Craft MA Entry Essay

I have chosen the Craft MA at the University of Brighton because it is the course that best offers what I am looking for in a masters programme. Having studied furniture design at degree level, I want to use this MA programme to further my furniture design study but not restrict myself to just this form of design. I would like to draw upon my knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes and design furniture that has minimal environmental impact but is still cost effective and marketable. I want to hone my skills and create meaningful contacts with the industry through the University of Brighton. Ultimately, my aim is to be leaving my masters course and going straight into a design job with an ethical company using the skills I have learnt

During my time there I worked on live projects for companies such as Ercol, Isokon +, Suck UK, and the National Trust. In my third year, my design won a competition run with the National Trust to create an outdoor seating area for the public situated at Benjamin Disraeli's home, Hughenden Manor. During this time I worked closely with the National Trust team felling trees from the local woodland and milling planks for bench tops. These were then used in the seating exhibition which was called the Rings of Life and lasted three months. It was a huge success and was opened by the Mayor of High Wycombe and enjoyed by the public throughout

The Greenwood Guild is a traditional woodworking school teaching people a variety of traditional woodworking skills such as spoon carving, bowl carving, axe forging, pole lathe woodturning, oak framing and joinery. During my time with the Greenwood Guild I gained knowledge of traditional wood working methods and timber as a resource. I learnt a great deal about coppicing and using low impact forestry to create wooden products of value. I felt this time helped me become a more rounded designer and certainly a better maker. I exhibited with the Guild at Chelsea Flower Show 2016 and Grow London 2016 interacting with the public and demonstrating traditional craft skills and gaining custom for the school through