Katie Kelly

Full portfolio available at http://behance.net/katiekelly9

"I have thouroughly enjoyed my final project as it offered me the time and space to explore new styles of creative play. I feel I have challenged myself with new forms of illustration which I have always wanted to delve into it." Katie Kelly

Self Directed Project: YOU! Clothing Brand

YOU! is a unisex clothing brand targeted at 18-25 year-olds. The brand is focused on promoting gender equality through various messages emblazoned across the aparel. The encouragement is for people to be able to express who they are through what they wear. The project deliverables included ident design, typographic treatment, exploring new illustration styles, colour ways research, screen printing testing and applying final ideas across physical apparel.

Soraya Eghbali

Full portfolio available at http://www.behance.net/amoali

"Studying at UCEN has given me the opportunity to work on live briefs with companies such as Kin+Carta, LTE group and 42nd street charity. I have also undertaken a placement opportunity within the LTE group marketing department. The continued support of my tutors through lockdown has enabled me to focus on my studies and grow as a creative practitioner." Soraya Eghbali

42nd Street

The Loneliness Connects Us project explored youth loneliness through arts-based and creative methods with 42nd Street, a Manchester-based charity that supports young people under stress. We were invited by 42nd Street to offer a creative response to the report. I created an animated video to persuade people who suffer from loneliness to get in touch with someone who can help them. I received great feedback from the client and they have confirmed my work will be used to promote their services across all their social media platforms.

Kin+Carta Live Brief

Creative response to a CO-OP brief to help promote an episode of their "In It Together" podcast.

Marta Kornaga

"The variety of tasks; from Adobe program skills to creative exercises has given me a deeper understanding of Graphic Design principles." Marta Kornaga

Advertising Unit:

The projects shown are from various briefs including industry collaboration and internal modules. We had opportunities to explore print techniques, Adobe program skills, screen printing, book binding, marketing campaigns and branding.

Zines:

Film Poster:

Posters:

Social Media Campaign: Instagram Stories

Matt Robinson

Full portfolio available at Mattsterclass.com

"My Self Directed Project allowed me to develop new software and design skills and also work on a live brief within an area I have a real passion for." Matt Robinson

Self Directed Project:

PopeArt create custom consoles for companies such as Microsoft and 2K. For my final project, I was tasked with learning 3D software, Blender, from the ground up in order to create three custom game art and console designs. In addition, I designed extras such as promotional videos and packaging design concepts.

Apex Legends Valkyrie PlayStation 5 console design:

The Division 2 PlayStation 5 console design:

Job at MAC Clinical Research

Andrew McAlinney

Achievements: 1st Class BA Honours, placement at Kin + Carta Connect & Freelance with Bearded Fellows
Progression to: Employment @ MAC Clinical Research

In joining our course Andrew had his sights set pretty high. He jumped onto
our top BA (hons) with an impressive portfolio (and qualifications to match),
but as a self-supporting mature student, recently settled in Manchester from Belfast,
he desperately needed a job to quickly follow his graduation.

Andrew’s fist unit was Professional Practice, an industry-supported unit,
centred around motion graphics. The unit is designed to be challenging and
demanding conceived through consultation with international digital design
experts Kin + Carta, the project being run my alumni Lisa Dale. Students benefit
from visiting their premises for a briefing, campus visits from Kin + Carta for
lectures and skills sessions. The unit concludes in final pitches at their
board room in competition for placement opportunities.

During these sessions’ students get a chance to make an impression on
Lisa’s team, which Andrew did – thoroughly answering the brief and taking it
further than Kin + Carta had expected… he went on to pick up a month’s
placement with them before the national Lockdown in April 2020. During Lockdown
Andrew secured himself several interviews, collaborated with Bearded Fellow’s
on two freelance projects (with one of his graduating peers) and was afforded
the unusual position of weighing up two job offers, before achieve his goal of
working and living in Manchester as a graphic designer with MAC Clinical Research.

“Honestly I’m gutted I haven’t been on the course since YR 1. The working environment’s been so much more personal, I’ve felt so much more encouragement here to do my best than I ever did on my previous course. You can really tell the difference going from being a number on a screen to a person.”

Andrew McAlinney

Final Major Project – Data Diner / Walkthrough Video

Kin + Carta Connect Project Below:

Kin + Carta Project – Saucy Fish / 15 Sec Advert
Kin + Carta Project – Saucy Fish / Instagram Marketing Concept

Job at The Genius Group

Aleksandra Wantuch

Achievements: 1st Class BA Honours, placement at Kin + Carta Connect & LTE Group placement
Progression to: Employment @ thegeniusgroup.com

Alekandra studied Photography at The Manchester College before coming to UCEN Manchester to study Graphic Design & Advertising with us, in which she graduated with a 1st Class BA Honours. As a Polish student she wanted to study and work in the UK and had one of the most focused work ethics the course has seen in a student.

“I really appreciate the effort and dedication from the tutors on this course. I thoroughly enjoyed all hours spent in sessions and tutors always motivating me to push harder in my projects. Studying on this course has made me confident and ready to work in the industry. This course gets my recommendation!”

Aleksandra Wantuch

Managing the transition from photography to Graphic Design & Advertising Alekandra achieved everything she set out too, gaining high 60’s throughout the first year and going on the maintain 70+ in all units but one throughout the next two years. Holding down a graphics job with The Claims Guys for most of her study, Alek moved on to win placements at Kin + Carta Connect and the LTE Group due to her interview skills and strong portfolio; demonstrating confidence in strategy and her mastery of application skills across print and screen design.

Final Major Project – Social Media Advert
Final Major Project – Qube App / Presentation Video
Final Major Project – Qube App / Qube Animations
Final Major Project – Social Media Advert

Job at LTE Group

Michael Hawkins

Achievements: Placements at SuperUnion, Brand Union & LTE Group
Progression to: Job @ LTG Group

Alumni Michael Hawkins applied to UCEN Manchester to study a Creative Media and Visual Communication BA (Hons) Top-up and pursue a design career. After gaining the latest industry skills in demand for the design world, Michael didn’t have to wait long to see his ambitions realised. Michael secured work placement with education and training provider LTE Group, which led to a full time lead designer position with MTC Works. He now works on key design briefs for the leading probation and custody provider.

“When I came to UCEN Manchester, the tutors were really interested in my work and why I wanted to come here, and spoke to me as an equal. That made me feel really comfortable and I knew it was going to be a really interactive, engaging course.
“My tutors have been 100 per cent supportive and welcoming. I knew the smaller class sizes would benefit me more than learning in large lecture theatres. It gives you a better understanding of your studies and almost feels like one-to-one tuition.

Michael Hawkins

“The course structure itself has a real focus on networking and establishing your career once you leave. Your work improves to industry standard, and there is a real focus on establishing industry contacts and getting yourself and your work out there. In addition, there are lots of professional designers who come to speak to us, which is great.
“The course really pushes you to do your best, which in turn means you’re more equipped to go into a full time job. In my third year, I felt ready to produce industry standard work and that really propelled me to get job alongside my studies.”

Michael Hawkins

Michael & other students with Malcolm Garrett

Liverpool Exhibitions

Trip: Liverpool
Purpose: Gallery Visits

Today the Foundation Degree Courses – Graphic Design & Advertising, Contemporary Photographic Practices and Contemporary Art Practice took a day trip to Liverpool as part of the Induction activities, to visit major exhibition centres in Liverpool including FACT, The Open Eye, The Bluecoat Gallery and TATE Liverpool to see a range of inspirational and socially important exhibitions.

“It was a great experience and my first time to an exhibition in this country … I loved the use Keith Haring’s colours, lines and negative shapes.” – Soraya Eghbali

The Open Eye had an exhibition addressing the topic of ‘the portrait’ with responses from 16 years olds’. Students were privy to a talk from a member of the curatorial team who discussed the current exhibition & gave a tour of the Gallery. FACT’s exhibition ‘In Real Life’ focused on the ‘gig sector’ with stories from a Graphic Designer in India to a beautician Vlogger in the UK. Bluecoat had an exhibition from Shezad Dawood and a wonderful exhibition of promotional posters from their previous exhibitions spanning decades. This was especially interesting to the first year Graphics students, who will be designing exhibition posters as part of their first unit.  And the TATE held one of the most powerful and diverse exhibitions ever of Keith Haring’s work starting with his early work on the streets of New York through to his socially profound work on the AIDS epidemic.

“Visiting the Keith Haring exhibition was like visiting a time capsule – it resonates today because of the LGBT community – I liked that he wasn’t limited at all by any materials, he was like a stream of consciousness, he reminded me of Barney Ibbotson’s work. It makes me want to buy some ink and tarpaulin – it’s made me think about how I can work in my sketchbook.” – Clare Marshall

“I liked seeing pieces of work carried out in different ways to the way I would approach something – such as the work by Shezad Dawood with her bright and unique pieces using neon lights; creating various objects and animals.” – Peter Bergin

In addition to their engagement with these cultural institutions it was an opportunity for all courses to meet each other informally. Freshers got to meet their peers across divers course programmes.

London Trip

Renwick Studios / 4Designers Conference

Trip: 4Designers Conference
Studios: Renwick Studios

UCEN Manchester students across three courses enjoyed an inspirational trip to London.

A total of 20 students from the Graphic Design and Advertising FdA, Creative Media and Visual Communication – BA Hons Top-Up, and Contemporary Photographic Practices FdA travelled to the capital to network with industry professionals and explore career progression.

The graphic design and creative media students attended the 4Designers Conference, a gathering of hundreds of UK and international students, where four speakers explained their different approaches to graphic design, and their route into industry.

Conference speakers included boutique creative agency Renwick Studios; the world’s largest independently-owned design studio Pentagram; digital based agency C3UK; and advertising-based agency Mr President.

During the visit, the students networked with the four speakers, attended a talk for industry professionals at Pentogram by graphic designer Jim Sutherland, visited Renwick studios, and met with UCEN Manchester alumni Cameron Scott, who works as a senior designer at Publicis Sapient on brands such as Nissan, RBS, Nestle and Audi.

Tutor Alex Komlosy said: “This annual visit is important because the four speakers are carefully chosen from high profile names within the industry and with an aim to demonstrate a wide range of approaches. Students leave having identified with a specific speaker, which in turn helps them choose a direction to their work and career path.

“The conference also shows students career possibilities that they may not have been exposed to in an education setting. Not only does it open their eyes as to what they can achieve, but it also helps to bring an extra level of understanding to their work.

“At UCEN Manchester, we know some of the biggest names in the London industry and knowing people can make things happen. Students can see that doors will open for them if they ask – something which some did when they asked Renwick to be their mentor – and that tutors will support them if they do.”

Student Michael Hawkins, who is in his final year of the Creative Media and Visual Communication course said: “The visit was really interesting and 100 per cent worthwhile.

“Establishing industry links and making contacts has been really helpful, as has understanding where they come from as a designer and listening to their experiences of getting into the industry.”

Kin + Carta Connect Cutting Edge Design

Digital Advertising & Design
With Kin + Carta Connect

Year: 2nd Years
Subject: Digital Advertising & Website Build

Cutting edge design and real life projects were in order for UCEN Manchester students who linked with leading digital agency Kin + Carta Connect as part of their studies.

Second year Fda Graphic Design and Advertising students worked with the national agency to build a website and create a digital advertising campaign for a client. They learned to use Sketch, the latest design industry toolkit, and pitched their work to the company director. In addition, they were taught by alumni Lisa Dale, who now works at the agency, and freelance designer Ian Renfrew.

The project was created in conjunction with tutor Alex Komlosy and Kin + Carta Connect, and was designed to give the students real world industry practice, cutting edge skills, and work for their portfolio.

Alex said: “The digital industry is constantly changing so you have to stay connected with what is cutting edge. The focus of this course is real life briefs, industry experience and the latest technology, which is great for the students. Live projects are the way forward and the software and practice used is new to me too.

“The students did so well working with Kin + Carta Connect. Two of our students even asked if the agency staff would be their mentors, which they agreed to.

“The project is superb for their portfolio and also for when they look at securing placements. There can’t be many graduates who can put Sketch on their CV as it has only recently become industry standard.”

Paul Normington, Senior Creative Director at Kin + Carta Connect, said: “We’ve had a long standing relationship with Alex Komlosy and also hold relationships elsewhere in the college from a technical development skills perspective.

“We’ve also recruited a number of UCEN Manchester alumni over the past decade, including Lisa who is currently a creative at Kin + Carta Connect. From her personal experience as a student, we knew that engaging with students at this stage in their development really helps open their eyes to the possibilities and give guidance on what they can achieve professionally.

“The students were full of confidence, you could tell they believed in their ideas and their work once developed.

It’s promising to see such great energy. We feel proud to be working with them and helping them to develop.

He added:  “As a business we are keen to help develop local talent. The creative/digital industries have suffered in recent years from a skills gap, and we feel if we can help nurture the next wave of creatives into the industry, while develop working relationships with this talent, the whole creative industry will benefit.”

Link to UCEN news article >