Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. or continue shopping if you're happy.
Accept & close
Creative guide
Get a leg up and prep for your Photography, Graphic Design, Fashion, or Film course.
There’s nothing like starting uni with all the kit you need. We’ve got the essentials, nice to haves, and some handy tips from our own expert to help you stay creative for the whole course.
What to look out for
Essentials
There are some things you just can’t get by without, and we’ve got everything you’ll need right here.
Laptop
Where would a creative course be without the main tool to get the job done? A decent laptop will be your study buddy for all your assignments and creative tasks.
It’s got enough multitasking power to run editing software and your course materials at once, as well as a fast loading and enough storage to save all your essential files. Plus, it’s lightweight, so it’s easy to pop in your bag.
iPad
Whether you’re sketching an outline or getting started on your own music track, iPads are designed for creatives. They’re powerful enough to run creative software and intuitive to start creating on the spot.
External hard drive
With loads of drafts and portfolios to create, you don’t want to run out of storage. Having an external hard drive will keep everything safe and easy to access. Some even have a recovery service for complete peace of mind.
Apple Pencil
An Apple Pencil is great for drawing and taking notes on the spot. It’s perfect for aspiring artists since it’s got lots of customisable effects like realistic shading and thick, bold lines.
Nice to have
You’ve ticked off the must-haves, but there’s some budget left over? Then here are some handy extras that’ll help you out in the long run too.
Wireless mouse
Ditch the cables and keep your desk clutter-free with a wireless mouse. That’s one less thing to think about.
Noise-cancelling headphones
For editing videos or listening to music, noise-cancelling headphones are a great investment. They’ll block out any background noise, so you can focus on smashing that assignment in peace.
Desk lamp
Stay focused and reduce eye strain with a desk lamp. It’s perfect when you’re working on a project for long hours or staying up late to box things off.
Extra screen
Save some precious time flicking between tabs with a second monitor. That means you can have your reference material on one side and your work on the other.
Productivity tips for creative courses
Creative courses are all about running with an idea until it turns into something real, so you’ll have to balance deadlines, briefs, and mental blocks. Staying productive and focused makes all the difference, and we’ve got some tips to help keep the inspiration going.
Organise your projects and files clearly
Organise your files and notes into folders by project, module, or deadline. By naming and filing everything clearly, you won’t waste any time finding the info you need.
Set time aside for editing and refining
Great work doesn’t happen overnight. Leave plenty of time to review, tweak, and improve your projects before submitting.
Break projects into stages
Nothing can ruin progress like getting overwhelmed. Splitting up your work into manageable steps will help you stay on top of it without feeling bogged down.
Back up your work regularly
Save lots of versions of your work on the cloud or an external hard drive. That way, if you want to backtrack or see a comparison, you’ve got all your files at your fingertips.
Get inspired by real careers
Creative courses open lots of exciting doors. Our expert’s shared his story, so you can see how a real career can grow.
Meet John, Executive Producer at AO
After completing a Business Studies course at Southampton Institute University, I went onto a qualification in Sound Production as music had always been a huge part of my life.
After education, I was scrambling around for a launchpad when I got a one-week job offer to work as a location runner on Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Robin Hood. This turned into 3 months on set. Following that I worked as a runner and stand-in for Jason Statham on the Lionsgate film, Blitz.
I eventually moved into television, working on productions like Top Gear, Strictly Come Dancing, The Queen’s Christmas Speech, and Eurovision. It was long hours and hard work, but such a privilege to travel around the world, working with fascinating people and doing things I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing.
After many years at the BBC, I made the switch into advertising at a London agency. The biggest difference between advertising and broadcasting was that the budgets were bigger and the pay was better. I was tasked with building a new production arm from the ground up and I worked on some amazing campaigns for clients such as DHL, Honda, Red Bull, Unilever, and The Coca Cola Company. I’ve flitted back and forth between advertising and broadcasting, working on productions like the Queen’s 90th Birthday and the Queen’s Funeral for the BBC.
AO is the first time I’ve worked in-house for a brand, and it’s been fantastic. The people are lovely, plus the projects are fun and varied. It’s great to hear unfiltered insight from the Marketing Team around nuances that drive differing approaches to campaigns, which allows you to deliver the most effective content.
John’s industry tips
Have a sense of agency
If you find yourself with nothing to do, go and find the busiest person in the room and ask how you can help.
Offer your colleagues a brew
It’s appreciated by those who have a lot on their plate, and it makes you memorable in their minds. And you can never offer too often.
Make an impression
Don’t wait for someone to give you a task, get stuck in wherever you can.
Never turn down work
Accepting a job you didn’t see yourself doing doesn’t mean you have to pursue that for the rest of your life, but it might present you with an opportunity you’d never considered as well as giving you the chance to learn.
