Thomas Dyke

Achievements: Job @  Divine Trash / MFS Sub Brand for UCEN (TMC)
Progression to: BA Top-Up

Thomas graduated with a strong and varied portfolio which included branding, typography, advertising, app & screen design, apparel design and illustration. Upon graduating he gained a place working in the apparel street fashion design outlet Divine Trash clothes are available at www.blueinc.co.uk. This year whilst showing applicants around the course two piped up saying they owned the T-Shirt designs displayed on our wall! They were inspired to find out that the designer of the clothes they had purchased had come from this course. During Thomas’ time on the course he also designed an identity for the Manchester Film School which has now become an officially recognised sub brand of UCEN.

Leanne McLaughlin

Achievements: Job @ Degree 53
Progression to: BA Top-Up

Leanne graduated from the BA top-up with a successful show demonstrating strong, confident, left-field design work. During her studies she worked on the re-branding of Moston Campus’ restaurant, the Purpose placement brief and developed her own zine which featured heavily at her show. Since graduation Leanne has secured a job with the award winning, 45 strong, digital agency Degree 53 who’s clients include Sofaworks, Betfred Lotto and football Acca.

Olivia Taylor

Achievements: Purpose / Design by Day / Code Computer Love / Textbook Studio
Progression to: BA Top-Up

Olivia is a rare creative talent, meticulous and imaginative who’s worked in countless places across Manchester. Her work samples are still used in UCAS presentations. She won the placement opportunity at Purpose in London upon graduation and has achieved placements in many renowned studios such as Design by Day, Code Computer Love and Textbook Studio. She is now working and living in Australia.

“
Olivia is a conscientious, enthusiastic designer with a personable nature ready to take on new ideas. I would recommend her as an asset to any design agency.”
Design Director | Purpose

Industry Guest Lectures

Achievements: 1st yrs working with @ Ahoy

This course is lucky enough to have two alumni students at Ahoy. Mark who is the MD / Founder from some 20 plus years ago and Rick a more recent graduate. Ahoy have helped consult and teach our students, giving curriculum advice and providing briefs and guest lectures. One such project became one of the key highlights for first year’s, stating that sessions held by Ahoy gave invaluable insight into the industry and how it works. This year we have been lucky enough to have contact with both Rick and Ahoy’s Creative Director David.

 

George Slater 

Achievements: Placement @ Kin + Carta Connect
Progression to: BA Top-Up

George is a confident and imaginative designer, with a strategic approach to communication and a keen eye for colour. Having won several internal briefs, George was focused on winning a placement opportunity at Kin + Carta Connect at the end of his Foundation Degree. With a passion for music he created an idea for an online vinyl shop promoting community activity and celebrating the unique qualities of vinyl. Following the End of Year Show Kin + Carta Connect judged the entries and offered the placement to two deserving students… George was pleased to be one of them. George now has a design post at The Skills Network in York.

Nicholas Michael-Hanna 

Achievements: Pinning CV to billionaire helicopter
Progression to: Langley Holdings PLC

Outgoing and confident Nicholas was nearing the end of his second year when he saw an opportunity literally land right in front of him. A British billionaire (owner of the global engineering and industrial company Langley Holdings) landed his helicopter on the housing site where Nicholas lived. Nicholas grabbed his C.V. (a clever print job with the image of a £50 on the front – an attention grabbing idea) and he stuck it to the door of the helicopter. A few days later he got a call from said billionaire, offering him an interview, which lead to him securing a full time job. A great example of always being ready to take advantage of a situation.

Cameron Scott

Achievements: Job @ Kin + Carta Connect & W12 Studios
Progression to: Kin + Carta Connect / W12 Studios

Graduate, Cameron Scott, has secured a job with global digital marketing agency, Kin + Carta Connect. Cameron graduated with a first class degree after studying at the Fielden campus for three years. He did a two-year FdA Graphic Design, followed by a one year BA Hons Creative Media & Visual Communication, specialising in graphic design.

It was while Cameron was studying his final year that he met the Creative Director at Kin + Carta Connect, who works with the course on placement briefs he was so impressed with Cameron’s work that he invited him to apply for a job. Having spent a year or so at Kin + Carta Connect Cameron made the big move to London where he now works at W12 Studios.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my career.”
Cameron Scott

 

Leanne Kennedy

Achievements: Manchester Craft Mafia membership
Progression to: Self Employed

Leanne Kennedy joined our course from a level 3 Manchester College Course. She developed her creative vision through to achieving a 1st BA (Hons) setting up her own business in craft making along the way. Pioneering many inventive practices and techniques Leanne developed an online shop and business to sell her unique style of hand crafted products. This year she was accepted into the very prestigious Manchester Craft Mafia (they don’t let anyone in) and has her work online with www.notonthehighstreet.com – currently her business goes from strength to strength.

James Keeble

Achievements: Badly Drawn Boy Competition
Progression to: 2nd Year

We Love Our Planet is an organisation that began out of concern for the welfare of animals and the environment in which they live and is championed by Manchester’s’ Badly Drawn Boy.  They aim to bring the ecologically like minded community together to save animals from exploitation and harm. The organisation held their launch at The Deaf Institute with speakers including, Jenny Jenoula Vegan UK, Ste Chester’s from the Green Paw Project, Alex Walker, Healthy Healing Habits Hannah and our own Alan Berry. Badly Drawn Boy appealed to the student community with a national competition to design a logo for We Love Our Planet. All years engaged in the national competition, but James’ work was chosen! The design was screen printed on the day of the event by Sally Gilford from One69A.

Lisa Dale

Achievements: Placement @ City South Manchester
Progression to: Job @ Kin + Carta Connect

Often, through the course relationships with industry, students are asked to carryout very quick turnaround jobs, and when it goes well it can result in a placement opportunity. City South Manchester required a flyer and tasked Lisa with completing this in one evening. Lisa achieved this and the client was so impressed that they offered her a summer placement. Lisa has since  achieved a permanent position at the digital agency Kin + Carta Connect, where she now works with the creative team on international brands. She is also a regular visiter to our End of Year Show!