You are using an outdated browser. Most of this website should still work, but after upgrading your browser it will look and perform better.
The Strategist
You're the Strategist
The Strategist strikes a balance between analytical and creative.
Though organised and level-headed, you have no shortage of artistic flair. You know your goals, and more importantly, you know how to achieve them. When others are lost, you're the one with the map.
Your courses
As the Artist, you can discover your potential and find your path to a creative career on one of these courses.
You'll collaborate across disciplines, engage with your course's Industry Patron, and even gain professional experience on an optional placement year.
BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy
Study Communication Design and Strategy at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...
BA (Hons) Fashion Communication
Study Fashion Communication at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...
BSc (Hons) Fashion Management and Strategy
Study Fashion Management and Strategy at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...
Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media
Study Foundation Art, Design and Media at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and more...
Integrated Foundation Year
At Arts University Bournemouth, you’ll have the option to undertake a specialised Foundation year in a subject area you’re interested in...
# 2
Art and design specialist in the country
(The Times Good University Guide and The Guardian University Guide 2026)
92 %
of our graduates are in employment or further education
(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025)
£ 124 B
contributed annually by the creative industries
Come visit us on campus
The best way to experience AUB is to visit us in person. At an Open Day, you'll find out more about our courses; meet current students and course teams; explore our facilities, studios and accommodation; and ask any burning questions.
Find the creative course for you
We offer more than 30 creative undergraduate degrees spanning art, design, media and performance. Whatever your passion, your background, your career aspirations... we've got the course for you.
Start your application journey
If you've decided to begin your creative journey at AUB, take that next step. We've got plenty of guidance on making a start on your application to help you on your way.
Meet the photographer
Ruth Virgo
Ruth Virgo is a final-year BA (Hons) Commercial Photography student at AUB, specialising in portraiture through both fashion and documentary storytelling. Her work explores themes of identity, creative expression and sustainability, with a focus on amplifying underrepresented voices and communities.
Ruth enjoys creating dynamic images on location, often photographing in natural environments across both fashion and documentary contexts. Her interests in textiles, colour and craft traditions lead her to see clothing as more than simply fabric stitched together, but as a form of self-expression that carries personal weight and cultural meaning. Her project Making Spaces, which documented artists in their studios across Dorset and southwest Ireland, led to a university commission to photograph the eight AUB archetypes for the 2026–27 prospectus.
Raised in Southeast Asia and frequently returning to the region, Ruth’s work is informed by cross-cultural experiences and textile heritage. These influences shape her visual storytelling, combining bold colour with thoughtful narratives around culture, identity and connections to nature.
Want to see more of Ruth's work? Visit her website and also on Instagram @ruthvirgophoto.