Clothes Show

Students and staff from the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design and Advertising and the BA (Hons) in Graphic Design for Print and New Media courses had a great time at the Clothes Show held at the NEC in Birmingham. Celeste Henney, Course Team Leader from the BA (Hons) in Graphic Design for Print and New Media, comments, “We saw the University catwalk shows and the fantastic fashion show in the main arena and picked a few bargains on the way. We all enjoyed the fact that you could see things other than just main high street brands and were inspired by the graphics and displays as well as the use of materials. A big thing seemed to be environmental issues which meant the use of old clothes to make new and fabrics generated from organic cottons, bamboo and hemp being on visible display.”

One of the star purchases from the show, a pair of designer shoes!

Design for facelift scores big hit for Roger

Congratulations to IT student Roger Farrow on having his work chosen for the new website for the Houghton Regis town centre facelift. The site will act as an information portal, carrying news on the progress of the work in Bedford Square and Roger designed and produced the site himself.

The design project was set by South Beds District Council and Roger found himself up against two of his fellow students in the shortlist: Matthew Freeman and Liam Moseley. The final decision rested with the Head of ICT at South Beds District Council, Rob Wood, who found the selection process an extremely difficult one owing to the high calibre of entries. Roger’s work was chosen as it presented the best mix of information and design.

Roger is studying a Foundation Degree in Web Design and his tutors, Andrew Hill and Derek Condon, are delighted at the opportunity this gave Roger and his fellow students to gain practical experience of working on a live brief. All three students were rewarded with IT vouchers for their hard work.

New “Incubator” Unit is born

Dunstable College has entered into a new, exciting and unique post-graduate provision for creatives wishing to start their own business venture.

The programme called The Incubator endorsed and masterminded by Will Howard provides support and guidance to creative post-graduates through mentoring and business practice workshops. The Incubator is set to give the young creatives a footing in a competitive market and develop business sustainability. The experience of students being supported to set up their own small businesses with professional assistance and peer group working, will in turn improve their employment and career prospects.

Currently, the majority of our Art & Design graduates migrate to design studios located in the London area. The Incubator unit is designed to provide a business and training base for recent graduates, who for a variety of reasons cannot relocate in the eastern region, but who may subsequently provide the local businesses with high quality designers on their doorstep.

Four recent graduates make up the Incubator unit, Christine McKeown, Mark Eggleton, Natasha Allsop and Gemma Loosley, and they comment, “We are hoping to build a successful business with a strong client base, by providing our clients with all the design, photography and multi-media solutions to their needs. We work together as a design collective to provide all these services.”

Student wins design competition

Dunstable College student, Peter Reck aged 20 from Luton, has won the Learning Partnership – Bedfordshire and Luton Ltd Skills Institute Logo Competition. Peter wins a prize of £150 and will now work with the competition organisers to further develop the logo and see his concept through to publication. The competition was open to graphic design and art and design students from all colleges in Bedfordshire and Luton.

The competition requirements were to design a new logo and colourway for the Skills Institute.

Carole Pullinger, Business Services Manager for The Learning Partnership - Bedfordshire and Luton Ltd explains the background to the competition, “The Learning Partnership – Bedfordshire and Luton Ltd and the Investing in Communities fund of the East of England Development Agency have launched the first of a county- wide network of Skills Institute facilities in Houghton Regis (the Kingsland campus). Our mission is to deliver learning to adults in Bedfordshire and Luton. Other facilities are planned for Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade, Bedford and Luton.

“It was felt that a unifying logo should be commissioned to contribute towards the development of a Skills Institute brand. Given the educational nature of the partners involved in this project, it was considered that an open competition for graphic design students in Bedfordshire and Luton would provide the optimum opportunity for students to contribute to the development of a logo for the Skills Institute.”

The competition judges were Dave Wyatt, Creative Director of Roundhouse Health and Martin Gimson, Logistics Technology & Engineering Manager of 3M. They commented, “The winning logo was well received. It feels very modern and immediately suggests success. All the entries for the Skills Institute were well thought out and of a high standard. The judges would like to say well done to all the entrants and special congratulations to the winning entry.”

Peter is in his second year of the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design and Advertising and plans to progress on to the final year of his degree at Dunstable with the BA (Hons) in Graphic Design for Print and New Media, starting next September. Peter comments, “I was surprised and delighted to hear that I had won. It has given me more confidence in my abilities. I hope this will give me a boost in my career, as it will get my work noticed. Once I have completed my degree at Dunstable College, I would like to work as a graphic designer in a company and develop as a freelancer as well.”

Peter receiving his winning cheque from Carole Pullinger

Public Service Skills Challenge

Public Service students eagerly contested their annual challenge; the culmination of six weeks’ concerted effort to enhance their teamwork and leadership skills.

Each of the four classes, National Diploma Years 1 and 2, and two First Diploma groups (the “Harriers” and the “Tornados”), chose their team captains and over the six weeks organised and practised their disciplines; thereby enhancing reliability, teamwork, leadership and communication skills, all of which are needed in a Public Service. Tutors were not involved in planning, organising or even assisting students but offered time within their programme and computer rooms if needed.

The teams competed against each other in disciplines that ensured that all members of the groups took part; each member participated in at least one discipline. The first activity was pool, followed by the mile and half run, cycling, swimming, bowling and basketball. The latter event showed how serious and committed each of the teams was and kept the referee very busy!

Finally the day moved to the Lecture Theatre for the last discipline: the Powerpoint presentation. Points were awarded for IT skills, presentation skills and educational content. Course Team Leader, Martin Rawles, comments, “First the Tornados introduced us to the world of pet rats, which for many may have been very educational but not very cute! Next the National Diploma Year 1s discussed the benefits to the community of joining one of the Cadet forces: Army, Air and Sea. The Harriers reminded us of their week at Bassingbourn with a good story line and excellent images, finally the National Diploma Year 2s educated us about the benefits of living in Kazakhstan! Overall this was an excellent day for the Public Service programme, enabling us to remain a good close team which will benefit all for next year. Thanks to Haydon Littlewood for organising and working hard to ensure all went well. Finally congratulations to the winners of this year Public Service skills Challenge …The Harriers!”