Student Spotlight: Meet Becky, a graphic design degree student at University Centre Rotherham
Faces of University Centre Rotherham:
Rebecca Foster, Foundation Degree in Graphic Design
Graphic design is all about reworking ideas, experimenting with direction and creating something purposeful from a blank page.
That’s the epitome of Becky Foster’s career journey. She returned to education in her twenties to retrain in graphic design which has reconnected her with the creative side of herself she had missed.
Now progressing from the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design onto the BA top-up year at University Centre Rotherham, 24-year-old Becky wants to reassure other mature learners that it’s never too late to sketch out a different career path.
Becky’s journey into Higher Education
A career in graphic design wasn’t originally in the picture for Becky. After leaving school, she did a level 3 course in fashion at our sister site at Rotherham College with plans to study fashion marketing in Leeds. However, that time of her life coincided with the Covid pandemic, so Becky chose to delay university rather than invest in tuition fees without fully experiencing student life.
What began as a gap year turned into two, during which she reconsidered her options and later enrolled on a marketing with psychology degree at Sheffield Hallam University. But it quickly became clear that the course wasn’t the right fit.
“I think I underestimated how much I wanted creative freedom,” says Becky. “I was expecting to do the fun design side of marketing on the degree, but it had more focus on the analytical and strategic side which was not my strength.”
After leaving the course, she moved into sales and administration roles for two years, but her creative interests resurfaced unexpectedly after receiving an iPad for Christmas.
She started drawing freehand on Procreate and found she was actually quite good at illustration.
Initially, Becky considered tattoo artistry as a possible career path, but didn’t feel an apprenticeship route was right for her. Instead, with her previous experience in marketing, she began exploring graphic design, a decision that ultimately led her to University Centre Rotherham.
“The more I researched and spoke to people in industry about how to break into graphic design, they all said the same thing: the traditional route of a degree would be more beneficial than an apprenticeship.”
Why Becky chose University Centre Rotherham
Becky originally planned to go back to Hallam to do a Bachelor’s degree until she saw that we offered the foundation degree route here at University Centre Rotherham with the optional top-up year to achieve the full degree – both accredited by Sheffield Hallam.
“I came to University Centre Rotherham for my interview and I really liked the tutors and the feel of the campus. I love the library overlooking the Civic theatre. It’s my favourite place to work. I get a coffee, take my laptop and sit there and stare out of those huge windows.
“The campus is five minutes away from my house which is so convenient. I worked in the centre of Sheffield before so I knew how stressful driving and trying to park was. Here I’ve got everything on my doorstep.”
Smaller class sizes, one-to-one tutor support and a friendly atmosphere also helped ease Becky transition back into education after time away.
“I came into it worried as I was slightly older at 22 and hadn’t been in education for a long time. I didn’t know how I’d feel going back into that setting. But we’re such a small, close-knit group that it feels so personal and friendly. I had no problems settling straight in.”
The practical, skills-based nature of the course also appealed to her, allowing Becky to learn through experimentation, projects and creative briefs rather than purely theoretical study.
“Whichever route I’d have taken, even if I’d have gone to Leeds to do fashion marketing, I think it would have always led me back here, so it was just meant to be. I’m so happy where I am now.”
Academic life
Starting the foundation degree felt a little like staring at a blank canvas for Becky. With no previous graphic design experience and limited knowledge of industry software, she worried she would struggle to keep up with her peers, the majority of whom had progressed from level 3 creative courses.
However, she quickly discovered that the foundation degree is designed to support students from a range of backgrounds.
“When I started, I hadn’t used software like Adobe Creative Suite, but the tutors are really good at getting everyone up to the same level in the first year so we’re all on an even playing field.
“The first year of the foundation degree was so beneficial as I learnt so much and had constant feedback from both tutors and peers. I’m really comfortable in Illustrator now that I feel like I’ve mastered it and can focus on other programmes like After Effects and the animation side of graphic design.”
Since starting the course, Becky has developed skills in layout design, branding, typography, digital media and visual communication across traditional and digital medias.
With a love of colour – something she says has never and will never change – Becky has learnt how to better execute a design using a range of digital applications.
The graphic design studio is fully equipped with industry-standard Apple Mac computers which Becky says has been so useful.
“If I was to get a job in a design studio, that is exactly what I’d be expected to work on, so it almost gives you an advantage of being able to navigate your way around a Mac so easily.”
But not everything is done digitally. Students are also encouraged to incorporate physical, hand-drawn elements into their work. Workshops in things like screen printing, clay typography and illustrative lettering encourage learners to think outside the screen.
