IMA Photography student goes on exchange to London

In January of her third year, Dana Giblin, an Image Arts: Photography Media Arts student, made the trip of a lifetime to take an exchange semester at the University of the Arts London (UAL).

A few years ago, Giblin had a brief layover in London — for one evening, to be exact — and she was immediately impressed by the city, its liveliness and also its historical qualities. When Giblin submitted her application to go on exchange, she felt drawn to put London among her top three choices for where she’d like to study abroad.

During her five-month exchange, Giblin took two classes at UAL and had the opportunity for lots of travel during the three-week spring break — visiting Amsterdam, Germany and Prague with newly made friends on exchange.

As a part of one of her courses, Giblin was required to submit a photo-based project. The assignment was later displayed at a prestigious exhibition, known citywide.

“It was just super unique being able to display my photos in an exhibition and have people from all over the city come to look at my work,” Giblin said. “They really pushed us to elevate the way you display [your] work.”

Those lessons are now coming in handy, as Giblin, now in her fourth and final year of the program, prepares her thesis assignment.

Giblin thinks that going on an exchange is a valuable experience that broadened her horizons, as she learned from professors who offered new insights and experiences.

“I think it's really important to get different perspectives and different opinions,” Giblin said. “It helped me expand my work by getting a completely different cultural mindset on what is art.”

Giblin encouraged students who are interested in exchange to attend the meetings and learn more about what it could offer them. For her, the exchange will be a defining moment in her university career.

“The experience was so worth it, and I don't regret spending everything that I have,” Giblin said. “I would do it again.”