Britt Lodeweges: “If you like delving deeper into a design, this course is just the thing for you”
Her clothes match her work: colourful and sometimes a little bit abstract. “It was mainly my classmates who always noticed that,” Britt says with a laugh. Although she met her fellow students in the midst of the Covid pandemic, they gradually became a very close-knit group. “The atmosphere at the academy was always very pleasant and friendly,” she thinks. “I noticed that during the open day. I remember seeing students” work dotted throughout the building and thought: this is the place I want to go to.”
Different aspects of an image
If there”s one thing Britt has learned over the past few years, it’s to look critically at her own work. “Even after twenty times, you still see something different every time,” she explains. “And that’s actually really nice, because it means that a design is never finished.” The fact that she felt completely at home at ArtEZ with her pre-university diploma in her pocket is mainly due to the research that is part of the Graphic Design course. “I have learned to look at things analytically. Not so much in a way that you immediately form an opinion about it, but more that you examine different aspects of an image. I really enjoyed developing this.”
Britt graduated with a self-designed wall in which singles ‘sell’ themselves, like you also see on dating apps such as Tinder.
Societal themes
Having just finished secondary school, everything she learned at ArtEZ was new and exciting. “I was finally able to leave the less enjoyable subjects behind and devote myself completely to my passion,” says Britt. “And being surrounded by like-minded people is really valuable. At one point we knew each other so well that we could pick out each other’s work.” At Graphic Design you learn to create meaningful designs, says Britt. “You come into contact with a lot of social and societal themes. You learn to look at certain subjects in more depth. With us it wasn’t like you design a poster and that’s it. Being able to explain the reasons behind it is also an important part.”
She sometimes missed the commercial aspect a little. But according to Britt, you will still come into contact with this during your internship. “At my internship company, they really appreciated my investigative attitude, which they didn’t see very often.” It also depends on your own attitude, Britt thinks. “The practical side is certainly also part of it, but you do have to take a bit more initiative yourself.”
Graphic Design offers a lot of possibilities. Video, craft, spatial work; you can do anything with it.”
Because you do not do an internship until the final year, you can also fully participate in a company and immediately get a good idea of how things work in practice. Britt: “In that sense, you are perfectly ‘delivered’ to the outside world, so to speak. But it is not like ArtEZ telling you exactly what working life is like. And they don’t have to either, because everyone will go their own way anyway. One person wants to continue studying, another chooses a freelance existence and yet another opts for paid employment.” She herself decided to first gain some work experience before even thinking about becoming self-employed. “That’s a step I can take later. And for now, I don’t necessarily have to continue studying either. I am only 21 years old and would first like to find a job that matches what I have learned, so that I can gain some practical experience and know what it is like to work in a team. I want to learn even more, so that I can eventually end up in a place where I feel like a fish in water.”
Getting the best out of yourself
Why would she recommend the course? “You might not think so at first glance,” Britt explains, “but Graphic Design offers a lot of possibilities. Video, craft, spatial work; you can do anything with it. The way of teaching is also very pleasant. You can try out lots of things and you are really encouraged to get the best out of yourself. If you like delving deeper into a design, this course is really something for you.”
Learn more about the bachelor's course Graphic Design in Zwolle
