Small craft design in Europe?

[aussie_sailing]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I am seeking a suitable course preferably within Europe but not essential. I graduated from Industrial Design in 2000 from Australia and while working with furniture and exhibitions for some time I now wish to change directions.

I live in Europe now and am moving to the Netherlands in 6 weeks. My current thought is to consider some thing like the Landing school as I prefer to learn in classroom or hands and it appears to be an intensive course. I do not feel that a correspondence course would be suitable for me.

Does anyone have any comments on if my ID combined with the Landing School would be good or should one consider a 3 year bachelors course in Marine Eng or Naval Architecture. If so what would be a recommended school.

My other option is perhaps a Masters program but yet again, which school?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Jo

[terhohalme]

Try Southampton University or Southampton Solent University (was Southampton Institute).

[Shug]

Glasgow and strathclyde university have a department in naval architecture and marine engineering. They offer a degree in Naval Architecture and small craft engineering.
http://www.na-me.ac.uk/index_2.htm
No idea on how good it is tho, but maybe worth a look.

[aussie_sailing]

Hello and thank you for your replies.

I have been doing allot of thinking and while my girlfriend has agreed to support us while I study I have to be honest and say that i am very seriously considering Westlawn. That way I would be able to help us financially whist studying. If I was to be extremely motivated and let's be honest if you study correspondence you have to be, the structure of the course does look very good.

I was thinking of perhaps doing the Light course and then approaching firms as I am already an Industrial Designer for work. Perhaps only on part time basis but you never know.

My question is simple. Any advice from any Westlawn Graduates?

Thanks,

Jo

[dgerr]

I don’t know how many Westlawn grads visit boatdesgin.net, but you can see what our graduates have to say at:

Testimonials:
http://www.westlawn.edu/who/testimonials.asp

See success stories at:
http://www.westlawn.edu/who/success.asp

Alumni gallery at:
http://www.westlawn.edu/Gallery/Gallery.asp

You’ll also find a lot of useful information about Westlawn, about Westlawn alumni, and technical articles in Westlawn’s Internet newsletter, The Masthead, at:

http://www.westlawn.edu/news/index.asp#newsletter

Dave Gerr, Director
Westlawn Institute
www.westlawn.edu

[aussie_sailing]

Hello,

I would like to thank you Dave for your posts throughout the forums.

I am definitely going to enroll very soon.

I wanted to ask you however about intellectual property. I have in my past had issues with works that I have done being taken or controlled from institutions. What is the policy of Westlawn regarding this?

Regards,

Jo

[dgerr]

All design work done by Westlawn students is solely and entirely their own intellectual property. No exceptions.

Dave Gerr, Director
Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology
www.westalwn.edu

[Damien Judd]

My 2 cents worth. Get in there and get some experience. A good industrial designer with 8 years experience is already valuable to a yacht design firm or manufacturer. You will learn far more working commercially whilst studying specific subjects on the side. I graduated ID the same year in Aus as you, it worked for me.

[aussie_sailing]

My concern is of course that my experience is with furniture and exhibition design. Not exactly as far as I can tell that transferable to yacht design.

I honestly feel that a good grounding in the fundamentals would be very beneficial for my career.