Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore student, Stefani Yualianto joined on the Study Abroad Textile Design course for seven-weeks at Chelsea College of Arts. In March 2024 NAFA students put on an exhibition displaying the work they created during their seven-week courses.
How was studying abroad in London? What was your favourite thing about the city?
My favourite thing about the city was definitely the people there. It was my first time coming to London and I felt very much welcome by the locals. Small gestures like greetings and well wishes from strangers can truly make a difference in shaping your mornings and mood. There would not be a day when people (mostly strangers) would not greet me with a simple “Have a nice day” or “good morning”.
What is your favourite memory of studying abroad?
My most favourite part was when I travelled and visited several UAL colleges, particularly the ones with fashion courses. I was really happy when I found out that I had access to all the UAL colleges. I did not want to waste this opportunity and decided to spend time in one of the libraries for hours. There's something special about conducting research in a library and discovering information from books firsthand, as it really gives me a different studying experience. Another great memory was spending time with my friends exploring the areas around the different colleges and pretending to be part of the ‘full-time’ students to fully immerse ourselves with the London culture.
What did you enjoy about your classes? What did you think about Chelsea?
I loved the many kinds of equipment provided, rooms and workshops available to all the students at Chelsea. The teachers and UAL students were also very responsive and supportive of their student’s/ peers' growth as designers. Whenever I needed help with the machinery or software, my peers, even those not doing the study abroad programme, were happy to help me figure it out. There was no feeling of favouritism from the lecturers either. So, it really felt like a positive and inclusive space, which undoubtedly enhances the learning experience and contributes to the overall growth and development of aspiring designers.
Can you tell us about a project you were particularly excited about?
We were required to finish one big project for this study abroad program. For the textile students’ assignment, we were assigned to choose a muse and created several textile samples out of it. My muse was Madonna and I really enjoy the overall process of completing the project from the start. As she was born and raised as a catholic as I am, I felt a connection to her, something in common that drove me to actually do my assignment, as well as to study my religion better and do it wholeheartedly. Throughout my research process, I visited churches and museums in London to gain inspiration, as well as getting closer to becoming my own muse, then converted it into the creation of my textile pieces.
This was the first project that I actually enjoyed doing during my studies as it had a lot of information and ideas that I learned through my course but that were not necessarily related to art or design, but rather to my personal growth as an individual.
Gallery
Why did you choose UAL Study Abroad?
I chose to study at UAL because of its renowned reputation as the second-best design university in the world, as well as the long list of talented and successful designers who graduated from this school. This inspired me to believe that UAL culture and environment are proven to successfully guide their students to thrive, connect with one another, explore, and be more exposed towards the design industry.
How do you think your study abroad experience will help you with your future endeavours?
As a designer, I believe that by having different experiences in different places really helped me be more exposed to diverse perspectives and cultural exchanges. This is also why I chose to study in Singapore and London. When one is more exposed to new ideas and has more connections with people, as an individual, they can gain more firsthand information that they might not have gotten without opening themselves up to studying overseas. That is what I feel London and the study abroad experience did for me. I learnt that when I get stuck with my work, there are actually hundreds of ways and ideas on how I can express and expand my artwork for the better. Because of this, I now try my best to be more present, not too caught up with my design and ready to explore where I am and how I can move forward.
What is the most valuable thing you learnt from the experience?
One very valuable lesson I got from this experience is that sometimes it is okay to take a break from your work. As a design student, as I mentioned before, sometimes it’s very hard for me to break the boundaries between my personal life and creating art. A lot of the time, projects felt as a chore, something that I needed to complete, and not a part of my university experience or growth as an artist. In London, with the cultural difference I felt from my hometown, I was influenced to set up a time limit between work and personal growth. I would finish work during the day, then spend my time reflecting and having quality time with my friends and loved ones in the evening. This really helped me maintain the balance and kept me away from being too attached to my work and getting burnout.
Is there anything you want to share with future study abroad students/ future applicants?
I would tell future applicants that they are choosing the right institution and place for their study abroad experience! When I was a kid, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to study in London. Even when I knew I was going to come to London, I was afraid that the people at UAL would treat me differently since I was not a full-time student of theirs, but they didn’t. I really enjoyed every part of the journey: all the ups and downs on my project, the guidance of the lecturers and the amazing, healthy environment I was in throughout my studies. It may be very daunting to finish a whole project in only a couple of months, but thanks to every person met along the way, you will never feel alone or lost. They will help you have the best kind of experience that you could ever ask for in the short period of time.
Would you recommend the experience at UAL?
Yes! I would recommend the experience without a doubt! Most of my friends and I actually are even considering coming back to get our masters in the future. We plan to keep in touch and connect with the people we interacted with throughout our studies. That’s how much my friends and I love UAL! For us NAFA students the 2 months felt too short. If we had given the chance to extend it, we would have probably stayed at UAL throughout the semester or even for a year. UAL, you have my heart.
