Student experiences

MPhil/PhD

Peter Spring, MA Design Futures and PhD Design
“I graduated from my first degree in 1992 and became an Art Director in children’s television, working on programmes like ‘Rosie and Jim’ and for a short time, ‘Teletubbies’. I left deciding that I wanted to get back to a more academic approach to design, and but this time was interested in how ideas and trends become almost contagious through cultures. Specifically I was interested in ‘memes’ – units of cultural information.

Because of the encouragement and commitment peculiar to Goldsmiths, I chose to study for an MA in Design Futures, using this in order to develop my thinking and be ready to start reading for a PhD in the same subject area. I was fortunate enough to win the Goldsmiths Design research bursary/scholarship during the first months of my research degree, without which it would have been difficult for me to undertake such a challenge. However, with the help and patience of my tutors and research supervisors who constructively question and offer all-important critical support, I am now in my third and final year research.

Goldsmiths is a warm and friendly and highly creative environment. It offers a safe haven, perfect for anyone who seeks to openly question and test ideas, assumptions and creative practices.”