Graphics students work with industry on live briefs

Throughout January, BA (Hons) Graphic Communication students have been treated to a whole suite of guest lectures and live briefs from industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Projects included: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

First year students working with Liam Beattie of Huw David, a creative branding agency
Second year students getting interactive with Spindogs, a leading web design and development agency
Third year students getting creative with Sequence, one of Wales’ largest digital design agencies ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the world becoming an ever smaller place we regularly compete with Bristol and London agencies for work,” said James Bearne, Creative Director at Sequence. “This makes it very important for us to work closely with USW to have direct communication on the course development and access to students so we can advise, contribute and encourage talented individuals to work with us.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, Ben Talon (who won Creative Agency of the year in the London small business awards 2015) is also working with students across all year groups. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During Ben’s visit last week he expressed his enjoyment of working with the students: “I had a great day and was impressed with the standard of work and ideas on the course. Thanks for the opportunity.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Enhancement activities allow students to partake in lots of exciting activity related to their studies e.g. guest lectures, field trips and industry visits. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Course leader Ryan Preece commented: “It’s been great to get so many live projects going, including one which spans all year groups. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We continue to work with industry closely in order to inform our teaching and Cardiff is the perfect location for this, as there are so many creative agencies based here.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Students were also impressed with the talks: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I thought it was a very interesting and mind-opening talk from Ben about his development from being a student like us into now having done work for companies like WWE. What stood out for me when he spoke was how he focused on what set him apart and his individual style, and by doing pieces of interest and passionate to him and sending them to various companies and businesses is what got him noticed and got the commissions for him. He was very kind and humble and it was a very pleasant talk which I enjoyed attending.” Cerys Brown ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Having industries coming in and working with us and setting us briefs is a really cool thing. It gives an insight into how briefs are set in industry and also the kind of projects agencies work on. It also gives us the confidence and skills to approach and communicate with industry. This kind of experience is priceless.” Ryan Everrett ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Ben was really fun and inspiring to listen to. He gave me an insight to how important it is to put yourself out there and to not be afraid to ask companies to get involved with promoting your work or helping out with a job. His work was so different and I loved his style. It’s inspired me to look into what style I love to do the most and how I can use it effectively within design.” Rohanne Sanders ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Find out more about studying BA (Hons) Graphic Communication at the University of South Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​