Alumni

Steven Kyffin

Career Path: Founder: Kyffin & Kyffin Design Innovation Co,
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

I always wanted to be an Architect. I was deemed too stupid and lazy to last the seven years training. I decided to take the advice and study Industrial design. 4 years at UNN and 3 more at the RCA makes seven years. I had learned not to be lazy. When I joined Philips at the age of 38 I was shown by my dear colleagues and friends that I was not stupid. After that life was more fruitful!

What are you doing now?

Helping to enable other to be fruitful in their creativity.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

A very positive reputation in Design. My secondary school guided me there. The UNN team valued me and invited me to join.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

I could be me.
There was a mix of lectures, seminars, team projects.
There were very few exam moments.
I was valued. I admit that from an intellectual point of view, I did not understand very much at that time. Technically i was competent, academically i was not, nor was i guided. ...not until I joined Philips and joined Eindhoven University.

How connected was your course with industry?

I took part in two placements, one in London and one in Johannesburg.
Some projects appeared to be in the context of the 'industrial' client based consulting relationship, but that was not made explicit. Nor were the learning outcomes of that aspect of the 'project'. Ditto with the guest lectures.

I really did not know what I was learning, nor why. The concept of a 'competence' based learning programme, including, Skills, Knowledge and practice behaviours was not made explicit, though I expect it was intuitively embedding in there somewhere,... mostly focussed on the technical skills required in the creative consulting world.

If you took on a placement during your course how did you feel this helped you in your career/ with your studies?

I showed me who I could ask for a job when I graduated, and taught be to be disciplined about my time management at other's expense. ... I made some friends as well.

What was the best thing about your course?

It equipped me with the basic skills for the next part of my development (HOW Design), and helped me frame the questions which my RCA degree helped me answer...(WHY design)

What did you enjoy most about your time at Northumbria University?

My sense of achievement.

What advice would you give somebody who is considering studying at Northumbria?

Be sure you know why you want to do it.
Make the most of every moment.
Enjoy all the others
Keep evaluating your own learning (skills, Knowledge and roles/behaviour) at all times
Don't worry about the future, one step at a time, you made the decision, knowingly, to start... consider what next as you complete this step. ...there are many more steps to take and be fruitful :-)