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Featured institution of the month
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Michaela ‘Mikki’ Grass 
BA (Hons) Textile Design, University of Derby
Country of origin Austria
Age 31 years
Study history
Michaela comes from Vienna, Austria. She came to the UK with Austrian friends and studied the BA (Hons) Textile Design degree as a final-year student. With just three other graduates from the entire crop of British textile design talent this year, Michaela has been invited to Première Vision in Paris by the organisers of the world’s premier fabric show.
‘I would recommend other students to go to the University of Derby, not only to study this course, but also for the studying abroad experience and opportunity.’
Learning to live abroad
I had lived my whole life in Vienna but had always wanted to go abroad, so I decided to further my education here.
There were eight of us, all friends, who decided to go to the UK for our degree. Seven of us were in the same class back home, so we knew each other very well. At first, it was a bit hard getting used to UK living and we missed our family and friends, but over time we became like a little family and also got to know other international and UK students. It was a very good year for all of us.
I now know it’s not that difficult living abroad if you put your mind to it and have a positive attitude.
Derby and the University
Derby is a quiet, small city, very different from Vienna, but I feel comfortable and relaxed here. Fond memories of Derby will be of encountering different cultures, hearing different languages and seeing how I coped with living in a different environment to what I was used to.
I got to meet different people from all over the world on the course.
The lectures and teaching were good, and there was lots of support from tutors if you wanted it. I would recommend the University, and especially this course, to other students.
The University is planning new arts, design and technology (ADT) facilities and it will be brilliant if in future all the ADT students can be together rather than on different sites. They will be able to support each other, work together and have fun together, which will make studying that much more enjoyable.
Graduate degree exhibition
I based my graduate degree exhibition work on the underground graffiti imagery of the Paris streets. I even produced a luxury custom wheelie case for international graffiti artists to use. The lavish exuberance of graffiti can be a visual stimulus for everyone. I want to make it possible for people to carry this opulence with them on their travels, and on their backs.
Off to the world’s premier fabric show
After gaining a commendation in the Textile Society Awards in Bradford, I was surprised and honoured to receive an invitation to the Première Vision trade exhibition in Paris in September. There, I look forward to meeting the principal players in the global textile market and discussing my fabric designs for the high-fashion luggage market.
My future plans will be to study a master’s degree and have a good career that will provide security.
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