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
SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN
2014 BA (Hons)
Photography graduate,
Benjamin Swanson,
has been shortlisted
for Millennium Images’
annual photography
competition Peaches
& Cream.
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
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
IMAGES:
FINAL-YEAR WORK BY BENJAMIN SWANSON.
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.”
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.”
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.”
IN CONVERSATION
WITH
ABBEY PLUMB
BA (HONS) ART & DESIGN
MEDIA PRACTICE (ONE YEAR TOP-UP)
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.”
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
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.
“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
IMAGES:
DALE ON PLACEMENT WITH VPOINT TV.
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.”
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT
THIS COURSE?
“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
IN CONVERSATION
WITH
ANDY LOVE
COURSE LEADER OF OUR
BA (HONS) ANIMATION
A STILL FROM ANDY'S ANIMATION WORK.
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.”
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.
EMILY WINS
AT THE PENGUIN DESIGN
AWARDS
“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
IMAGES:
EMILY'S WINNING WORK.
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.
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.”
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.”
IN CONVERSATION
WITH
ALANNAH PUMMELL
BA (HONS) PHOTOGRAPHY
YEAR ONE
WORK BY ALANNAH PUMMELL.
7028/12/14
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SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN
NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY
NOTTINGHAM
NG1 4BU
UK
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