Gemma Oldfield - Graduate Success

Congratulations to Visual Communication Multimedia student Gemma Oldfield, who graduated with first class honours in 2011, and won The Sheaffer Prize for Outstanding Work on Live Commissions in Graphic Communication for projects with the Higher Education Academy and West Midlands Fire Service.

Gemma is currently studying the Masters in Digital and Visual Communication at Wolverhampton, and has landed an educational multimedia development job with RTITB, the largest lift truck training accrediting body in the UK and Ireland. http://www.rtitb.co.uk

"Studying Visual Communication at Wolverhampton gave me the opportunity to work with real clients on live projects, and this has given me the experience and confidence required for work."

We wish her every success.

Andreas Olymbios - MA Student

Having firstly completed my bachelor studies at the University of Wolverhampton, the fulfilling, creative profession of Graphic Design has consumed me. I have been a freelance designer since 2007, which gave me the opportunity to work on range of varied of projects. I have decided to undertake a masters degree in Digital and Visual Communication (Design for Advertising). 

The main thing I have learned, during my academic and working experience, is that, to meet the needs of creative industry, a graphic designer must be multifaceted, and constantly updating their knowledge. I am always seeking ways to improve my skills by utilizing a wide array of sources, ranging from academic literature to contemporary works. I especially take pride in my published works, as appraisal from my peers inspires me to invest further in my profession. 

Choosing a subject for my MA project has helped me to concentrate on an area of design that is new to me. I will be creating a new brand of energy drink and examining the effect of different approaches to advertising and promotion for this new product. The target market is an adult audience aged from 18 to 40 of both sexes. My product will be different from other energy drinks, which are mainly aimed at young consumers with a specific way of life. This product is based on natural ingredients, for consumers with an awareness of health issues. My target audience are busy people with a hectic routine who may feel tired or stressed during the day. 

I am looking forward to continuing my MA. studies and to testing the results of different forms of advertising focused on consumer’s interests and lifestyle.

Edible poster design from Anna Garforth

Anna Garforth works with a diverse range of materials and skills to create unique and experimental work. So far her artworks have been used for public events, community projects, workshops, campaigns, publications and exhibitions both nationally and internationally.

With a strong background in design and illustration, her nifty fingers work moss into beautiful lettering, cookie dough into edible posters and rubbish into typographic wonder.


http://crosshatchling.co.uk/About.html

Nick Stapleton - graduate success

I can’t believe that I’ve gained 14 years experience as a graphic designer, since completing my graphics degree at The University of Wolverhampton. In this time I’ve been lucky enough to work on designs involving a variety media, as well as art directing and shooting photography. I’ve designed for organisations including De Montfort University, Norwich City Council and many other companies. 

Since graduation I have really enjoyed developing my skills and I am now not only responsible for creative output, but I also control marketing and advertising budgets. I particularly enjoy working on re-branding projects that help to raise the profile and boost sales for my clients. 

Moving to a work within a small agency, led to fresh challenges including the excitement of promoting music festivals and theatre productions. I particularly enjoy music, having sung and played in a band for along while. 

My current position allows me to enjoy building on the skills of my previous experience. I work in areas including web design, branding, advertising and design for print. My designs need to capture the essence of the company I work for and help the organisation relate better with its audience, creating a stronger brand that sells more proactively.

TYPE TARTS EXHIBITION - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

If you are unfamiliar with these things, tart cards are the means by which London prostitutes advertise their services. Step in to any Central London call box and you can contemplate up to eighty cards inviting you to be tied, teased, spanked or massaged either in luxury apartments, fully-equipped chambers or the privacy of your own hotel room.

So pervasive are these things, and so curious is their typography, images and copy writing, they are now regarded as bona fide items of accidental art and have something of a cult following. Once on the periphery of design, the cards have influenced the work of many mainstream artists including Royal Academician Tom Philips and Sex Pistols designers, Ray and Nils Stevenson. The aim is to create witty graphic designs, whilst highlighting the serious issue that lies at the heart of the world of tart cards – the plight of trafficked women in the sex industry.

We would like you to design a tart card either for a typeface or a letter of the alphabet, to ‘find the tart hiding in every type’.

SPECIFICATION• A6 (105 x 148 mm) landscape or portrait.
• Typographic, illustrative, photographic: or a combination of techniques of your choosing.
• Hand or machine made
• Single - or full-colour
• Side 1 – image and text
• Side 2 – sign and date
• Supply hard copy and, electronic versions if possible.

THE RESULTS
All entries will be exhibited in the TypeTarts Exhibition at MediaCity 16th-25th February 2012
After which the collection will be included in the St Bride Library permanent collection.
The deadline for submitting your card (email or physical) is Monday 6th February

You can email submissions direct to John Rooney at j.rooney@salford.ac.uk

Hard copies to be sent to John Rooney, Centenary Building, University of Salford, Peru St, Salford, M3 6EQ.

