equally valuable.  I was inspired constantly from speaking with my tutor Andy, and would often return to the library researching new and different subjects that I initially thought to be of no immediate interest.  I was constantly pushed outside of my comfort zone, something I grew to like. 

What do you like most about the School of Design?

I liked the minds it attracts.  The cross-cultural diversity of ideas was truly inspiring.  I have friends all across the globe as a result.

Tell me a bit about your course?

I studied postgraduate MA Design.  It allowed me to work in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams. I believe I got lucky in my teams as I seemed to always be with inspiring people. 

If you had to pick an object to represent your course, what would it be and why?

An upside down chair, because you should look at everything anew.  Things we come into contact with every day should be understood and looked at from a different angle. 

What are the most valuable lessons you have learnt to date during your time with us?

Finding design problems, learning is something you do from experiencing problems in groups, not from listening to lecturers.  Go to the library and try to read everything on the 6th (design) floor.  

If you had 3 words to sum up your time with us what would they be?

Culture, Disruptive, Effort

If you could offer some advice to students thinking of coming to study here what would you say?

Go to Northumbria but have an open mind and be open to working on subjects that might not be directly related to what you had wanted to work on.  Expand your horizons and be open to change. 

What are your plans now and for the future?

I had to finish my dissertation project early to take a job at PA Consulting in Cambridge as an Industrial Designer.