Author: gwill

Official classroom sessions came to an end and the team brief was set. Now came the challenge for the students to put into practice everything they have learned over the past week and a half.

As a nice diversion, the entire Study Abroad group attended the traditional Cream Tea at the hotel. Always amusing watching them try to figure out what, exactly, clotted cream is, and how to assemble it with jam and a scone!

After tea we all headed to the Novello Theatre to see Mamma Mia (again, the theatre trip is a tradition of study abroad). Now I’m going to be honest and say that it has taken me over twentyfive years to get the music of Abba out of my head – despised it then – despise it now, so sitting through a musical that is essentially a vehicle for the Abba back catalog, was…. tough! Never the less, everyone seemed to have a fun night and, in the case of my own students, gave them a little breathing space before getting back to the serious job of their final brief.

I’ve been so busy in London that I’ve forgotten to sit down to post! So here is a ‘catch-up’ of the first week…

Classes – going full steam ahead. Just two more official classroom sessions and then the students split up into three teams and are briefed on their three day project, which will be presented back to the client on Friday – no pressure.

When we’re not in class there is always lots of walking up and down tube escalators, and the occasional ‘pit-stop’ to recharge the batteries!

  

We went to visit one of my favorite London museums – the Museum of Brands and Packaging. New, bigger venue, same amazing collection going back over a hundred years. Always intriguing to see the development of certain brands over the years.

Then we visited DesignStudio London. Dervla and Fred, thank you so much for making us feel welcome and showing us some of the wonderful work you do (The EPL rebrand – so interesting).

After a hard day of walking and visiting, what better than a beer and dinner at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.

In between class related stuff, I also had chance to catch up with friends from afar – in this case my buddy, Dave and co from Abu Dhabi. Good to see you, my friends.

And finally, for today’s post….

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MUM.

Always enjoy visiting one of my favorite London stores – Fortnum & Mason – especially around Christmas time when their window displays are just wonderful.

Day two in London always starts with the wonderful morning sightseeing tour on a coach. Always informative – I learn more each time I go on them and out tour guide Phil and his driver Sean were excellent.

After a lunch break it was time for my first class session. Always enjoy delivering my ‘Creative Strategy’ course and expecting great things from this particular group of students. It’s an important ‘bonus’ to their regular courses but I also want them to enjoy the challenge.

So how do you avoid jet lag… Keep moving.

The 2017 J Term Study Abroad to London kicked into action with a group of weary travellers stepping off the Unite Airlines ‘Red eye’ and immediately embracing the local culture – well, they are taken out to various destinations in London, and then abandoned to find their way back to their hotel. So we lose a few along the way, but it certainly acclimatizes them to their new environment.

In the case of my Art300 Creative Strategy students, I took them out to Borough Market, via Tower Bridge. Not too difficult to find their way back from, but not straight forward either. The big disappointment for me was that the market was still closed for the holidays until tomorrow 🙁

After settling into the hotel, I finally made it back out for a quiet pint and this wonderful homely dish at the Lamb on Conduit Street – a consistent favorite haunt of mine.

Watch this space and ‘Mind the Gap’.