Feel free to tweet us your submissions too at @createatsalford using the hashtag #typetartsalford and take a look at some examples of the cards that have already been submitted on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/createatsalford

http://createatsalford.tumblr.com/post/15563675050/type-tarts-exhibition-call-for-submissions

The Caparo Prize for Creative Enterprise

Every year one of the prestigious awards offered to students graduating from the School of Art and Design, is The Caparo Prize for Creative Enterprise. The prize is present during the graduation ceremony, in front of an audience of family and friends.

The competition which offers a £100 prize, is open to final year students. If you would like to be considered for this award, you will need to put together a written document that explains and illustrates your achievements in the area of 'enterprise, initiative and or entrepreneurship' within art and design. This should include information about commercial, or 'public faced' activities that you have been involved with. For more information please contact John Clementson or Jeff Leak. The Visual Communication staff team are looking forward to supporting a number of applications from students

Entries To: 

Dean of School, MK505
CLOSING DATE: FRIDAY 25 MAY 2012

B-Hive

Getting a job in the creative industries is hard enough. But add the downturn, recession, depression – call it what you like – and securing an entry level role in marketing, design, PR and digital has become even more challenging.

B-Hive can give you a head start – by bringing together Birmingham’s leading creative agencies and big brands we are giving you the chance to present to the industry’s most successful PR, Marketing, Creative and Digital professionals. Impress them and you will secure one of the 30 paid work experience placements on offer at some of the most high-profile players in the Midlands.

B-Hive 2012 has started and is offerring a range of exciting briefs, that focus on marketing, public relations, advertising, graphic design and web design – so there will definitely be something to get your creative juices flowing!

The competition, now open to art schools in the West Midlands – is no longer not just Birmingham centered, but competition will be fierce and it is important that interested Wolverhampton students make an early start. 
For more information and to view the briefs visit:
http://bhive-creative.com/enter-bhive/the-briefs

PAPERGIRL - Birmingham

P A P E R G I R L is a non-commercial art project which aims to take art distribution out of galleries and into the streets via bicycle. It aims to broaden the public consciousness of both local and global artists and provide them with a wider, more liberal venue to exhibit their work.

The project was founded in Berlin by Aisha Ronniger.

Since 2006 Aisha’s idea has inspired like-minded folk from around the globe into organising a Papergirl project in their city.

The concept begins with an open call for art, welcoming anyone creatively minded to submit their work. Drawings, paintings, screen prints, photographs, textiles, stickers, poems, zines… anything that can be rolled up and transported with ease.

Art is collected, exhibited for free, and then distributed to an unsuspecting public, via an atmospheric array of honkingly exuberant and ravishingly roadworthy Brummies on bicycles.

You don’t have to be a girl to be involved in Papergirl. If a blend of cycling, art, and random acts of kindness speak to you, then get in touch to be a part of Birmingham’s first Papergirl.

http://papergirlbirmingham.tumblr.com/
MAKE IT HAPPEN & GET INVOLVED!

DELIVER IN PERSON OR POST YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO:

'PAPERGIRL BIRMINGHAM'
THE FRAMERS,
Studio4 Gallery, The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA,
United Kingdom.

OR

THE ELECTRIC CINEMA,
47-49 Station Street, Birmingham, West Midlands,
B5 4DY, United Kingdom.

papergirlbirmingham@gmail.com

❖ THE IDEA of the project is to open the art world to people who often don’t instinctively or actively seek it out; to surprise people and bring them into contact with art in their everyday life.

❖ The initial impulse for this project came about due to a tightening of a law in 2005, associating postering in public places with graffiti-spraying. The idea of distributing art by bicycle emerged during the search for new ways to bring art straight to society, and have more fun doing so than out of fear of possible punishment.

❖ The project is all-inclusive and there are no restrictions on medium, nor on participants’ age, education, gender, location or background. Both emerging and more established artists are welcome to take part. This means that all levels and styles of prints, stickers, posters, photos, stories, illustrations, zines, drawings, paintings, fabric, t-shirts come together in one unique roll.

Packaging Designer - Leeds

Packaging Designer

We are looking for a packaging designer in our Leeds studio. You ideally have 3-5 years’ experience working in an award-winning brand design company, full of ideas and enthusiasm and enjoy working as part of a team. Please send examples of your work (titling the pdf attachment with your name) to: packaging.design@elmwood.co.uk

Graduate Designer - Leeds

Graduate Designer

Elmwood are looking for a graduate designer for our Leeds studio. We are looking for someone who not only likes a creative challenge, but will challenge us too. We want you to be bursting with ideas, and not afraid to voice them. You must be passionate about design and creativity. You must always be hungry to learn. You could have recently graduated, or due to graduate this summer. You’ll get the opportunity to work on all sizes of branding projects so you’ll need enough technical skills to hit the ground running, and thrive in a team environment. Please send examples of your work (titling the pdf attachment with your name) to: graduates@elmwood.com