Meet Yesenia Solis (She/Her)

Program and Location:

Spring, Glasgow School of Art; Glasgow, Scotland

Major/Minor:

Graphic & Experience Design Major, Sociology Minor

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I chose to study abroad as I felt it’d be a good learning experience for me, a way to gain insight into new perspectives on the design process and apply those experiences to refine my own practice. It was also a nice way to see the different opportunities available in the creative field and reflect on how they align or differ with my own experiences here at NC State. I personally love to travel and visit museums, so study abroad felt like a great opportunity to get to do that while learning in a new environment.

How did you pick your program?

Studying abroad felt like a significant personal commitment, so I really wanted to be intentional with the process to make the experience worthwhile. I wanted to find a program that was a good fit, so I made an effort to research programs that offered experiences new to me. I connected with the Department Head to vet my researched program options, reached out to professors for advice and recommendation letters, and then I also talked to my peers about their own study abroad plans. Ultimately, a friend and I decided to apply to the Glasgow School of Art together, as it seemed like a good challenge for personal and professional growth, and it would be an easier to navigate the experience abroad with a friend.

What is something you learned about yourself? How are you the same? Or, what did you realize about your own culture by living in another one?

I learned to experiment more in my own creative process through incorporating new mediums. I took the initiative to work in different mediums, from screen printing/letterpress for publishing and signage work to digital ones like TouchDesigner/Cavalry for motion and film projects. Through the new opportunities afforded, I was also able to connect with many other design students who had their own creative processes and backgrounds, making it a worthwhile experience to work alongside them in the design studio.

What advice would you give to another student?

I would definitely recommend connecting with your college’s dean, professors, peers, and academic advisor early on. Even if you aren’t completely sure what kind of program you want to take part in, your academic circle can be a helpful resource when picking out your program. Another helpful step would be talking to peers who have already studied abroad, ask about the programs they chose and their experiences with them. Finally, make sure to research the country you’ll be visiting. I personally underestimated Glasgow’s rainy weather and unfortunately often came back home with soaked shoes!

How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?

I was able to work on more self-led projects with open briefs, allowing me to fully explore the kind of work I wanted to create across different mediums. The lectures themselves were interactive, and we frequently participated in studio workshops where we learned creative skill sets like bookbinding, Riso printing, and more. We also had multiple instructors for the class, each with their own areas of expertise. Though this was a little confusing at first, they were extremely helpful resources, especially when projects briefs were outside of my usual scope of work, such as film making and photography.

Would you do it again?

Yes! I had a lot of fun exploring the city, traveling around the UK, and it was an overall positive and productive experience for me.