UNIVERSITY VIEW
TRADITIONAL UK art and design schools, with their long-lasting and world-leading reputation, occasionally come in for a bashing as being too fanciful and not focused enough on skills needed in industry for the contemporary age.
At Cardiff School of Art & Design, we’re certainly proud of a record of success that is historical as well as contemporary. We are in essence a traditional art and design school, but in answer to critics who champion STEM subjects, we say that what we do here is STEAMD – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, but with the crucial creative ingredients of Art and Design.
Our curriculum is innovative, encouraging trans-disciplinary opportunities. Having more and varied experiences brings more connections that enable creativity. We mix the latest digital technology with traditional techniques, leading to extraordinary outcomes. We’re home to FabLab, part of a worldwide network of creative digital innovation. After 150 years, we’re still at the forefront of creative experimentation.
CSAD graduates are practitioners, entrepreneurs and leaders. They are employable and the employers of the future. We bring our networks and industry contacts into our studios to work with students. Our relationships with the creative sector in Cardiff enables our students to show their work all over the city, in pop-up spaces as well as established galleries, and make a contribution to the cultural life of the city.
Our students take part in live projects set up by the many companies we work with and gain experiences that will help them become highly employable (we have a 96% employability record) or prepared for selfemployment once they graduate.
Our teaching is research-led, our research world-class. It bridges art and science, design and wellbeing. Students’ ideas are a big part of that.
We think a degree in a creative subject is good value – it provides experiences and opportunities that are future-proof. In 10 years, 60% of graduates will work in jobs that don’t exist yet.
We want to be citizens of the world. Our partnerships with industry and international organisations such as the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology are so productive and offer benefits to the collaborating businesses as well as contributing to a wider culture.
We think globally and act locally. We are agents for positive change.
To be a leading a school of art and design in a capital city – the third most popular European city with its citizens – gives us a huge advantage. Wales’ capital is a great place to work, live and study.
Cardiff also has a distinctive culture and is one of few places with two official languages.
The stimulating cultural offer that Cardiff brings as a capital city – combined with its thriving creative industry base and a beautiful and accessible wealth of natural environment on the doorstep – is what makes Cardiff so special.
Personally, I get my reward from seeing others succeed. Leadership for me is based on creating an environment where people are encouraged to actively participate in a learning environment. It’s great to be able to respond positively to good ideas, whether they come from staff or students.
The buzz here is something that visitors notice immediately when they enter our spaces. I’m a designer by background, so problem-solving is where I feel I am really making a difference.
At CSAD, there are so many exciting projects in the pipeline. We have extended our portfolio of courses recently, so you can now study animation, interior design and fashion design with us too.
Many of our major research projects have the potential to be lifechanging, especially when artists and designers collaborate with scientists. We are a hotbed of good ideas and innovation, and are always interested in evolving and developing new connections.