SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN VISUAL COMMUNICATION NEWS BA (HONS) ANIMATION BA (HONS) ART & DESIGN MEDIA PRACTICE (ONE YEAR TOP-UP) BA (HONS) GRAPHIC DESIGN BA (HONS) PHOTOGRAPHY FdA MEDIA CREATIVES
IMAGES: FINAL-YEAR WORK BY BENJAMIN SWANSON. 2014 BA (Hons) Photography graduate, Benjamin Swanson, has been shortlisted for Millennium Images annual photography competition Peaches & Cream. Millennium Images, printing and mentoring sessions at Metro Imaging, and portfolio binding at the Wyvern Bindery. Ben has already received a mass of industry praise for his work, including being a Genesis Portfolio Award Winner (2014), one of seven students shortlisted by Source Photographic Review for their Graduate Photography Online (2014) and being featured in the British Journal of Photography s Ones to Watch Graduates 2014. BENJAMIN SHORTLISTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS PEACHES & CREAM COMPETITION Founded in 2011 by Jason Shenai, Director of Millennium Images, Peaches & Cream offers photographers the chance to receive cash prizes in support of their practice, to win a contract with Millennium Images, and the possibility of seeing their work published on the front cover of a best-selling novel. Benjamin is one of only thirteen photographers shortlisted, and will have his work exhibited publicly at Dreamspace Gallery in London. Also on offer is 1,000 cash prize, 250 Graduate Award, a three year contract with
IN CONVERSATION WITH ABBEY PLUMB BA (HONS) ART & DESIGN MEDIA PRACTICE (ONE YEAR TOP-UP) WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT THE COURSE? I really enjoy the teaching style, even in a larger class you get a very personalised learning experience out of the course. You get instant feedback from tutors and the course feels very alive and liquid; there is always something going on to keep you interested and inspired. Before joining the course at NTU, Abbey had studied an FdSc in Digital Video and Broadcast Production at De Montfort University. WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO STUDY AT NTU? The first thing that attracted me to the course was the idea of working with people from mixed specialities. Being given the opportunity to work with other students from different media backgrounds gives the chance to learn how to work with people outside your own skillset. This helps you learn from not only your tutors, but the people around you too. HOW HAVE YOU FOUND JOINING A COURSE WHERE SOME OF THE STUDENTS ALREADY KNEW EACH OTHER? Coming from a different university I was worried I might find it hard to settle in, but it was quite the opposite! I settled in right away and everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I think because everyone is passionate about what they do, you already have something to talk about when you start the course. HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE COURSE STAFF? All of the course staff are wonderful! The teaching staff deliver engaging lectures and give constructive feedback and support whenever you need it. It s fantastic learning from people who are so passionate about what they do.
IMAGES: DALE ON PLACEMENT WITH VPOINT TV. Nottingham Trent University is a fantastic talent resource for local creative industries like us. Over the years we have enjoyed having a number of work placement students, who have come to us to expand on their video production skills and to share their new and innovative ideas. Several of them have been offered full-time employment after graduation. VPOINT TV NTU student, Dale Fallows, has recently completed a work placement with local video production company, VPoint TV. Dale completed his studies on our FdA Media Creatives in July 2014, and in September progressed to our Art & Design Media Practice top-up course. He undertook the placement with VPoint TV as part of the Media Creatives course, gaining valuable hands-on experience in industry. An integral part of the FdA Media Creatives course is that students undertake two extended industry work placements during each year of the course, giving them the opportunity to experience different aspects of the creative industries, and to develop their professional skills. DALE S MEDIA CREATIVES WORK PLACEMENT WITH VPOINT TV Dale commented: The one thing I noticed about VPoint TV is the high standard they work to and how I ve had to take a step up from what I ve been used to. I got to work with the latest version of Avid and EditShare and it was really good to see the professional standard of software that is used in the industry. You get a good understanding of how to use the equipment at university, but actually putting it into practice in the field just gives you that extra bit of experience. I ve been on both sides of the camera whilst I ve been here. I got to help out with actual shoots and be on set with actors and with the crew, so it was really enjoyable. The good thing about VPoint TV is that it s a big enough company to be working with big brands and big companies, but small enough so you can get involved and be an integral part of the team whilst you re there. VPoint TV are an award-winning video production company based in Nottingham, who create lots of different work for a range of businesses and organisations. They have worked with NTU both professionally and collaboratively for a number of years. VPoint TV commented: Nottingham Trent University is a fantastic talent resource for local creative industries like us. Over the years we have enjoyed having a number of work placement students, who have come to us to expand on their video production skills and to share their new and innovative ideas. Several of them have been offered full-time employment after graduation. Visit www.vpoint.tv/portfolio/work-placement to watch an interview with Dale about his placement, on VPoint TV s website.
