Ben Tranter - graduate success

Graphics graduate Ben Tranter has been in touch to share his new design live on international brewing company, Molson Coors, ordering site. To experience Ben's design first hand visit:

http://www.molsoncoorsdirect.com/upload/MC%20Minisite/intro.swf

Black Country Flag competition

Flags have been around for thousands of years. They were first used for military purposes but have evolved into powerful symbols to represent the unique identity of countries, teams, royal houses, people, places and organizations. They are now regularly used commercially as promotional emblems to denote amongst other things, culture, pride and heritage. 

2012, with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics, offers a great opportunity for flag waving, and the Parliamentary Flags & Heraldry Committee is actively encouraging communities and regions to develop their own flags to celebrate these significant national events. At present there is no flag registered for the Black Country, yet this is a region with a strong identity. This competition, launched by the Black Country Living Museum, gives you the chance create the flag for the Black Country. The winning design will be registered as the official flag of the region and will be used locally, nationally and internationally to:
• Boost our regional identity 

• Celebrate the nationally important and significant heritage of our area
• Express our pride and distinctive character
• Promote our unique environment and its place in the modern world

There will be a public vote to select the winner

Download the competition details and entry form by clicking here

http://www.bclm.co.uk/index.htm

Wolverhampton bids to become "Portas Pilot" city

Wolverhampton is bidding to become a "Portas Pilot". Towns and cities across England are being handed the chance to breathe new life into their ailing high streets through a competition launched by retail guru Mary Portas and Local Government Minister Grant Shapps. 

The 12 winners will become Portas Pilots and receive funding worth up to £100,000 along with expert advice from Mary Portas herself. As part of the bid, applicants were asked to put together a short film explaining why they wanted to become a Portas Pilot - and this is Wolverhampton's submission.

The Library of Lost Books

The Library of Lost Books is an ongoing project to rescue old, discarded and damaged books, donated by the Library of Birmingham (UK) and to re-work them, breathing new life into them through the interactions and interventions of contemporary artists and printmakers.

As many of the books date from the mid to late 1800s it is an opportunity for artists to work with books, manuscripts, papers, typefaces and bindings that they might not otherwise have an opportunity so to do.
Chosen artists will be sent a book from the collection to work with and can work into the book they receive in any way and with any media. However, the book must be able to be closed so that it can sit on a bookshelf, and must be robust enough to withstand some handling.

The Library of Lost Books will form part of the opening festival for the new Library of Birmingham in 2013. The exhibition will celebrate the history of the book and the elements of the book-as-object. It will explore the pleasures of the book form and the intimacy that forms between the reader and the book object.The finished exhibition will enchant the audience through the magic, beauty, wonder, humour and mystery of the works presented. Artists are encouraged to be as imaginative and playful as they can.

For more information visit:

http://thelibraryoflostbooks.blogspot.co.uk/p/call-for-artists.html?spref=tw

Give it up for The King of the Hill

Graphic Communication alumni, Mark Williamson is doing the Fred Whitton Challenge to raise funds for the charity Castel Froma.


Essentially the Challenge is a 112-mile, one-day cycle ride taking in all of the Lake District's highest road peaks and passes including Honister, Hardknott, Wynrose and Kirkstone.


Keen cyclist Mark, who has previously climbed and conquered Mont Ventoux* says, "For those of you who know me, I always like a challenge, especially if it's on two wheels or two feet. When I spotted the Fred Whitton Challenge, I thought it was a match made in heaven."


Mark who is now Designer and Director at Jellyhaus in Warwickshire says the cause is worth your support. Castel Froma is a specialist care centre in Leamington Spa who care forpeople with complex neurological disabilities that result from damage to the brain through trauma or through the progressive effects of degenerative conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis.


If you'd like to lend your support simply click here to donate:

http://www.justgiving.com/markiewilliamson


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http://www.castelfroma.co.uk/
http://www.jellyhaus.com/
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*"Physically, the Ventoux is dreadful. Bald, it's the spirit of Dry: Its climate (it is much more an essence of climate than a geographic place) makes it a damned terrain, a testing place for heroes, something like a higher hell."  Roland Barthes, French philosopher and bicycle racing fan, author of Mythologies, describes Mont Ventoux in the Tour de France. 

