Why did you apply for the UTP scheme?
I was attracted to the UTP scheme as it was especially for students from WestFocus universities. As I am enrolled on a full-time course, I could only work part-time. UTP allowed me to work around my studies in a job which was related to my course and previous experience.
What were you looking to achieve from your placement?
In the short-term, I was hoping to get some really good experience in web development, which in the longer term would boost by CV and help me to get a good job in my career upon completion of my course.
Who did you work for?
Light + Design Associates. They are lighting consultants who have been in the business for more than 15 years. Although they are a small company, they have a big reputation in the lighting industry.
What was your project brief?
My project was to redesign the
Light + Design Website so it showcased their work. Visually the website needed to look professional to attract the corporate markets. It had to be easy to navigate and load quickly so visitors to the site were able to browse the website easily. I also designed and implemented a system for interal use which keeps track of invoices and payment systems.
When did you work?
I worked for 15 hours a week, which was arranged around my studies from March until May.
What was the process? Did you encounter any particular challenges when working on your project?
The biggest job was deciding the layout of the website. I designed a couple of templates and once the team had selected one, I moved on to developing the web pages and the layout of the website.
During my placement, Light + Design were suddenly selected to pitch for a big lighting consultancy job in Russia. I helped them design the presentation and animation in Flash, an area they weren't proficient in. The work was a big challenge for me but I was delighted when I found out that they won the proposal and that the work will be one of their biggest accounts. It's an enormous sense of achievement knowing that you contributed to that success.
What has this experience taught you?
This experience has taught me a lot, including how to work in a team and how to complete assigned tasks in the specified timeframe with accuracy.
How will this experience help you in the future?
The UTP experience will help me a lot in my future. This job helped me to implement the theory I have learned in my MSc E-Commerce course, which definitely increased my confidence and and practical experience. No matter where I go for work, I cna start with great confidence as I won't be a student fresh out of university with no practical experience.
What Light + Design Associates said about Vishal:
'...through the UTP's introduction of Vishal to our practice, he has made a significant contribution to both our business and office life. Apart from being a hard-working individual, Vishal's talent has added a dimension to our practice that we didn't have before. Using his skills, he has helped us to get shortlisted for some overseas projects, rebuilt our website and made us think about our brand identity.'
