One of the main challenges students face upon entering design school is little knowledge of the field, its terminology and best practices. Unsurprisingly, most new students have never fully developed a concept or visual idea, been in a critique, or have been asked to explain their work to others. This book demystifies what design school is really like and explains what will be experienced at each stage, with particular focus on practical advice on topics like responding to design briefs and developing ideas, building up confidence and understanding what is expected. Student work is critiqued to show how projects are really assessed Profiles highlight how professional designers themselves address client briefs Tips for real-life problems are outlined, like getting stuck and dealing with critical feedback Written by experienced instructors, this is the perfect guide for those starting their design education.