STAR DOT STAR DIGITAL DESIGN AGENCY

On Thursday March 29th at 2.00pm in the ground floor lecture theatre there will be a talk by Gerard O'Brien and Gareth Langley ex Wolverhampton graduates and co founders of digital design agency Star dot Star.

Amongst Star Dot Star's Achievements are:

BIMA awards for their key Stage Two Road Safety Campaign and 'Things to Come' plot for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

The Big Chip Awards the UK's most fun digital ward ceremony has over the years recognised them with six awards and three commendations including in 2011 the Award for Best Application of Technology

Gerard and Gareth gave a really engaging and informative talk last year and this year is another excellent, not to be missed opportunity for all Visual Communication students to gain an insight into the work of this successful and award winning digital design agency.

Digital Designer - Studio Output, Nottingham

Digital Designer

Studio Output is a creative company with two busy studios in London and Nottingham. We’re looking for a mid-senior Digital Designer to join our expanding team in Nottingham.

You’ll be working closely with the creative team as well as our Head of Digital, and will need a real mix of creative skills and fantastic client relationship-building to help lead the growth of digital projects from this studio.

We want to see fresh, exciting and dynamic work: unique creative that demonstrates strategic thinking, beautiful design, faultless typography and strong, user-focused layouts.

You have a real understanding of multi-platform, integrated creative and have worked across web, mobile and social – with any motion and branding skills a real bonus.

You’re an inspirational, ideas-led person who relishes the ever-evolving challenge of digital and cross-platform briefs and feel you’re now ready to expand into a broader role. You’ll need digital agency experience and a portfolio packed with stunning work.

We offer a great creative environment and the chance to make an impact working with innovative and interesting clients.

Drop over your portfolio with a CV and salary expectations to dave@studio-output.com and tell us why you’d be the perfect addition to Studio Output, by 9am on Monday 9th April 2012.

The visualization of music

Lena Matthies Digital and Visual Communications MA student would appreciate your help.

“Kandinsky thought about connecting music and design and I am interested in both topics. I am combining these, my two favourite passions within my MA project. At the moment my focus is on tones, colours, shapes and their distinctive features. Please can you help me? I have put together a brief questionnaire and my research will be better informed with your kind help.”

Thank you
Lena Matthies 

For more information see the link below
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GNW3X26

For more information about Lena’s design, see:
http://www.visualcommunicationwolverhampton.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/lena-matthies-ma-student.html

Michael Salu – graduate success

Graphics graduate, Michael Salu, is artistic director at Granta Publications, working across Granta Magazine, Granta Books and Portobello books. He oversees all the visual work produced by Granta, publishing photography and art in Granta magazine, and art direction of all print and digital projects. He was previously Senior Designer at Vintage, the literary division of Random House UK. He has worked on a range of titles, designing several jackets for Vintage Classics - a prestigious list that included Italo Calvino, Raymond Carver, Bruce Chatwin and others. Michael has also worked with the musician Tricky, and also occasionally operates as a freelance brand consultant, designer and illustrator. He was responsible for creating and designing the new brand identity for Curzon Cinemas, recently launched across all the group’s activities.

"I get involved in a variety of projects but my main work is with Granta. Being a commissioning editor my role brings together art and photography, art direction, design, project management, illustration and much more. I run an art department and enjoy working with a host of design professionals. We’ve just finished our ‘Britain’ issue, for which I’ve curated a showcase of works addressing the multiple currents of British identity. Hopefully we’ll also be running an exhibition alongside the launch of the printed edition." says Michael

Michael's 2011 D&AD winning Magazine & Newspaper Design / Magazine Front Covers
 Granta 110: Sex 

Over the next few weeks will be sharing some of Michael’s articles from Granta.com 

Marketing - Internship

Marketing Assistant (Intern)

Essential skills: Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
Attention to detail/accuracy

Role Description: To develop and expand the company marketing profile through social media contexts. Ensure the work of the members are as widely publicised as possible using a mixture of channels to ensure maximum exposure. Manage Twitter and LinkedIn for the company. Manage the content of the company website. Proof reading the company magazine ensuring it is ready for circulation. Support members in accessing the technical links into the information/social network. Support the design of flyers/bulletins.


