New Blood 2012

We have just returned from the annual D&AD New Blood exhibition in Spitalfields London. Students from Illustration, Graphic Design and Moving Image, raised funds to have a stand there. The exhibition represents new talent from the art colleges and universities across the U.K. The exhibition is open to the public and industry are invited to look at the work on show. It can be a great platform for graduates to showcase their work and network with professionals, it is also really useful to see the competition! 


Our stand got lots of positive feedback for being full of personality and had visits from Scholastic Children's Books, Tigerprint, The Organisation illustration agency. Dominique Byron's work (Illustration) was featured on the Digital Arts blog review of the show, along with Tom Matheison (Moving Image). Helen Porter from Graphic Design was featured on the Creative Review blog, as one of their hot picks!

Age UK Project

A lovely project completed by 2nd year BA (hons) Illustration students in collaboration with Age UK (Stockport). We made visits to day care centres in Marple and South Reddish and spent valuable time talking to people at various stages of dementia. This provided a unique and insightful experience for everyone involved. The conversation were used to make pictures to illustrate the lives of the people we spoke to. Stories about their lives, things they did, anecdotes or fragments of memories became pictures. The work resulted in the publication of a booklet entitled 'Pieces' which was accompanied by a set of cards representing individual visual responses. A special design to TextBook studios who designed, photographed and managed the printing of the job.

Grow - Into Town (A show for a day)

On Friday 15th June, students from BA(hons) Illustrations, Graphic Design and Moving Image, transformed Kraak Gallery in the Northern Quarter in Manchester from a bare room, into an over-grown wonderland, teaming with talent and a selection of work from this year's degree show.  A small team worked tirelessly to promote the show to industry professionals in the surrounding studio's. Despite the pouring rain we had a great turn out (free cup cakes and beers!) with supportive and encouraging feedback from industry professionals. Well done to all the students involved who made a team effort to display and exhibit their work to such a high standard. A true 'pop-up' show!!

Ben Jones Shortlisted

Our very own ex-student, teacher and illustrator Ben Jones has been shortlisted in the 2012 Book Illustration Competition run by House of Illustration and The Folio Society. The competition was to design work for The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter. The winner is announced later in the summer. Take a look at the other work selected. on the The Guardian website. Fingers crossed Ben!

Best in Show 2012

Each year at the Preview night of the Degree Show, the award for the Best in Show is announced. The award is selected by a professional and well established creative with the design industry. This year our favourites Lord Whitney pondered over all of the design work on show form all the courses. The choose Dominique Byron from the Illustration pathway as the overall winner. Hip Hip Hooray!!!!