The Sheaffer Prize for Use of Language in Graphic Projects

Sheaffer have decided to offer an award for one student graduating with a Graphic Communication degree this year. The Sheaffer Prize for Use of Language in Graphic Projects will be awarded for the first time at graduation in September and the winning student will receive a collectors version Sheaffer pen.

Jessica Glaser, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Communication at the University’s School of Art & Design, added: “We are delighted by the generous support of Sheaffer UK. We are thrilled that they have offered to reinforce the achievement of our graduating students in recognition of the important link between written language and graphic design.”
Sheaffer have been established since the early 1900s and produce a wide range of high quality writing instruments, including collectors pens and pencils.

Update on RotoVision award

Earlier in the year RotoVision publishers confirmed their desire to continue to sponsor a graduate award.
We are delighted to announce that this coming year RotoVision will be adding to this prize and sponsoring 3 awards, not just the one.
The 2 extra prizes to be presented to lucky graphics graduates, will be

The RotoVision Prize for Excellence in Packaging Design & The RotoVision Prize for Excellence in Branding Design

These 2 new awards will sit alongside the existing RotoVision Award for excellence in Editorial Graphic Communication.
Thank you RotoVision

Design competition win for Theo Johnson

Final year graphics student Theo Johnson has just won the design competition to develop a new identity for Student Union publication ‘Cry Wolf’. Theo’s design will be permanently adopted by the Student Union eZine and the story behind his winning design will be featured on the landing page of the Student Union website.

“Whilst developing the new identity, I decided to explore incorporating a wolf in a more contemporary way. After a exploring a number of alternatives in visual form, I came up with the idea of using the silhouette of a wolf against a full moon, to substitute for the letter ‘O’. I have chosen a sans serif typeface to ensure that my design is right up to date.” Says Theo. “I am really delighted that my idea has been selected and I look forward to seeing my design in use” he concludes.

Graphic Communication students are a Glass Act....

The Glass Association, a registered charity, is a national association born almost 30 years ago out of the need to foster the understanding and appreciation of glass and glass making techniques throughout the UK.

Level 2 Graphic Communication students have been working on a live brief to re-brand the Association to include stationery, print focused publications - quarterly magazine ‘The Glass Cone’ and the Association’s biennial Journal and web, social media groups / blogs etc.

Designs shown here are: (clockwise from top left: Xintong Du (Dee), Daniel Dean, Alex Steer, Andy O'Rourke and Katie Howells)

You can find out more about the Glass Association by visiting: www.glassassociation.org.uk

Lisa Barrett has bags of style...

Lisa began her placement at Bradleys the Tannery Ltd in August 2010 after winning a live brief module in semester two of the BA(Hons) Graphic Communication course. Over the last six months she has worked on a range of design materials, initially beginning with a company rebrand - this included the design of business stationery, retail signage and a range of promotional materials including a 32 page catalogue.

With Lisa's help and expertise, the brand has received positive feedback from customers and wholesalers and Bradleys believe that the new brand is helping them to reach new clients.

Lisa’s placement has lead to a variety of opportunities including visiting Chatsworth Country Show and Spring Fair International at the NEC.

Her future plans include working with a web developer on Bradleys’  new website and art directing photo shoots.

Lisa says, “This live brief has given me invaluable experience increasing my personal and professional confidence and will no doubt help me on my journey to securing employment as a graduate designer.”

Graduate success: Louise Carrier

In 1998, I graduated with First Class BA (Hons) Graphic Communication. My first job was as a designer at the multidisciplinary design
consultancy Hurlston Design in Bourneville, Birmingham. I was lucky enough to work for clients including The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Van Heusen and Business Post.

“I felt utterly at home and on the graphics course at the University of Wolverhampton. With the help of the theory, practice and collaborative learning, I started to develop my practice and have continued to do so today. The people, experiences and ideas I gained from my time as a student now live on in my mind and will do so forever.”

I have gone on on to work as an In house designer for Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council, and have been awarded A.H.R.B Bursary to study on the MA Communication Design at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design. After completing my Masters, I began to work with two fellow Wolverhampton graduates Rachel Collinson and Stefan Cartwright, under the company name of Rechord. During this time Rechord were nominated as part of Creative Review's Creative Futures for Sound and exhibited their sound toy 'CuBop' at the Roundhouse, Camden and Digital Women, London. Our Clients included Greenpeace UK, Talent Circus and The London Sustainability Exchange. Indeed the re-design of the Greenpeace UK website was my first major project as a partner of Rechord.

I now run my own Business, Louise Carrier Design and Illustration and enjoy working for a range of clients, including Floor Couture. My site can be seen at:
http://www.louisecarrier.co.uk

“Due to this excellent practical and theoretical grounding I graduated not only with relevant specialist skills but also a wealth of transferrable skills and an awareness of people, ideas and modes of thinking which continue to guide and assist me in every aspect of my daily life.”

Worth the Wait...

Thursday February 17th saw a full house with standing room only at the Lighthouse Cinema Wolverhampton.

“Waiting”, a screening of 58 short conceptual films produced by Graphic Communication students in response to the question “what is waiting?” was extremely well received; the event drawing in members of the public, ex-graduates (great to see you!), parents and friends.

Student promotions

Graphics students are busy using social networking to promote their work and the 2011 degree show. Join in and add comments to any of the site pages and support the students.

http://www.thisis11.co.uk/  

http://www.facebook.com/pages/This-is-11/111361925607782  

http://twitter.com/#!/thisiseleven  

thisis1event@gmail.com 

Also, look out for the forthcoming Computer Arts Magazine, Graduate Showcase which is to feature a selection of design work by Wolverhampton students.

Student fundraising event for final show

Tickets available on line from www.thisis11.co.uk , the Student Union or on the door. Bring your friends and support the show.

Illustrators Claim Six Places In Art of Nurture Regional Final

Six students from Visual Communications have been selected for the Lloyds/TSB ‘Art of Nurture’ regional final.
Of the thirteen regional finalists, four Illustrators and two illustration/Graphic Communication combined students were chosen for this prestigious national competition. Wolverhampton students were competing with students from all over the midlands area, other finalists are studying as far afield as Loughborough, Nottingham and Derby as well as more local institutions such as Birmingham and Coventry.

The student’s work will be showcased in the regional final at the IKON Gallery, Birmingham’s internationally acclaimed contemporary art venue. The private view and final selection will be held on the evening of Tuesday 22nd March. Two selected finalists from each regional final will have their work on show at a London Gallery (to be announced, the 2010 final was held at the Saatchi Gallery) for the National final in April, with the eventual winner receiving the £5,000 first prize, the runner up will receive £2,000. Additionally the national winners will be given the opportunity to attend an optional work placement during the summer of 2011

This is the fifth year of the Lloyds TSB student art competition, which has been developed in partnership with Arts & Business; a national art based charity that brings together the worlds of art and commerce.

Wolves Illustrators have been represented in the last three regional finals, but the number of successful selections this year is unprecedented. This has been a real team effort and we are rightly proud of our student’s achievement.

The staff team are delighted to have had so many of our students recognised in this prestigious national competition. It is encouraging for the team and more importantly our students that their efforts, enterprise and talent is being rewarded.
The experience of having your work shown at the IKON and to be in the regional final is invaluable.
We also had a number of students who didn’t make the regional final and some of those can feel disappointed they didn’t make it, our standard of entry was very strong this year.