For more information about this position and to learn more about The University Internship Programme visit:
http://www.facebook.com/InternsWolverhampton

Dr Rina Arya – Francis Bacon, Painting in a Godless World

Many readers of this blog will already know that  Dr. Rina Arya, Reader in Visual Communication has been working on a new book about leading twentieth century artist, Francis Bacon.

Francis Bacon, Painting in a Godless World, is soon to be published by Lund Humphries and marks a new approach to appreciating the work of this renowned artist.

Throughout his career, Francis Bacon (1909-1992) made many anti-religious and, more specifically, anti-Christian statements. Bacon was a militant atheist but his atheism was not a simple dismissal of religion and religious belief. He exploited the symbols of Christianity, especially the Crucifixion and the Pope, in order to show its untenability in the modern age. 

Setting out to account for Bacon's recurrent and sustained use of religious symbols, Rina Arya explains how the artist redeployed religious iconography to convey an experience of the human condition, specifically animalism and mortality. By placing the work within the context of post-war philosophical pre-occupations with the death of God, the author provides a robust framework in which to view and interpret Bacon's complex images. 

“Dr Arya has identified an important and new field of research for Bacon study, and that there are no books in direct competition with it.” Christopher Daly, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Manchester

For more information see:

http://www.ashgate.com/default.aspx?page=643&calctitle=1&pageSubject=4171&title_id=9231&edition_id=12618

Nick Stapleton on BBC 6 Music

Tom Robinson will be playing Nick Stapleton's music. Graphic Communication graduate Nick will be featured, on BBC Six Music, next Monday between 1 and 3 am.  Tom is full of praise for Nick's sound and in response, Nick has just cut a special radio edit for Tom's show.

"Si Senor’s Nick Stapleton has taken the KLF proposition that 'The Groove’s The Thing' to heart on “For The Young”. The interplay of beats and bass are smack in the pocket and the production is sparse and simple – exactly what’s needed to support the song. This nice tight radio edit motors along as effortlessly as a Bentley. This is still early work from Si Senor, and promises great things in the year ahead." 

Tom Robinson, BBC Six Music 

http://freshonthenet.co.uk/batch4/
http://soundcloud.com/si-senor-music/for-the-young
http://soundcloud.com/tomrobinson

Graduate Success - Kayleigh Hadley

Graphics graduate Kayleigh Hadley has been in touch with news of her latest exhibition. If you're in London in April, why not pop by to say hello.


"I'm part of the 'Look Like Love' exhibition which is taking place at 'The House With', which is about 5 minutes from Peckham Rye Station. There are 6 artists and designers involved in the event, showing everything from graphics and illustration to furniture and textiles and jewellery. The exhibition runs from the 14th-28th of April."


http://look-likelove.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter: @Look_LikeLove 

Type game - working on your line breaks

You might enjoy a few minutes on Rag Time, a game that challenges you to even out paragraphs of very ragged, ranged left text. Remove all those pesky hyphenations while you race against the clock. Remember that you can't use your mouse - it all works using the arrow keys on your keyboard. It's a race against the clock so why not test your typographic skills - it's not as easy as it looks.

http://fathom.info/latest/1517

Junior & Middleweight Graphic Designer - Greenspace, East London

Junior & Middleweight Graphic Designer
Greenspace are a small design agency working in Bethnal Green, East London.

We deliver a diverse scale of projects across all media and disciplines.

Recent clients include Bentley Motors, Zaha Hadid Architects and Toyota.

We’re currently looking for a Junior and Middleweight Graphic Designer to join our team.