IN CONVERSATION WITH ANDY LOVE COURSE LEADER OF OUR BA (HONS) ANIMATION WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS COURSE? A STILL FROM ANDY'S ANIMATION WORK. Andy has been teaching at NTU for seven years, lecturing in animation at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Here he talks to us about NTU s new animation course and his experience in the subject area. WHAT CAN STUDENTS EXPECT ON THE NEW ANIMATION COURSE? A community of creative practice, loads of tutorials, and academic and technical staff contact. Also the latest technology, the latest software, the oldest skills, and lots and lots of animation. This is primarily a practice based course where students will learn through making, looking, experimentation and exploration, contextualised by the latest thinking in the field of animation studies. Our focus is on storytelling, placing animation with film making rather than illustration. We look at how animation communicates to the audience, and our staff team is made up of animators, artists, writers, directors, coders and mathematicians. Our aim is to equip our community of students with the full set of tools to be successful across the full range of skills that this profession can demand of you. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR AREA OF SPECIALISM? I have a degree in Fine Art Sculpture and gained an MA in Fine Art where I specialised in projected 3D animation installation art. Early in my career I spent time designing and building interactive exhibits of museums who were looking to communicate ideas through play and exploration. Later I ran workshops for artists and art students, covering a range of 3D and technological practices. My specialism is mainly 3D animation; character animation. Drawing and modelling; as in character design and concept work, messing around with new technology and making things work. You can see more of Andy s work on his blog: www.recursiveworlds.com
EMILY WINS AT THE PENGUIN DESIGN AWARDS IMAGES: EMILY'S WINNING WORK. BA (Hons) Graphic Design student, Emily Jeffries, walked away with second place in this year s Penguin Random House Design Awards and a 350 cash prize. The awards give students the opportunity to engage in design for publishing during their studies, and to experience real jacket design briefs first-hand. The challenge was to design the cover for a classic adult or children s book. Year Two student Emily was placed second for her design for the children s book The Outsiders. She took inspiration from the iconic imagery of the combed back greased hair of a typical greaser gang. There was something so striking and arresting about Emily s work, we just kept coming back to it it couldn t be ignored. It was the most abstract of all the designs shortlisted, but it spoke volumes. LUCY MANGAN Penguin Random House UK Emily told us: I decided to use this idea to create an eye-catching cover design that would stand out in store. I feel like the imperfect look of the imagery relates to the hardship the characters face in the story, and captures the atmosphere of the book successfully. Lucy Mangan from Penguin Random House UK commented: There was something so striking and arresting about Emily s work, we just kept coming back to it it couldn t be ignored. It was the most abstract of all the designs shortlisted, but it spoke volumes. Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House UK said: Standout cover design is an integral part of the success of a book, and Penguin Random House has created thousands of iconic book covers throughout the years. We value creativity and encourage the next generation of designers to use their amazing talents to help us tell stories. Emily added: When I found out I had placed second I was ecstatic. It is a great achievement and I m so pleased that my work was appreciated by the judges. In future I hope to see my design and idea being used in the real world. Penguin and Hallmark are my ideal companies and I hope to gain experience with them in the future.
IN CONVERSATION WITH ALANNAH PUMMELL BA (HONS) PHOTOGRAPHY YEAR ONE WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACILITIES? They are absolutely brilliant, there is so much to use! It is one of only a few universities where there are colour enlargers, and I m so glad that we have them because using them is a great experience. WORK BY ALANNAH PUMMELL. WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY AT NTU? NTU was so appealing because the facilities and equipment for the photography course were outstanding compared to the other universities I had looked at. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR COURSE? I love the workshops in Year One, everything s so exciting to try out! I ve used so many different techniques in photography that I ve never previously had the opportunity to explore. I also absolutely love the friends that I ve made on the course this year too! The staff that I ve worked with are all so supportive and have encouraged me to explore areas of work which I hadn't considered before. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS COURSE TO SOMEONE THINKING OF STUDYING PHOTOGRAPHY? The course is amazing, and I couldn t imagine studying anywhere else now that I m here! There are so many opportunities available to us on the course which really help to enhance our knowledge and understanding. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU GRADUATE? I would love to go into the fashion photography industry. Fashion and portraits are my real passion, and I feel that studying at NTU will really help me get my dream job.
SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY NOTTINGHAM NG1 4BU UK Tel: +44 (0)115 941 8418 Email: art.ug-queries@ntu.ac.uk www.ntu.ac.uk/art LIKE US AT www.facebook.com/ntuart FOLLOW US AT www.twitter.com/ntuartanddesign www.instagram.com/ntuart This publication can be made available in alternative formats. This publication is correct at the time of printing. Nottingham Trent University reserves the right to change information without prior notice or justification. Nottingham Trent University and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Nottingham Trent University. 7028/12/14