Billy Blue School of Graphic Arts (1 Viewer)

[chookyn]

Anyone here enrolled at this place?

i was just looking online at their masterclasses (short p/t 3-10 wk) courses in industry-standard design software and copywriting, illustration, etc.

http://www.billyblue.com.au/graphics/masterclasses.html

very impressive. looks like some classes i could definitely find useful! Advanced Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark Xpress, in particular.

has anyone here tried these courses? If so, is it worth the avg. $600+/- or, for now, is it better to try those official 'classroom in a book' program guides that you can get for $60 at bookshops...

i'm already learning some of these programs @ the mo (due to the nature of my course) but it would be great to intensively learn the technical features... so creativity can reign free!

 

[gloomy]

i went to their 'Day in the Life' program yesterday.
It was soooo cool!
i wish it didnt cost an arm and a leg tho D:

 

[Not-That-Bright]

I was going to apply there, it sux cuz they make u put down a $2000 deposit, then if u pull out after a certain date (which is before you get your uni offers/uai) then you only get $1000 back!

They seem very professional, and IMO if I decided to go and do graphic design I would definately take up their course. The people in charge there, that interview with you, are very professional and you can tell they know what they're on about.

I got told I could definately go on to do graphic design and would be great, comparing my work to that of some other good graduate they had - which you would expect from an expensive school trying to sell their product. However, what I found impressive was he told me "I don't think graphic design is right for you" and I became convinced my career lay elsewhere, he was giving an honest assessment simply based on my likes and dislikes.

 

[Agnes2810]

so what are you doin with urself now?

 

[nwatts]

Has anyone else considered applying here?

I'd give it thought if it wasn't for the insane fees, but i'd certainly like to hear about it from others. I wonder if they take post graduates from other unis?

 

[Not-That-Bright]

i got told by a few people kvb is shonky.

 

[chookyn]

i rang Billy Blue Creative (as in the actual business, not the design school) to enquire whether i could do a short period of work experience there (12hrs, as part of a subject i am doing) The receptionist said it would be better to email the director. I did yesterday, and am eagerly awaiting a reply!

Hope it's not a rejection! I did sound enthusiastic in the email, whilst being to-the-point. Billy Blue Creative would be my dream work experience destination! Although i suppose their students get priority... surely 'outsiders' get a chance? Here's hoping...

 

[Lundy]

I completed a certificate in Graphic Design at Billy Blue as a vet course. The teachers are all very experienced in their fields and the classes are fun, interesting and very worthwhile if you want to get into the industry. I concede that it is tres expensive, though, as all private colleges are.

 

[spillargroove]

Billy Blue is the more "funkier" design schools. It's private of course and the atmosphere is more open. The teachers there are all industry-experts so they either work within a studio or run their own studio. A familiar graduate there is Andrew Johnstone who is the founder of DiK. It is really good but the price to go there is very high. It is $48,000 for the B.Communication Design (over 3 years), have you that kind of money? Shortcourses are ok but the Bachleor programs, you really need to think about it. If you still think you want to go there, you could wait until July 2006. I spoke to Simon (the PR) and they are hoping to get CSP status.

The special thing about Design is that it's not like Social Humanities and Sciences, I.T or Communication, Design is using your imagination. Whereever you go, it's really up to you to design and create something. There are no rules. Design, you need to step outside the square which it is why some people (like me) who have a more academic background find it harder to step outside the square.

If you want to find people who are currently studying there, please visit the AustralianInfront forums: http://forums.australianinfront.com.au and visit the Student Lounge for dedicated student questions.

 

[Jayphen]

By July 06 they hope to have FEE-HELP, which is wonderful news for people such as myself

 

[ginahan]

Is FEE-HELP still available for students who enrol in Feb?

 

[malcolmmm]

I have just finished a diploma at Billy Blue and like many of my fellow students feel ripped off. Only half of the students have returned for third year to obtain their degree. The school did not contact any of us to ask why we were not returning which only underlines the point that the school has dropped quality controls and gone for the cash cow instead.

Critism should be piling up given the dramatic changes over the last 1-2 years. The main one being the at least two-fold increase in students over this time while facilities and teacher numbers have stayed the same. It may have got best small business trainer in 2004 but I wonder what these same assessors would think now when there is now an extra 100-150 students using just the four toilets for the girls and the same for the boys. Yeek! Best to use those at the train station before coming to school.

Over-crowding means there is often no opportunity to do computer work at college outside of your class time, despite promises from the principal there would be. Of the five computer rooms only one had been upgraded to CS and second year graphic design students were not given access (this may have changed this year). This meant for a number of classes you could not do your work in class with the teacher because you were working on CS at home.

Essentially Billy Blue is no longer the boutique designer college that mentored students and which gave it it's reputation. Instead you feel you are on a production line and when you are paying $15k each for the first two years and another $17K for the third this becomes a little irritating.

You pay this money because you want attention and you want the best teaching. The thing is with around 120 students in each year (about 25 in each class) you do not get this. (There is 60 doing third year and with half-yearly intakes as well this is what causes the sense of over-crowding. Oh and add in their multi-media course which uses the same classrooms). Often the teacher does not even know your name or what you are doing despite it continuing with a mentoring style of teaching for many of the modules.

I do not think their standard of teaching was that great either. Probably a third were outstanding, the next third OK, and the last third should not be in classrooms. The teacher for advertising in second year was little better than a baby sitter. We watched a couple of videos on the best ads for the year and then the rest of the semester his only job seemed to be taking the role.

Look I just think our year was the first year to experience a decent-sized decline in standards and I'd be interested in other people's views.

 

[JBakaka]

@ malcomm: well thanks for that advice
i've heard that from one other person who went there that it is a rip-off
i went to the JMC open day and well, its expensive and too specialised
so im going for uni

O and for those who want work experience (the yr 10 style one) i recommend going to Yoram Gross EM.TV Pty. Ltd. (they're the guys who made blinky bill and stuff). i went there and its mad fun. you basically have to make a short animated film from scratch - you get a week to do it

 

[sheknows]

i think i'll take my chances.. and still apply.

but going for the july enrolement so i can take 6 months off.

anyone else applying for july?

 

[Kap]

i just went for my interview yesterday, they said theyd sent a letter of acceptance or something
im starting in feb.. the college looks really nice, maybe ill see some of yo uthere haha

 

[Beege]

Damn i'd love to go there, shame about the 20% loan fee on the FEE-Help method :burn: