Dundee art student Lee Murray heads off to London today to take up a position with one of the world’s most famous companies just days after the 2010 Degree Show came to an end.
Lee (21), originally from Elgin, secured a sought-after four-month internship with Nokia before his product design course at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design officially ends with his graduation later this month.
He was invited to apply for the position on the strength of his final-year project, a public access CCTV system that raises questions about the ‘Big Brother’ state.
‘The Observer’ has proved a massive hit during the degree show, which saw around 10,000 visitors descended on DJCAD, part of Dundee University, to check out exhibits from more than 250 graduating students during the show’s 10-day run.
Lee says the Nokia offer represents a fantastic opportunity, especially as it came so soon after he finished his course.
“Whilst there’s no guarantee of a job at the end of it, that would be the ideal,” he said.
“It’s just exciting to have this opportunity so quickly after finishing though.
“I’ll be looking to build up my contacts and do a bit of networking.”
He continued, “I’ll be working somewhere called the Hack Lab, where we’ll be testing and prototyping products and working with new technology to see what its limits are.
“This came about after a guy from Nokia came here to give a talk and see some of our work.
“He had a go at my prototype and told me to send in a CV and portfolio. I did that and about three hours later they got in touch to see if I would be interested in doing a phone interview for an intern position, which I ended up getting.”
Lee’s project is designed to stimulate debate about the increasing use of CCTV in the UK and whether it is an effective means of cutting crime, or an unacceptable breach of civil liberties.
It allows members of the public to see what cameras are recording.
The product explores the potential social effects that could arise if all CCTV cameras were monitored by the public.
For more, visit www.mrleemurray.co.uk