Dazzling designers follow entrepreneurial path

For final-year students exhibiting at MMU’s Faculty of Art and Design Degree Show later this week, it’s the perfect opportunity to unveil their most recent masterpieces before potential employers.

Every year graduates in subjects ranging from fine art and fashion to interior design and film-making land top jobs with some of the industry’s biggest names.

However, the University is also helping more and more graduates set up their own business.

Go it alone

Students completing the BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design can sign up for a fourth year which equips them with the skills to go it alone and gives them a Bachelor of Design (BDes) qualification.

This business option – the only one of its kind in the country – is also open to other students in the Faculty as a separate Graduate Diploma in Creative Business Development.

Participants learn how to write a business plan and present their ideas to prospective clients. They cover the day-to-day principles of running a business and research their target market before exploring ways to make their product commercially viable.

Art’s Council scheme

Alena Asenbryl completed the BDes in 2004 and is running her own jewellery business in the Manchester Craft and Design Centre.

Shortly after graduating Alena won a place on the Arts Council’s Setting Up Scheme, a two-year initiative giving her a £7,000 grant and her own studio.

“The BDes is perfect for students thinking about starting their own business,” the 25 year old said. “I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t done that extra year. Above all, it’s taught me how to be professional – how to actually sell my work – and given me a huge amount of confidence in all aspects of running a business.”

Freedom of choice

Fellow graduate Ben Perry also won a place on the Arts Council’s Setting Up Scheme after finishing the BDes. Ben, 25, has set up his own business called Freedom of Choice, selling products including mugs, tables and lighting.

“Essentially the BDes has helped turn my ideas into products I can actually make money from,” he said. “You learn about business planning, basic accounting and tax returns – all the things you never want to get your head round when designing but are essential if you’re planning to become self-employed.

“I also had a really good work experience placement where I saw at first hand how that person ran their own business. It gave me a lot of enthusiasm for setting up on my own.”

Senior lecturer CJ O’Neill said the BDes, now in its fifth year, gave students the best possible opportunity to take their practice on to the next level. “Previously graduates were exhibiting and gaining interest in their work but didn’t always have the skills to make money from it,” she said. “This course has proved successful in building students commercial understanding and confidence.”

For more information about the Batchelor of Design course, go to www.mmu.ac.uk/courses/course_detail.php?courses_id=1025