Help me cover my master's costs at RCA
Donation protected
I have been offered a place to study at the Royal College of Art’s Design Products MA course in London, starting in September 2024. The Royal College of Art (RCA) is the most influential institution in the world for arts and design.
The reason I have chosen to study at RCA is based on thorough research on the options and possibilities I could pursue after the master's. I intend to research accessible furniture and objects further in some of the institutions that RCA holds strong links with (Design Age Institute, Innovation UK, and Helen Hamlyn Design Centre).
Why you should help me:
Help me have a say in the design world and built environment, through my experiences and background. We need to change the way we design and the ages we include during that process. The design world has been dominated by men and it needs to change. There is a need for more empathy and sensitivity, and I want to take that direction by making space for all ages and people with mobility issues who have been excluded from public spaces, and isolated in their houses that do not cover their needs. It’s not about helping a woman, it’s about enabling many others to access the design industry, creating space for them to start their path.
One other reason I feel the necessity to address accessibility issues in spatial design and products is that my mother had a stroke during my studies. She mostly lost the use of the right side of her body through hemiparesis. I saw the design of our house in a new light, suddenly noticing the spaces she could no longer navigate and the objects she used with ease were suddenly inaccessible. While working on interior design/architecture projects, I found myself constantly thinking and sketching everyday objects or furniture but with improvements and adaptations. This gave me a deeply personal understanding of the need for furniture, objects and interior architecture to be accessible to everyone. As a result, I am now confident in my ability to create spaces and products that increase accessibility and offer a better quality of life.
My project research:
My project research will focus on designing accessible objects and furniture through the lenses of new technologies and materials that do not harm the environment. Specifically, I will focus on everyday objects that need a different approach and extensive research to be considered accessible. I will explore how products can support people with limited mobility, using only sustainable materials and can be subtle to be used by a variety of users, with or without mobility limitations.
Some of the benefits of my research are that it provides architects and designers with products to aid in their projects, as well as people with mobility limitations who need support for their day-to-day activities. This can drastically improve the well-being of the users, building their confidence and independence through completing activities on their own.
During my master's, I will divide my time between studying, working part-time and volunteering in a charity, such as Scope or Age UK.
After completing my master's I want to focus on researching the subject further, in one of the institutions that RCA holds strong links with the Design Institute the Innovation UK, and the Helen Hamlyn Design Centre.
Why your help is necessary:
Although I have made a very detailed plan for the next two years, the costs of the master’s and the living costs in London are extremely high. To be proactive, I visited the exhibition of MA Design Products 2023 and asked the graduates about the additional costs and their experience. I learned about the additional costs of the final project/ thesis and the costs of the exhibition during LDF. After getting in touch with the working class collective at the RCA, they advised me that balancing full-time studies and a part-time job is extremely challenging and stressful.
My financial situation:
I am a working-class student which means my parents cannot help me cover any expenses. Their health and financial situation might get worse in the next couple of years and I might need to support them. My father is 86 years old and my mother, 67 years old survived a stroke and now has hemiparesis. My father is her carer.
As a European citizen with pre-settled status, I qualify as a home student. It means the cost of the master’s is £15,150, and I will get a loan from SFE - Student Finance England. The loan can be up to £12,167. The difference is £2,983.
I will need your help to cover the difference of £2,983 in the tuition fees.
To cover some of my living costs during the master's, I have stopped receiving a pension from my workplace to save as much as possible. I estimate to save up to £8500 by the end of August 2024. On top of my existing savings, I can cover my rent during my master's at my current place, as it is cheaper than student accommodation.
In addition, I am planning on undertaking some extra graphic or Interior design projects on Upwork or Fiver. I have even thought of cat sitting, as I was a cat owner.
During my master’s, I plan to work part-time (2 days a week) and volunteer at Age UK or Scope charity. The master's is only full-time, and as per my previous experience as a design student, it is very stressful to work and study simultaneously. The more money I can raise through the campaign the more I will be able to focus and enjoy the masters. I don't want to exhaust myself. I need to enjoy it, and take care of myself!
Funding options:
Scholarships - Greece:
As a Greek citizen, there were only two scholarships available, but I didn’t meet all the criteria and the subject to receive funding.
Scholarships - England:
Royal College of Arts scholarships and funds:
I will apply for scholarships (social class and lack of access to educational opportunities) and the Emergency Hardship Fund (which runs weekly). There is no guarantee I will be offered one. In any case, I will need a backup plan and a safety net.
Your support will help me cover:
- the difference of £2,983 in tuition fees
- a year of living costs in London, at least £10,000
- thesis project, materials and labour
- London Design Festival exhibition cost (group exhibition)
Gifts:
For donations above £100, I would love to send you a small gift from my pottery class.
Possibly some coasters, an espresso cup or a small plate/bowl. For a beginner, I’m incredibly good at it!
A big thank you to each one of you for donating and/or sharing my crowdfunding campaign. Your support means the world to me.
Marianna
Organizer
Marianna Glykofridi
Organizer
England