A TALENTED BA Automotive and Transport Design student at University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), Harry De La Riviere, celebrates a milestone in his education and career this summer as he graduates having already landed an exciting role with luxury vehicle manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
Hailing from Sherfield on Loddon in Hampshire, Harry has always been surrounded by the world of design. With parents who were both architects and interior designers, it is no surprise that he developed a deep passion for it, eventually leading him to pursue his own career in design.
BA Automotive and Transport Design produces designers, clay and digital sculptors, and hard modellers in the automotive and transport industry, and it is a unique programme offered by only a few Universities in the UK.
For Harry, it was the intimate class sizes and individualised support that made it an easy decision to choose UWTSD over others.
He said: “When comparing the class sizes at other Universities with the smaller ones here at UWTSD, I knew I would have a more positive and personalised teaching experience at Swansea, among a close-knit community.”
A highlight of the course for him was the strong industry connections that UWTSD’s Automotive Design department are known for, with collaborations alongside giants like JLR, Rolls Royce and CALLUM Designs. Harry said: “The industry contacts, guest lectures and live projects offered on the course were invaluable and shaped my education and career.”
Harry first impressed his new employer JLR during his second year when he completed a Professional Practice module. Harry and his peers engaged in a live project with the elite company and were tasked with redesigning the iconic brands: Defender, Range Rover and Discovery.
The final presentations took place in UWTSD’s Immersive Rooms where Harry’s exceptional work caught the eye of James Watkins, a Creative Specialist at JLR. Impressed from the outset, Watkins took Harry under his wing. This partnership led to JLR sponsoring Harry’s end-of-year major project, providing invaluable mentorship and resources.
Harry begins his professional journey as an Exterior Designer at JLR even before graduating this week. Reflecting on his time at UWTSD, he is confident that the education and experiences he gained have prepared him well for this next chapter.