“It’s so easy to fall into the habit of doing everything digitally but I’ve found I love going nuts with a paintbrush. I didn’t understand at first how to digitise physical work or why you’d even bother doing it by hand when you can just draw it straight on the iPad screen.
“But you can create some really interesting and surprising effects that you could never replicate digitally or would almost never think of doing.
“The technicians are also really good and nifty. If you see something cool on TikTok that you want to try, you just email them and they’ll set it up for you.”
The course has also helped Becky understand the thinking behind design – not just how something looks, but how it shapes audience experience and engagement.
“Revisiting academic writing has been beneficial for me. Many people come into the course expecting it to be really arty, but the academic element is just as important. You have to know how to back your ideas up, explain your decisions, defend your choices and analyse your own work.”
Industry insight
One of the aspects Becky has valued most about the course is its strong connection to industry and real-world practice.
Rather than working purely on hypothetical projects, students regularly respond to live briefs set by external clients, helping them develop the professional skills, adaptability and creative thinking expected within the design industry.
One major project that Becky and her course mates worked on was creating travel posters for National Rail. Students went on a trip to Scarborough via train to get some inspiration for their posters which were then installed at stations along the East Yorkshire Coast.
“I found that project challenging because I was unsure what direction I wanted to take it and looking back I’d have done something really different. But it’s all about learning to recognise your mistakes and apply that to the next project. By the second year, I had a really good understanding of what style I liked, what I was good at, and how to implement it.”
Whether it’s packaging, branding, UX/UI, or marketing materials, the live briefs encourage students to pitch their ideas to professional clients, which Becky says does a really good job of preparing students for what work will be like.
“Without that experience, I think it would be hard to go from university into a job, do a presentation to clients and navigate their feedback professionally if you’d not done it before.”
Beyond the classroom
Doing the foundation degree has shown Becky that her main interest lies in experience design – designing what a visitor experience might be like at a cultural venue, whether that’s branding or wayfinding elements.
She’s been able to fine tune her specialism by working at Wentworth Woodhouse where she collaborates with the cultural and marketing teams on exhibition and event design.
Balancing employment alongside Higher Education has further strengthened her communication, organisation and project management skills, while also helping her build industry confidence before graduation.
Becky says she would love to find herself working in art curation and exhibition design, combining creativity with immersive public engagement that appeals to different age ranges.
“We always talk about how to create that link between children and young people with heritage and cultural spaces as it will be that younger generation who will be looking after them in years to come. Design plays a really big part in making it interesting for younger audiences. You can be a bit unconventional in how you use the space and create a visual identity that keeps up with the trends and resonates with them.”
Highlights and achievements
As well as proving to herself that she is capable of achieving a Higher Education qualification, Becky says her proudest moment was being awarded the Most Inspirational Student at the Sheffield Hallam Inspirational Student awards in 2025.
She was nominated by course leader Tracy Gelder for overcoming adversity in her personal life during the first year of her studies.
“Coming into uni was a nice escape from it all as I only had one thing to think about which was my work. Tracy was very kind to nominate me and I’ve now got the award hanging up in my house above the fireplace.”
Becky has been commended by her tutors for being proactive in everything she does. So much so, she went on a trip to New York and ended up visiting famed designer, Stefan Sagmeister, who’s done the branding, graphics, and packaging for a diverse range of clients as diverse from the Rolling Stone and Jay Z to HBO TV network and the Guggenheim Museum.
“It just popped up on my Instagram. He was asking if anyone was in New York and wanted to come in to his studio to meet him so I thought ‘why not?’ I had right imposter syndrome!”
Looking ahead
As she prepares to begin the top up Bachelor’s year, Becky is excited to continue refining her creative identity and building a portfolio.
The BA top up year encourages learners to explore an area of interest through research, written proposals and evaluations. It also includes the chance to enter competitions and continue to work within industry, culminating in a final graduation showcase of their work.
“You get a lot of creative freedom to run a little bit with what you’re passionate about. I’m excited to explore different topics or subjects that I’ve not looked at before and dive head first into creating a body of work I’ll feel quite proud of.”
Becky’s advice to future students
For Becky, returning to Higher Education after a break has given her the ideal opportunity to rebuild her creative confidence while developing professional-level skills – and she’s encouraging others to not let initial worries about being a mature learner hold them back.
“Don’t think you’ll be the only person left behind. The tutors are so good at making sure everyone is working at the same level in terms of skills and software, so there’s no need to worry. They’re also really understanding if you have other commitments and responsibilities to work around, as many people do when they’re that little bit older. They want people to succeed and will help you as best they can.”
Read more about Becky’s journey.
Find out more about Arts and Graphics courses at University Centre Rotherham.