If you’re interested please drop a note and samples of your best work to lee@thegreenspace.com

Internships - graphics and Interior design. 'i-am' associates—London

Graphic & Interior Design interns needed
We are looking for enthusiastic and talented interns to join our busy London office for work throughout the summer. Travel within London and lunch expenses will be paid. This is an opportunity to gain valuable insight into the world of interiors and branding whilst working with lots of friendly people!

Applicants must be students or recent graduates with a relevant design degree or equivalent.

Graphic Designers

You have a passion for design and a keen eye for detail. You are a good communicator and excellent with the major Adobe packages. Please send a CV and examples of your best work to gemma@i-amonline.com

‘Object Story’… Film Screening

Open publication - Free publishing - More film

The Custard Factory Theatre Birmingham will be the venue for a screening of one minute shorts by visual communication students on Thursday March 22nd. The programme contains an eclectic mix of interpretations, some taking a sideways look at object language and the experience of living in the material culture of everyday life. 

Different ideas and approaches include; Daniel Partons Docile Objects where the lens reconsiders the domestic functionality of everyday life, Raymond Chans Portland Vase Project where the camera is window on a 400 year heritage of glassmaking; Lathe Story recorded in her grandfathers workshop reveals to Lorraine Bennett a language of confident direction in the transfer of his object skills; Alice Whyley’s Recollection uses the champagne cork as trigger for a narrative on tragedy and loss, whilst Rebecca Hards employs audio and animated typography in Sentimental Value to convey how the photograph connects and reconnects us with family history. 

‘Object Story’ screening starts at 7.00 pm on Thursday March 22nd in the Custard Factory Theatre Gibb Street Digbeth Birmingham B9 4AA

For more information contact Ian Madeley I.J.Madeley@wlv.ac.uk

The Oak House from Sangita Kumari of OCD MAG

The Oak house from ocd mag on Vimeo.

The Oak House in West Bromwich is a delightful half timbered yeoman's house built between 1590 and 1630.

Level 3 graphics student Sangita Kumari, originator of OCD MAG has created a one minute film about objects, with footage shot in The Oak house’. It comments on life in relation to time, as well as reflecting on social and cultural trends, which may have been forgotten with time.

Variations of a Typographer

Variations of a Typographer, a two day conference exploring a diverse selections of type and design related topics, has just taken place at Birmingham City University. 2 of the speakers have a direct connection with University of Wolverhampton. Graphics alumni Evripides Zantides, who is now Assistant Professor at Cyprus University of Technology gave a fascinating talk about The use of eye-tracker technology to evaluate gender perception biases on typeface design and characteristics. 

Jessica Glaser, Senior lecturer in graphic communication gave a paper entitled The Graphic Sandwich a visual metaphor for the layered, textural and tonal experience of graphic design. An investigation and unravelling, layer by layer.

Podcasts of these presentations will soon be available from the http://www.typographichub.org/

Illustrator required - Shape, Manchester

We are looking for an Illustrator to work on a new project. Black and white line drawings is what we are looking for, obviously with your added personal touch. We will be looking for 4 illustrations to go through website headers, provided in outlines. More details can be provided in full.

Please only contact us if you are available to work on the project immediately.

If you are interested in this project contact Andy directly, with portfolio examples that include relevant styling and estimated quote: andy@madebyshape.co.uk

Endless Guestlist - Luke Powell

Enterprising final year graphics student Luke Powell has for a while been marketing his own T shirt designs with great acclaim. 

Luke's designs promoted under the brand name 'Endless Guestlist' have been selling fast, with customers coming from all over the UK and beyond.

"I'm getting some great response to the new Endless Guestlist online store. Having only launched the brand in 2011, the response to my designs is fantastic." 

said Luke

To see Luke's latest collection visit:

http://www.endlessguestlist.com/

La Moulade - Design opportunities

Junior Designer, Graphic Design Intern, Flash Developer

La Moulade are now working in a new office in Hyde Park Corner in London. This mews is the Headquarter of CoutureLab, an established global internet retail. For them luxury goes beyond seasons and trends, or cultural boundaries and for that they are working on fantastic new products and services that needs passionate hard working people. We are working with CoutureLab to bring a new vision and the correct interaction to make their projects alive.

