Falmouth University Level 3 Illustration students have just returned from a successful and exciting trip to New York.  All students had diaries filled  with appointments to visit New York’s top illustration agencies, publishing houses and design groups.  Some visits were set up in advance using the contacts that tutors have built up over many years, such as the Illustrators agent Peter Lott at the prestigious Society of Illustrators and the children’s book publisher Holiday House. Students were given a warm and enthusiastic welcome and were offered honest and insightful feedback on their portfolios: important advice for their future careers.  Other appointments were set up by the students themselves with design companies such as Pentagram, The New York Times, Penguin and for some lucky students, the legendary designer Milton Glaser.  The excitement of experiencing the industry first hand was palpable as the students met up in the evenings to discuss their meetings, and all were left feeling inspired by those who had seen them.  Hugh Cowling summed up his experience : ‘I have learnt so much from this week and feel that I really made the most out of it. I had 13 portfolio reviews so I have come back with my head full of advice and suggestions on how to improve my options for when I graduate.’