Meet BSc Creative Computing student Clara Popescu
- Written byStéphanie Malm
- Published date 12 November 2025
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Clara Popescu is a student on our BSc (Hons) Creative Computing course at UAL Creative Computing Institute (CCI). She shares her student experience, discusses some of her favourite projects and tells us how studying at CCI has helped her to evolve personally and professionally.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background?
I’m Clara, a final year Creative Computing student. I’m originally from a small town in Romania and moved to London to study after living in a few different places. Before I joined CCI, I took up coding as a hobby after watching my dad teach himself how to code. I really enjoyed the process, especially the ability to create things from scratch. I’ve also always loved doing art and drawing with my mum, so discovering a course that combines these two felt like the perfect fit.
What made you choose to study BSc Creative Computing at UAL’s Creative Computing Institute?
I was particularly drawn to CCI because of its unique approach to learning. Moreover, I appreciated how the course covers a wide range of topics within computing and how experimentation was valued which allowed me to explore and develop my artistic style. Furthermore, the campus locations are excellent with plenty to do and explore after class.
How did studying help you develop your creative practice further?
Before I started studying, I knew the kind of projects I wanted to create but lacked the knowledge on how to approach them. The tutors at CCI guided me through the research and analysis process and dedicated a lot of time to make these steps clear. That support has made my creative development process a lot smoother and significantly more enjoyable.
What was your favourite project you've worked on while studying?
My favourite project I made was inspired by a research paper that looked at the changes in our heartbeats when we hug partners, friends, or family. This is not entirely proven to be true, which made me curious to explore it myself. I made 2 hollow hearts using the 3D printers at CCI, embedded pulse sensors that visualised the user’s heartbeat through blinking LEDs. The changes were quite unpredictable but still fun to experiment with and observe.
How has the course helped you to grow personally and professionally so far?
I’ve always felt and still feel very valued at CCI. The regular personal check-ins with my tutor have helped me balance my personal and university life better.
On a professional level, there are weekly workshops and talks during term time that I’ve found very informative and useful. Through these, I’ve developed skills in areas I wanted to improve and explored topics I was curious about. I’ve applied a lot of these in my assignments and personal projects which has really helped me build confidence and broaden my creative practice.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about studying BSc Creative Computing at UAL?
The course does a great job at covering pretty much all areas of computing. It’s a great starting point for people who are not sure what they want to pursue and at the same time allows students to focus on their specific interests.
The tutors and staff are very patient and friendly, so don’t be afraid to voice if you don’t know something. You’ll learn a lot about yourself through experimentation, which is what makes this course so great! Also, make the most of the technicians, they’re incredibly knowledgeable and always willing to help.