You will have the chance to work for CoutureLab, to collaborate with brands, designers, artists, galleries and expert craftsmen, from all parts of the globe to curate and sell their creations in its online content & commerce destination.

We are looking for:
A Junior Designer - Full time
A Graphic Designer - Internship

We also are looking for people for our new product Mookapi :
2 PHP/Ruby Developer - Full Time
A Flash developer - Freelance - 1 month

To Apply
Please email us your CV and your online portfolio.

You don't need to send cover letters as we will not read them.

Send all your details by mail at hello@lamoulade.co.uk

WE WILL RESPOND TO ALL CANDIDATES EVEN IF YOUR NOT SELECTED

Everybody loves Raymond

Graphic Communication student Raymond Chan picked up a prestigious Marketing Award last night at the B-Hive Awards - aimed at helping students in the creative, marketing, pr and digital sectors win valuable work placements and get that first foot on the career ladder.

Raymond’s prize of a placement was for his work in exploring a new approach to marketing the city of Birmingham:

"It came as a shock when my name was announced as one of the winners. I was even happier to find out that the placement offered was with Birmingham's Bullring Shopping Centre working on their upcoming advertising and website redesign together with great companies such as 383 Project and Isobel. It's been a great experience so far in the competition and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Really looking forward to working with the Marketing Team at the Bullring!"

Junior Graphic Designer - GR/DD—Shoreditch, London

Junior Graphic Designer

We are seeking an outstanding Junior Designer to join our rapidly expanding Shoreditch based agency for immediate start. The majority of our work is interactive, so experience in this area will be a definite advantage.

You should be a clear thinker with great ideas, and you must have the ability to also execute them in a visually stunning way.

You must be able to work as part of a team, being involved in many aspects of the studio from concept work, pitch development, UI design, and offering support to other designers and developers.

You must be proficient with Photoshop and Illustrator but experience with Flash, 3D software and video editing software will be a bonus.

If you think you’ve got what it takes we’d love to hear from you.

Send your CV and PDF examples of your work to: recruit@grdd.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.

Creative Teams, FOR-London

Jr and Mid-weight Creative Teams
Junior and Mid-weight Creative Teams with highly-conceptual, fun and quirky folios needed to join a fresh start-up TTL agency founded by established ATL Creative Directors.

Exposure to advertising and communications environments is essential with 2+ years’ experience in either progressive and edgy or traditional advertising.
You must be able to demonstrate commercial acumen and have the ability to produce a range of campaigns for a variety of clientele.
Only published and commissioned work will be considered; a maximum of one self-initiated project, please.

Freelance position with an immediate start, and the potential to become permanent.

Please forward your CV to angie@ for-london.com for immediate consideration.
We apologise but due to large volumes only successful applicants will be receive a response.

Rachel Collinson - Graduate Success

Graphics graduate Rachel Collinson runs the award winning company Rechord. Rachel says
"Rechord make websites that actually do things....We build social networking applications, mobile apps and online campaigns for charities and public sector organisations. We thrive on challenges, especially short deadlines, tricky design problems and new technologies.

One of our latest designs is for Friend of the Earth Europe – We are really pleased with it and proud to have such a big name on our books" 
http://www.foeeurope.org/

Pantone licensed products

The Pantone colour matching system is used within all areas of the creative industries and there is an ever increasing range of Pantone licensed merchandise. Yes the brightly coloured mugs that have become so popular, but have you also seen socks, toothbrushes, Christmas ornaments, eye glasses and Visa cards - yes visa cards.

One of the latest licensed products is Pantone false eyelashes - made by

Sephora and Pantone Universe. 

For more details visit:

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P307550&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5814#

Sian Mcgivern- Graduate Success

Graphics graduate Sian Mcgivern talks about the challenges of her job as a copywriter.
I work as a copywriter within the Marketing and Communications department at the University of wolverhampton. This involves proofreading, copyediting and creating copy for marketing materials for the University’s schools and corporate services eg. brochures, leaflets, prospectuses, flyers, e-zines, web articles, postcards…

I have also been asked to produce articles for the University’s magazines, including WLVInsider (our staff magazine) and Knowledge – our B2B magazine – which, although challenging, has enabled me to develop my writing skills.

