Kunal Anand

Why did you choose the University of Westminster?

When I chose Westminster, I had offers from eight other universities across different countries, so it was a very deliberate decision. What set Westminster apart was its highly respected design programme and its genuine connections to industry. The course content covered everything I needed to establish myself in an international market, from core design principles to business fundamentals. What also stood out was the quality of the lecturers. They aren't just academics; they're active industry professionals who bring a realistic and current picture of what's actually happening in the design world. That combination of academic rigour and real-world perspective was exactly what I was looking for.

How was your experience studying in London? 

Studying in London was an incredible experience, both professionally and personally. The city constantly pushes you to prove yourself and make the most of what's around you. London has the highest concentration of design and creative jobs in the country, which means the opportunities to grow, network, and find work after graduating are unmatched anywhere else in the UK. For me, the city didn't just shape my studies, it shaped the early part of my career too.

Tell us about your course (what did you particularly enjoy about the programme)? 

The course was genuinely diverse, which felt fitting given how varied our student cohort was. It covered a broad range of subjects, with UX and UI Design at the core, alongside coding, social media campaigns, and start-up and entrepreneurship modules. What I appreciated most was how practical and applicable everything was. I still draw on techniques and knowledge from the programme daily in my work, it wasn't theoretical for the sake of it. It was built around what the industry actually needs.

How did you find the academic/ lecturer support as part of your studies?

The lecturers were knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely invested in their students' development. What made a real difference was how freely they shared their own industry experience. It helped bridge the gap between studying and the professional world in a way that purely academic teaching can't. I'd like to take this opportunity to personally thank Francesc, Alvaro, and Amir, and a special thank you to Savraj, whose guidance throughout the course made a lasting impression on me.

Can you tell us about your current role and share a bit about your responsibilities? 

I've recently started a new position as a Product Designer with Haleon, the consumer healthcare company behind brands like Sensodyne, Centrum, Otrivine, Advil, and Aquafresh. It's a role within their Pharmacy Experience Lab, focused on building public-facing digital solutions. Before this, I worked as a UX Designer with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, where I led the redesign of the council's public website, a large-scale project covering design systems, accessibility, and user research. Prior to that, I also gained experience working with AstraZeneca. Each role has built on the last, and I genuinely feel the foundation Westminster gave me has been central to getting here.

What would your advice be to someone considering studying at Westminster? 

My biggest piece of advice is to come with an open mind: open to feedback, open to new perspectives, and open to opportunities you might not have expected. I came to Westminster having worked as a manager at KPMG, so I arrived with professional experience and my own established ways of thinking. The most important thing I did was stay grounded and not let that get in the way of learning something new.
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ecause it's a master's programme, your peers will also be coming from strong professional backgrounds, different industries, different countries, different ways of approaching problems. That diversity is genuinely one of the most valuable parts of the experience, but only if you're willing to be humble, respectful, and curious about how others think. Some of my best learning came not from lectures, but from conversations with classmates. Go in ready to both teach and be taught.

What was the best aspect of being a University of Westminster student? 

For me it was the openness of the experience, both in terms of access and culture. The open communication with lecturers meant you never felt like you were on your own, there was always someone willing to engage with your ideas or challenges genuinely. And practically, having access to all of Westminster's campuses meant you could study, explore, and attend events across the university, not just within your own department. It made the whole experience feel bigger and more connected than I expected.