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The University of Reading gives students more than what’s taught in the classroom. Caroline Teng made the most of every opportunity that came her way: she studied abroad, took part in the Real Jobs scheme, and landed a full-time design job before she even graduated.

Why Caroline chose Reading

Caroline's passion for graphic design evolved from her fascination with hand lettering and the interaction between type and image. 

She chose to study BA Graphic Communication at Reading because of the Department’s expertise in typography.

Studying interactive animation in Germany

As part of Reading's study abroad programme, Caroline carried out three months of digitally-focused work in media design. Studying at Duale-Hochschule Baden-Württemburg in Germany gave her the flexibility to expand her knowledge while experiencing a new country.  

"I definitely learned a lot going to a country where English isn't their first language. I chose to work on interactive animation projects. Seeing the German students' work opened my eyes to a whole new world of design, and their grounded, realistic briefs and solutions really inspired me."

Gaining real-life design experience

Caroline used her skills to carry out work for clients within the University, as part of the Department's Real Jobs scheme. This experience influenced her career choices, as she was able to gather relevant real-world design experience while she was studying. 

"It was through Real Jobs that I learned designing for designers is very different from designing for consumers. It revealed to me that I enjoy designing for a community that cares about the value of design and is willing to invest in it."

Starting a design career before graduating

Before her graduation, Caroline had already started her career as a designer at Design Science. 

Here, she’s working with the Creative Director to enable and improve science communication and bring about behavioural change through design. 

Projects so far have included instruction manuals for medical tests, infographics for scientific papers, and a pharmacy campaign to raise awareness on antimicrobial resistance. 

"I would recommend the University of Reading's BA Graphic Communication course to anyone interested in becoming a serious designer.

"Even after graduating, I have heard so much about the outstanding quality of Reading graduates because Reading is serious about design and design research."

 

Emma Beckingsale's story

Emma gained a unique combination of skills and practical experience on her course. Having the chance to work with real clients during her studies led her to enrol on the BBC UX training scheme.

Enjoy small-group teaching and dedicated 24-hour studio spaces. You'll work closely with academics on real-life practical projects.