We are a very busy department – processing around 1000 jobs a year! During my first week, I had to learn the University style guide and proofing marks – but since I have settled in I don’t find that I have to keep referring back to them so much.

It’s been really interesting learning about marketing in education, meeting new people and finding out their roles within the University. Within the department, I work opposite the graphic designers and I think it’s really important that the copywriters and designers work together through a project in order to produce an exciting and successful end product.

I have always wanted a career in publishing, and working as a copywriter has given me more skills and confidence. It has also enabled me to work within a team environment – something that is quite different after working as a freelance graphic designer!

Graduate Intern - Alumni & Development

University of Wolverhampton - Careers and Employment Centre (CEC)

Graduate Intern - Alumni & Development

Closing date

16/03/2012

Salary info

Approx £250.00 per week

The University is seeking to support one of our own recent graduates on an internship programme designed to bring the benefits of the graduate’s skills and experiences to the University’s Alumni and Development Office in its aim to re-engage with the wider graduate community. The postholder will be based at the City Campus (MX Building).

The Alumni and Development Office undertakes a wide range of activities to engage with the alumni community, including printed and digital communications, events, volunteering schemes and the provision of off-campus services. The internship will allow the graduate to develop a variety of CV enhancing skills while also offering the Alumni and Development team insight into the alumni community through the eyes of one of its members.

We are looking for a talented individual, who is seeking valuable work experience and may be interested in developing a career in alumni relations or marketing and communications.

The Intern in this unit will:

• Identify and contact alumni who have gone on to successful careers and research and write case studies for publishing on the website.
• Support the Alumni and Development team with organising and hosting alumni events.
• Contribute articles to the monthly ezine and biannual magazine.
• Support the Alumni and Development team in the production of promotional material (printed and online) for alumni campaigns.
• Use social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to push out messages to the alumni community.
• Identify and advise on possible off-campus benefits and discounts that would appeal to alumni community.
• Actively contribute ideas for new and innovative ways of engaging with the alumni community.
• Conduct data inputting and general administrative tasks.

Interns will have access to University Staff Development opportunities and support from the Careers & Employment Centre. Interns will be eligible to apply for internal staff vacancies during the last two months of the internship period.

Internships are an opportunity for a recent University of Wolverhampton graduate to integrate their recent University experiences with practical, supervised work experience -

• Contributes to the student’s personal and professional development
• Involves a supervision component that is mentoring and educational
• Includes career related experiences that complement what has been learned
• Will have a reflection and evaluation process at the conclusion of the internship

THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT OPEN TO GRADUATES WHO ARE ALREADY ON OR HAVE COMPLETED A GRADUATE INTERNSHIP AT THE UNIVERSITY

ESSENTIAL

• Good written communication skills
• Able to use own initiative,
• Eagerness and enthusiasm.

Applications will only be accepted from graduates who have completed their studies in the 2010/11 academic year (Graduated in 2011).

A university’s alumni (graduate) community is a unique pool of talent and offers a vital source of opportunity. Through the building of a mutually beneficial relationship, a university can assist its graduates in achieving their personal and professional aspirations long after they have left the University, and in return benefit from the support they offer back to us.

Over the past 18 months the Alumni and Development Office has been actively re-engaging with alumni and has developed a range of benefits on which a lifelong relationship can be built.

As a member of the alumni community, we want one of our own graduates to join the Alumni and Development team and use their experiences, knowledge and skills to help us enhance this range of benefits

Accepted degree subjects

marketing and advertising studies

business and management studies

Working hours

Full-time

Contract

Fixed term

Recent graduates should submit a CV and a covering statement to: theworkplace@wlv.ac.uk

The covering statement should be a short piece of approx 500 words setting out why you would be suitable for this internship opportunity and what skills and qualities you would bring to the department,.

Please note that if you have not been contacted within 3 weeks of the closing date please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful.