News magazine from the University of Wolverhampton

School of Art AND DeSigN

fresh

3D Design • Animation • Ceramics • Computer Games Design • Design and Applied Arts • Fashion and Textiles • Fine Art • Glass • Graphic Communication • Illustration • Interactive Media and the Web • Interior Design • Photography • Product Design • Video & Film Production

Summer 2011

Recent events

The Leonardo da Vinci Innovation Transfer Project in Ceramics The Leonardo da Vinci Innovation Project is an international project to instruct ceramic students, teachers and practitioners in a broad spectrum of ceramic techniques. The project has four partners, the lead institution is the Centre National digitation de Formation et de Perfectionnement de la Poterie et du Gres (CNIFOP) France; Keramike Studio Jarmily, Czech Republic; Videoscope, Universite Nancy, France; and University of Wolverhampton, School of Art & Design, Ceramics Department.

The project started in October 2009 and is on schedule for completion by September 2011. From 27-29 October the School of Art & Design hosted eight ceramics practitioners, six Czech and two French artists for a Design Seminar run by Vicky Shaw and Gwen Heeney as part of the EU-Ceramics Leonardo project.

The idea for the design seminar was discussed at the first steering group committee meeting in March 2010 at CNIFOP where all the partners met to discuss the project. It was decided that the University of Wolverhampton, School of Art & Design (ceramics department) would lead this seminar as they had an established and proven methodology in place within their curriculum for teaching the design process. This method is fundamental in the teaching of skills-based subjects in order to encourage creative thinking, innovation, personal identity, originality as well as understanding the market/audience and context of the work being produced.

In November 2010, the School hosted a meeting of the steering group, chaired by Jean-Francois Marck, Director of EMA-CNIFOP. The pedagogical videos under development were critically reviewed and discussed. The next meeting will take place in April in Nancy, France.

Images at top, l to r clockwise, Annette Pugh, Dean Melbourne, Jo Newman, Natalie Cole and Wayne Pottinger. Images overleaf: Juan Yang, Lisa Barrett.

Recent eventsArtists Access to Art Colleges: a celebration of 10 year collaborationIn the last 10 years, the School of Art & Design at the University of Wolverhampton has provided 40 artists with the opportunity to undertake a period of research or realise a project, using workshops and supporting facilities in the School.

“Two of the prints that I made on AA2A have been accepted to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.” Dean Melbourne

To celebrate this wonderful collaboration an exhibition of the work of six artists took place 23 March-15 April 2011. The artists that exhibited were: Annette Pugh, Dean Melbourne, Jo Newman, Natalie Cole and Wayne Pottinger, Sue Parry.

This is the last year that the School will be operating the AA2A scheme, however, a new Artists’ in Residence scheme will be in operation which will continue the collaboration between the School, local artists and our students. For details of the scheme please email Sheila Hind on: s.hind@wlv.ac.uk

Waiting: screening of 58 short conceptual films by Graphic Communication studentsThe act of waiting can bring with it an auto-response vocabulary of words and gestures we use to deal with routine delays, or it can initiate the unexpected by suddenly relocating us to a unique moment in time with its own personal and intense narrative.

Thursday February 17 saw a full house with standing room only at the Lighthouse Cinema Wolverhampton. The event drawing in members of the public, ex-graduates, parents and friends was extremely well received.

‘‘The AA2A project enabled me to rejuvenate my practice and explore new ideas and ways of working that I would not have done if it had not been for this opportunity.

‘‘Marie Roberts

Degree show 2011The School of Art & Design opened their annual degree show on 2 June 2011 and welcomed over 800 visitors to the opening event, which has been a tradition in the School since 1969. The work of over 300 students was featured from a variety of courses embracing Design and Applied Arts, Digital Media, Fine Art and Photography, Visual Communications. The Show was a great success and was seen as a wonderful platform for the School’s students to showcase their work and launch their careers in the creative industries.

Showcasing talent

03 freSh

Degree show 2011

Degree show 2011

Degree show 2011

07 freSh

Student focusMUSIC

OCD MAG | 42

Here’s to good HEALTH!Jacob Duzsik - Vocals, Guitar, Zoothorn John Famiglietti - Bass, Zoothorn, PercussionJupiter Keyes - Guitar, percussion, ZoothornBenjamin Miller - Drum

OCD MAG wish you good HEALTH... a great force of nature that are the new frontier of noise rock. Formed in 2005, HEALTH self-recorded their debut album over the course of 9 months at Los Angeles D.I.Y. venue The Smell, birthing an urgent and extraordinary album which seethed with ghostly, epic pop and spurts of chaotic noise. Their shows grew wilder, kids danced & moshed, blogs freaked out, critics raved, and everyone wondered how in God’s name HEALTH was going to follow it up. While the anticipation continued to build, HEALTH released a critically-acclaimed remix record HEALTH//DISCO, toured with the likes of Crystal Castles, Nine Inch Nails, and Of Montreal and played over 420 shows!

OCD MAG | 06

I AM CAMERA SPECIALCharlotte is the one of the photographer’s OCD MAG will feature from the photography exhibition ‘I AM CAMERA’; which is a collective showcase of work put together by a group of emerging and established artists who are currently rooted within Birmingham.The exhibition will showcase the work of various artists who all come from a wide range of visual media professions including Fine Art, Documentary, Landscape, Fashion and Commercial roles. You can admire Charlotte’s work throughout the magazine, lucky you! Above, you can see the effortless beauty in the classic black and white image. With an eye for detail, bags of talent we are confident to say that Charlotte will go very far in the creative industry!

http://www.iamcamera.co.uk/home.html

Main image: Glass design by Matt Bate.

Left: Matt Bate at work

Overleaf right: Crywolf logo design by Theo Johnson

Below: Spreads from Sangita Kumari’s magazine OCD

Glass student selected to design panel for Selfridges & Co, LondonMatt Bate, a third year Applied Arts Glass student has been chosen as one of six glass artist makers to design and have manufactured a glass decoration for the prestigious London department store of Selfridges & Co.

The international open competition in collaboration with the Crafts Council and Selfridges & Co sought to commission six individual makers to produce a single glass decoration to form one part of an exclusive, limited edition of six Christmas baubles that have been inspired by the Christmas 2011 theme of “Frosted Magical Garden”. Matt, the only student selected, will now see his design produced by a glass manufacturer in the Czech Republic. The decoration based on mistletoe, fashioned with blown forms and engraved has come about as a spin off from his major project module, for which he is creating a body of glass blown forms to be exhibited within a botanical garden setting.

Once produced, the decorations will go on sale exclusively in Selfridges & Co, London from July to December 2011. Matt will also be this year’s recipient of the bi-annual Pilchuck scholarship. This is an award given every two years to a University of Wolverhampton Glass student to attend a master class of their choice at the internationally renowned Pilchuck Glass School located in Washington State, USA.

MA student designed DRS Lifetime Achievement AwardIn November 2010, Elliot Walker, MA Art and Design (Glass), was selected to design the new Lifetime Achievement Award Medal for the Design Research Society (DRS). The DRS is a multi-disciplinary learned society for the design research community worldwide which from time to time confers a Lifetime Achievement Award. This is presented to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the development of design research throughout their lifetime. Elliot states about his design:

“With this trophy design I hoped to make something that was both tactile and visually minimalist. For me, the edgeless shape could even be seen as a physical aid to creative thinking, similar to Chinese chiming spheres. The shape itself and the interior structure have been formed by trapping air pockets and bands of colour between several layers of molten glass which is then manipulated using steel tools and shaped with wet newspaper.”

freSh 08

Student focusMUSIC

OCD MAG | 42

Here’s to good HEALTH!Jacob Duzsik - Vocals, Guitar, Zoothorn John Famiglietti - Bass, Zoothorn, PercussionJupiter Keyes - Guitar, percussion, ZoothornBenjamin Miller - Drum

OCD MAG wish you good HEALTH... a great force of nature that are the new frontier of noise rock. Formed in 2005, HEALTH self-recorded their debut album over the course of 9 months at Los Angeles D.I.Y. venue The Smell, birthing an urgent and extraordinary album which seethed with ghostly, epic pop and spurts of chaotic noise. Their shows grew wilder, kids danced & moshed, blogs freaked out, critics raved, and everyone wondered how in God’s name HEALTH was going to follow it up. While the anticipation continued to build, HEALTH released a critically-acclaimed remix record HEALTH//DISCO, toured with the likes of Crystal Castles, Nine Inch Nails, and Of Montreal and played over 420 shows!

OCD MAG | 38

NOT YOUR TYPE

DO YOU FEEL CLEAN YET?

OCDMAG.CO.UK

Graphics student secures magazine circulation deal with Guardian newspaperEnterprising Graphic Communication student, Sangita Kumari, has written and designed her own magazine, called OCD. She is now busy looking for financial backing for her new enterprise, after securing a circulation deal with the Guardian newspaper, who have agreed to distribute her title as a free insert within their main paper. “Obsessive Compulsive Design Mag is an underground, alternative magazine that features the newest, up-and-coming artists from across the world; from music, art, film, design, poetry, photography, fashion and everything in between!” says Sangita. Recent issues of OCD can be seen at: www.ocdmag.co.uk

Sheaffer UK supporting level 5 Graphics students’ project work and campaign to promote the beauty and enjoyment of writingThe internationally pen company, Sheaffer UK, who produce a wide range of high quality writing instruments, including collectors’ pens and pencils have generously presented students with fountain pens and a selection of ink to help with development of innovative solutions to this design challenge.

“The goals of this project are naturally something that is of great interest to our company and we are delighted to be able to encourage and support such a worthwhile design challenge” says Barbara George, of Sheaffer UK.

Sheaffer UK, who have been established since the early 1900s, have also decided to offer an award for one lucky Graphic Communication student this year. The Sheaffer Prize for Use of Language in Graphic Projects, will be awarded for the first time at graduation in September 2011 and will reinforce the important link between visual and verbal language.

Competition win for Graphics studentFinal year Graphic Communication 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 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.

Theo said, “I am really delighted that my idea has been selected and I look forward to seeing my design in use”.

Student Medal Project 2011Congratulations to Glass student Julia Rowley who won The Bullseye Glass Initiative Prize in the Student Medal Project 2011. The judging took place on 26 February at the British Museum, London. The panel consisted of Joe Cribb, former Keeper of Coins and Medals, Gregory Fattorini, Philip Booth, Danuta Solowiej, Marcy Leavitt Bourne; with Karen Davies Director of Bullseye Glass UK heading the judging panel.

Plantation Rug design competition The School was delighted to welcome back John Clark, the dynamic Managing Director of the Plantation Rug Company. A rising star in the commercial flooring market, Plantation Rugs offer a broad range of hand tufted, woven and hand knotted rugs to the UK’s domestic interiors market, in a wide range of sizes, colour and styles as well as a bespoke design option to their customers. After a highly successful collaboration with the students last year, which resulted in Leonie Sheldon’s “Sputnik” rug being launched on their stand at the NEC Interiors Show in January of this year, John decided to run another exclusive in-house rug design competition for all Fashion/Textile students based on a theme of their choice.

There was a terrific response from the students with submissions reflecting an eclectic mix of styles and trends, all of which were highly suitable for the commercial target audience. This made the selection of a final winning design very difficult, and after some consideration John decided he would have two winners and offered to double the cash reward. The winners chosen were: Lyndsay Harris, level 6 and Alice Regan, level 4. He also announced that the company will be giving an “innovation” award to one of the final year students later this year. Visit: www.plantationrug.co.uk

Ceramics MA students’ placement at the Victoria & Albert MuseumIn April, May and June 2011 the specialist ceramics MA group from Design and Applied Arts will be taking up residence at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) to work in the ceramic workshop adjacent to the new exhibit of ceramics. This project, initiated by the V&A, was arranged at a recent two day conference attended by all the MA ceramic students and members of staff Gwen Heeney and David Jones. The group will respond to the collection which spans 1,000s of years from the Chinese dynasties to contemporary makers such as Neil Brownsword. The students will use the collection as inspiration to develop ceramic objects in the newly equipped studio which has a kiln and wheels. They will have full access to the ceramic curators and be able to handle and draw the collection developing ideas, researching glaze and firing techniques and looking at both traditional and contemporary ceramics in the context of one of the most famous ceramic collections in Europe.

CinBA European Bronze Age ProjectArt and Design MA students specialising in ceramics and a group of level 2 students organised a Bronze Age pot handling day at Blythe House, the British Museum storage building in Olympia. The day was led by Dr Ben Roberts, Bronze Age curator at the British Museum and Neil Wilkin, PhD student specialising in Bronze Age food vessels found in ritual burials.

The Creativity and Craft Production in Middle and Late Bronze Age Europe (CinBA) Project is a European funded project with international partners including a group of UK universities,

60

J o a n n a L a d o w s k aR i s i n g S t a r

Ben Kelly, Senior Lecturer at the university andJoanna’s Tutor, has this to say, “Joanna hasapplied her talent for drawing and painting to a

wide variety of briefs… She has a particular interest indrawing from life, both in classes and on location. Shecan draw, paint whatever she wants to, and that ispretty impressive. I have seen a few of her works,inter alia an almost finished oil painting of Lady withan Ermine; it looks like the original, believe me. I can’twait to see the finished version. We predict a brightfuture for her as she continues to develop herillustrative style.”

Joanna reflects on her art…"‘I can draw everything’ – that’s the immediateresponse I give to everyone who asks me about styleor the medium I am in. And, certainly, I am not lying.Whatever it is - a portrait, landscape, abstract art orstill-life - in oils, acrylic, pencils or pastels, collage -

drawn from life model, photograph, other piece of artor completely from my imaginary – nothing is a bigdeal for me. The only criterion is that it mustexhilarate, cause a smile on someone’s face. All I do isfor people, less for me, and certainly not for shelvingit secretly away.

That is why drawing portraits gives me biggestpleasure - face details, eyes, hair. This is how I get toknow people and how I try to take them closer to theart. I focus on eyes the most when drawing because I

Joanna Ladowska is currently a student of GraphicDesign and Graphic Communication at the Universityof Wolverhampton, but those who have seen herwork are already foreseeing a very promising futurefor this most talented of artists

09 freSh

European and Scandinavian museums, the archeology department of Southampton University and the Craft Council. Students have been asked to study the Bronze Age, looking at artifacts, materials and processes to gain an understanding of how and why they were made. Visit: http://cinba.net

Textiles students conclude project brief set by Hill & CoUnder the leadership of entrepreneur Bill Hill, Hill & Co are established industry leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of hand tufted, hand knotted and woven area carpets and rugs to the UK domestic market, and are the preferred suppliers of the giant John Lewis retail group.

The Fashion/Textiles Department has had a fruitful relationship with the company for many years, with Hill & Co recently employing two graduates, Sukvinder Badyal and Heather Goodwin as full-time designers. This year’s design brief ocused on global, retro and themed trends. Students had to consider colour palettes and manufacturing techniques as well as multiple yarn options while creating their work.

Hill & Co were delighted with the creative responses to the brief which resulted in highly individual designs. They were also impressed by the professional manner adopted by the students towards their presentations. This resulted in the awarding of an additional prize of £100 by the company for Enterprise and Presentation. This was won by three of the students, and will now be offered as a prize at graduation. Several students also had their designs selected for manufacture which will see a further award of a rug being made for each design selected. This gives the students the opportunity of displaying their design in rug form at the New Designers Exhibition in July. Visit: www.hillcorugs.com

Illustration student’s success in National PrizeDavid Baines, a level 4 Illustration student won a coveted place in the Lloyds/TSB Art of Nurture national final held on 6 April at the V&A. David received £500 for his achievement.The regional finals, held at the IKON Gallery in Birmingham were well-represented by students from Wolverhampton, six of the thirteen regional finalists were studying Illustration or the Illustration and Graphic Communication subjects. In addition to David’s success Joanna Ladowska won the Peoples Prize at the IKON.

“The Illustration subject team are delighted not only with David’s achievement but for all of our students shortlisted for the regional finals of such a prestigious competition.” John Clementson, Course Leader, Illustration

Illustration/Graphic Communication student Joanna Ladowska featured in Art of England magazine as rising starBen Kelly, Senior Lecturer at the University and Joanna’s tutor has this to say: “Joanna has applied her talent for drawing and painting to a wide variety of briefs… she has a particular interest in drawing from life, both in classes and on location. She can draw, paint whatever she wants to, and that is pretty impressive. I have seen a few of her works, including an almost finished oil painting of Lady with an Ermine; it looks like the original, believe me. We predict a bright future for her as she continues to develop her illustrative style.”

Top and overleaf: Plantation Rug design competition

Overleaf: Julia Rowley glass designs

Above top: Illustration by David Baines

Above: Illustration by Joanna Ladowska

freSh 10

11 freSh

Top and overleaf: images from overall winner Lukasz Gajdek

Right: designs for babywear company First Steps.

freSh 12

Light House Student Photographic Award 2011The shortlist and winners are as follows:

Documentary category:James Marsh (Winner)Jonathan Hancock Peter WatkinsFine Art category:Natalie Galloway (Winner)Alice JonesKirsty SkearsCommercial category:Lukasz Gajdek (Winner)James MacfarlaneJames MartinOverall Light House Photographic Award Winner 2011: Lukasz Gajdek

All category winners received awards and the overall winner will have a solo exhibition at the Long Gallery during 2011. The awards event was well attended by students and special guests and on behalf of the University we would like to thank the judging panel, Lorna-May Webb, Euripides Altintzoglou & SM2 Studios who made time in their busy schedules to support the award. Thanks also go to the Light House Gallery and Kathryn Kliszat for continuing to develop and support the opportunity for our students.

Animation students shortlisted for prestigious Depict! AwardThree animation second year students (Andrew Edwards, Patrick Fowler and Thomas Massey) have been shortlisted for the prestigious Depict! Award for a short film they made at the end of their first year. The Depict! competition is part of the Encounters Short Film Festival, Bristol. Visit: www.depict.org

Lights, camera…actionCalum Best, known for his appearances on reality TV shows will be coming to Birmingham to launch his fledgling career in a film directed and produced by final year students Paris El-Said and Hakam Poselay from the BA (Hons) Video and Film Production course at the School of Art & Design. Also staring in the film will be former heavyweight boxer ‘Big’ Joe Egan who will attempt to show off his sensitive side.

The film Light the Lights is being filmed in Birmingham and is due for release in October 2011. The duo hopes to show the film at festivals around the world and to get enough funding to turn it into a feature film.

Glass student Andrew Shingler wins commission to design windows for St Jude’s Primary School, Wolverhampton“Design & Applied Arts students specialising in glass were invited to create design proposals for two internal windows at St Jude’s Primary School in Wolverhampton. We held an art session with the pupils where I asked them to make big bold pictures of themselves, their homes, school and church. Combining these images, I produced a design which told the story of how the children walk hand-in-hand from school to the nearby church. I highlighted the drawings with colourful stylised photographs of the children on a separate layer of glass. I was really pleased to win this commission and delighted when I saw the finished windows installed”. Andrew Shingler.

Fashion and Illustration students win placements with expanding babywear company First StepsBefore Christmas over 40 Fashion and Textiles second year students and some Illustration students took part in a live competition with First Steps Babywear Ltd to design a range of babywear prints for Autumn/Winter 2011.

The Walsall based company supplies major UK supermarkets and children’s wear companies such as George at Asda, Debenhams, Mothercare and Next. They are currently expanding their business and were really pleased with the variety and standard of work produced by the students, selecting six winners who have all been offered a short placement within the company this year. Lucy Ashby, alumni of the Fashion and Textiles department at the University came with fellow designer Emma Neve and Managing Director Juggy Kudhail to select the winners, who said: “we had difficulty shortlisting the final six as a lot of the work presented had real commercial potential”.

Congratulations go to: • Monica Amin • Charlotte Court • Kennedy Glews

• Natasha Jackson • Jess McLeod• Kimberley Mountjoy

13 freSh

Alumni successGraduate success Louise Carrier, Graphic Communication (1998)“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 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 went on to work as an in-house designer for Wolverhampton City Council, and was awarded an Arts and Humanities Research Board 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 The Natural Rug Store.

Due to the 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.”

w: www.louisecarrier.co.uk e: louise@louisecarrier.co.ukt: 07792129052

Top: Printed voucher and web site design on behalf of Rug Couture.

Above left: Reverse printed letterhead and business card designs (with blind embossing) designed for The Natural Rug Store.

Above: Illustration and packaging design for Wolverhampton based cafe Lata.

Left: Illustration for Birmingham based magazine Dirty Bristow.

Video & Film graduates (2007) Matthew E Carter and Manjeet S Gill screen new film at Light House CinemaLuv’in the Black Country is a short cinematic documentary that travels down the romantic Black Country canals speaking to five different people who pass along the way about the first time they fell in love. The film is a lyrical love letter to the Black Country, its people and their fading identity. Written and directed by University of Wolverhampton alumnus Matthew E Carter.

The film has been funded by the UK Film Council and Screen West Midlands and has been produced by Birmingham Salute Media Productions Ltd in association with Black Country Cinema. For more information please visit: www.blackcountrycinema.com/luvintheblackcountry

Photography graduate David Rann opens the doors to his gallery ‘Fotofilia’ in BirminghamAs a mature student leaving University with a photography degree and an MA Fine Art, I decided the surest way of getting work in a photographic studio was to start my own, which I did, initially in Oldbury, then Wolverhampton Science Park, and ultimately various premises in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

When I was a student it was clear to me that there is a dearth of available, permanent (and affordable) gallery space in Birmingham for photographers and photography students. Eventually I found premises which could not only accommodate a sizeable studio for my own expanding photographic and training work, but also a photography-only gallery, with over 130 feet of wall space which can be divided up into smaller areas if necessary. The gallery has already hosted some exhibitions I’m very proud of and I plan to continue offering the space for free to certain invited photographers. In addition, the gallery is also available to rent on a weekly basis. Unusually for a hire space, the fee even

includes invigilation. The studio is also available to rent on an hourly basis. Fotofilia, 20 Regent Parade (off Caroline St), Birmingham, B1 3NS

e: fotofilia@hotmail.co.uk w: www.fotofilia.co.uk

Congratulations to Lenka Hrehova who has had her work featured on the front cover of a children’s magazine published in Slovakia. Lenka who graduated in BA (Hons) Illustration in 2010 also had three double page spreads for the same issue published in October 2010.

freSh 14

Alumni success

Above left: David Rann ‘Fotofilia Gallery in Birmingham

Left: Christophe Dillinger’s Square Magazine.

Illustration alumni student success

15 freSh

Graphics graduate appointed head designer at BrintonsGraphic Communication graduate Paul Power has just been appointed as Head Designer at Brintons. The Brintons family have been making carpets in Kidderminster since 1783 and are specified by the world’s major interior design practices their carpets adorn many of the world’s most famous addresses and locations. w: www.brintons.net

Previously, Paul set up Deadly Graphics using a SPEED initiative and has successfully been trading from the Science Park here in Wolverhampton until his new appointment. w: www.engagingwithemployability.co.uk/case-study-paul-power.html

Fine Art graduate exhibited paintings in Newspeak: British Art Now Show at The Saatchi Gallery, LondonTo view David Brian Smith’s paintings please w: www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/david_smith.htm

Former Fine Art alumna Han Sai Por successfully creates large scale sculptures worldwideHan Sai Por was under the tutorage of Anish Kapoor and John Paddi Field during her time at the University. w: www.hansaipor.com

Photography 2007 alumnus Adam Murfin gives insight in to life after University“Since leaving University I have managed to carve out a career as a successful fashion photographer. Although the first few years out of Uni were very difficult, I pretty much starved working in the high street portrait industry, I was able to make some really good friends and contacts.

I then worked freelance for www.asos.com. which led to gaining a job with: www.missguided.co.uk where I now hold the position of Senior Fashion Photographer. I shoot everything from fashion photography for the site and national media advertisements to outdoor billboard campaigns displayed on the London Underground and in Manchester.

Images above: Han Sai Por creates large scale sculptures worldwide

Image above: Adam Murfin

Jessica GlaserThe Graphic Design Exercise Book is the title of the latest book to be co-written by senior lecturer in Graphic Communication, Jessica Glaser. This book examines a series of challenging design briefs, created to reignite a designer’s creativity and enthusiasm while also imparting new skills. Each section helpfully includes a detailed methodology providing a comprehensive explanation of the design process. A range of well respected industry insiders have been interviewed by Jessica Glaser and her co-author (ex School of Art & Design senior lecturer Carolyn Knight), generously contributing their specialist knowledge to this publication.

This book also has another connection with the School of Art & Design, as its pages extensively feature the design work of many recent Graphic Communication graduates. “We are very pleased and proud to have been able to include so many high quality designs produced by staff and graduates from the University of Wolverhampton, School of Art & Design” says Jessica Glaser.

Sculptor and part-time Ceramics technician Peter Higgs has his work featured on BBC Countrytracks programme“As part of the Painswick Arts Festival, Rococo Garden, a restored 18th Century garden, invited me to exhibit my work in August of 2010. I was lucky to be filmed installing my work in the Exedra Pond, for the BBC Countrytracks programme, broadcast in February this year. I am pleased to say that the Trust purchased the work to remain as a permanent feature in the pond and they have invited me to show new work at this years show.”

New collection at London Fashion WeekTamara Joseph has had a whirlwind year, since leaving the SPEED (Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education) programme. Tamara was involved in five fashion shows in 2010, including selling and showcasing her Spring/Summer 2011 collection at Clothes Show Live 2010 at the

NEC. Tamara has been overwhelmed with the experience and has had many an order come from this. She has also had a few leads into other work since this local show, including London Fashion Week in February.Tamara has had more shows in March, April and May. She now sells online through ASOS.com and will also soon be selling in an exclusive boutique in Birmingham. In August Tamara’s new collection will also be appearing at African Fashion Week in London.

PhD successDenise Doyle has been awarded her PhD by the University of East London with a thesis on: Embodied Narrative and the Literary Imagination: Towards a Poetics of Technology Mediated Forms. She sailed through her viva with no amendments - almost unheard of these days.

Andy Conio has been awarded his PhD by the University of Surrey with a thesis on: Language, Subjectivity and Art: a theoretical and practice-based examination of how the artist-filmmaker reconceptualises the selfless-subject as dispersed in language and the world through scriptwriting.

Lecturer shares expertise on teaching and learningA University of Wolverhampton lecturer was a guest speaker at a seminar on creative learning and teaching. Dr Peter Day, Senior Lecturer in Photography, spoke at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland. The seminar highlighted Dr Day’s research, which analyses the relationship between the feedback a student receives and their achievement. He said: “My research showed that a larger number of students showed an emotional and ‘fear’ focused response toward current feedback. In general students appreciated feedback but not the methods through which feedback was currently being delivered which seems to create anxiety and stress.” Dr Day has been working on an online forum that aims to lessen the emotional impact of feedback and increase peer-to-peer review. He added, “The online forum is in its second phase. Student editors are overseeing the effectiveness of feedback and feedback terminology toward fellow students.”

freSh 16

Staff focus

From top: Jessica Glaser’s new design book cover and inside spread.

Ceramic design by Peter Higgs.

Tamara Joseph’s new fashion collection.

17 freSh

Creative employability

The School of Art & Design would like to thank Black Country Creative Partnerships for giving our students the opportunity to gain work experience, the Creative Practitioners who agreed to be shadowed, and the many schools who welcomed them in. Particular thanks go to Iris Bertz and Karen Jones who have championed this initiative, and freely shared their time and energy with our students. We have asked a couple of our current placement students to introduce their projects and tell us what the experience has meant to them.

freSh 18

Creative employability

Student Placements with Creative PartnershipsCreative Partnerships have been working in The Black Country since 2002 and across Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire since 2008. They foster innovative long-term partnerships between schools and creative professionals and use creativity to solve problems, inspire young people and encourage experimentation with new ideas.For many of our creative students working on educational arts projects like Creative Partnerships will be a key part of their portfolio career.

In 2008-2009 the School was given the opportunity to work with Black Country Creative Partnerships and offer undergraduate and postgraduate students the chance to shadow a Creative Practitioner for the life of a project. Since then a small group of students, from a diverse group of disciplines (Glass, Ceramics, Photography, Fine Art and Illustration), have participated on the programme every academic year. This year we have come full circle; one of our past placement students, Glass Artist Julia Rowley, is now the Creative Practitioner on a project at New Invention Junior School and is being shadowed by one of our undergraduate students Laura Crosland.

Croft Community School“As a Masters student I wanted, alongside my own practice, to run workshops in schools as I very much believe in the benefit art can have on a child’s education. The Creative Partnerships scheme paired me up with drama practitioner, Emily Ayres, and a Year 4 class at Croft Community School. Being an Illustrator this was totally unexpected.

The children were tasked with writing and performing their own myth, an activity aimed at improving literacy and communication, and reinforcing the link between home and school by using aspects of their own cultures in the story. It was incredible to see how involved the children became, and were able to write a fantastic short play called ‘The Black Charm’. I in turn was able to use my skills to help them visualise scenes, characters, and create props. I also documented the whole process as a record of their achievement, and presented it to them as a slide show and short film.

New Invention Junior School I am just completing my final year studying 3D Design & Applied Art. As I will be joining the Design & Technology PGCE in September, I decided to apply for a Creative Partnerships placement to give me a different school-based experience.

I found myself at New Invention Junior School helping run their Mantle of the Expert project with Dave Allen, a design practitioner from the Midlands Actors Theatre. Our role - to take a

class of Year 4 pupils on an eight week journey of discovery! Mantle of the Expert is where the children become the experts and we were there to guide them down the right path.

Our project created, designed and developed a fictional business that preserved old buildings and stopped them being demolished. We chose properties to save, restore, and looked into their historical relevance. We designed a historical trail for future generations, and to promote our business created leaflets, 3D models and did a radio broadcast on Willenhall School Radio.The amount of passion and drive that this project evoked in the children meant it was a fantastic experience for all involved. Some of the methods of the ‘mantle’ style I will definitely take with me into my future teaching practice.

Hilary Price, Creative Employability Studio Coordinator, can be contacted on tel: 01902 322433 or email: h.price@wlv.ac.uk

SPEED programme successRecent Graphic Communication graduates David Healey and Keith Vickers have just been accepted on the SPEED 2011 scheme. “Competition has been tough,” said David “there have been 60 applicants for just 20 places, so we are really thrilled to have been offered this wonderful opportunity”.

SPEED 2011 offers students and recent graduates from any course, the opportunity to develop their business ideas whilst at University. Successful students, such as Keith and David, will receive training and access to a variety of internal and external resources to give them the best chance of generating an income from their business and will be coached at each stage of their development. visit: www.speedwm-wlv.org

Jonathan gets Packt Birmingham based Packt is a modern publishing company located in Birmingham that produces cutting-edge books and eBooks for communities of developers, administrators, and newbies alike. This year we started a new live brief that introduced level 5 and 6 students to the publishing sector and gave them the opportunity to get their images on the front covers of books.

Ben Tranter goes Commando! After spending the majority of his degree working part-time as their Graphic Designer, Ben Tranter is leaving Commando to pursue a career in the computer games industry. In the first year of his Graphic Communication degree, Ben applied for a part-time graphic design job at Wolverhampton’s Commando shop, and their online store Mean and Green. Ben impressed them and was able to resign his part-time retail job for a position linked to his degree. Along with his degree, Ben now also has commercial experience.

the School of Art and Design University of Wolverhampton MK Building, city campus North Molineux Street Wolverhampton WV1 1Dt

tel: 01902 322058email: art-design@wlv.ac.ukWebsite: www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign

Contact us

Events Listings

MA Show24 September - 9 October 2011The Public, New Street, West Bromwich, B70 7PG

UCAS Fair‘Design your Future’ 28-29 November 2011Manchester Convention Complex,Petersfield, Manchester, M2 3GX

UCAS Fair‘Design your Future’ 6-7 December 2011 London Olympia, West Kensington, London, W14 8UX Clothes Show Live2-7 December 2011The NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT

Focus on Imaging4-7 March 2012The NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT

New DesignersJuly 2012Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0QH New BloodJuly 2012venue tbc

Degree Show 2 June - 9 June 2012The School of Art & Design, Molineux StreetWolverhampton University, WV1 1DT

University Open DaysSaturday 20 August 2011 Saturday 8 October 2011 Saturday 26 November 2011 Saturday 3 March 2012 Friday 8 June 2012 Saturday 18 August 2012