Sharpen your pencils.

For the second year running, D&AD permitted lecturers to observe the judging process of their most prestigious awards. Over 5 days, both student and professional work was put through its paces at Olympia in London, in over 20 categories ranging from graphic design, product, advertising, art direction, illustration, web, packaging, branding, direct mail to radio and tv....... Packaging Design was the most pondered over and discussed - taking some 8 hours to decide which of the 216 entries made it through to the final stages........results are not yet known and will be confirmed soon at the D&AD Awards evening, this year to be attended by both industry and students!

Each category was judged by 6 industry professionals in what was a highly rigorous judging process. One thing that is reinforced, year after year is the importance of an original, creative idea. This of course is also reflected in the student categories.......so, remember.....communicate, don't decorate.

The judges' survival kit.........

















The most important packaging of all...courtesy of D&AD!!!!!.....this acquired quite a bit of interest actually.....not sure why.........

Roses grow on you......!!

Gemma Brownhill with the coveted award!

Proof, if proof were needed!...........
Laura Malpass' and Melanie Milne's entry.......
Richard Kingham with congratulatory smile.....
Gemma and Callum...worthy winners...(and runner - upers)
Callum's entry....
The Roses wouldnt be the Roses without Raghu in attendance........


Lauren, Richard, Ben, Kevin and Bel from Level 2 experience the awards evening....
..."once upon a time, in a land far, far away......"
AWOL Studios - home to Transmission Creative........

The Hive, Manchester, played host to the 2011 Roses Student Creativity Awards, which this year proved once again very successful for Staffordshire University.

"These valuable awards offer a fantastic opportunity for students to show off their creative talents and develop skills by submitting work against briefs set by the cream of the advertising and design industry.

This year 12 agencies have set briefs to explore. The work submitted will be judged by creative directors from each agency and a work placement will be offered to the winner of each brief". 3 of these 12 placement winners will then go on to compete for a Gold, Silver and Bronze award at the Roses Advertising Awards in May 2011"

Brief winners will receive -

a winners' logo to use to promote your success

a certificate presented to you on the evening by the agency who set the brief

your work published in The Drum magazine (read by 7500 people a fortnight)
your work published online on The Drum website (viewed by 109,000 visitors per month)
your work published in The Drum Yearbook in 'Fresh Talent' section
a 1-2 week work placement with the agency who set the brief
a chance to compete at the Roses Advertising Awards for a Gold, Silver or Bronze trophy and finally the invaluable opportunity of mingling with the cream of the creative industry at the event

Gemma Brownhill, (Level 3 Graphic Design) won the 'Supermarket Sweep' category with Melanie Milne & Laura Mellor (Level 2 Graphic Design), close runners-up.

Callum Rudd (Level 3 Graphic Design) achieved runner-up status in the 'Tattoo' brief. The awards night was a great opportunity to see work from a host of universities and network with industry specialists from Like River, Glorious, Realise, The Chase, Elmwood, Dinosaur, 999, The Leith Agency, Musiv, Vivi-id and Tayburn.

Gemma was also selected to go onto compete for the Gold, Silver or Bronze trophy in May - we wish her luck!

In addition to the Roses awards a handful of students made the trip to AWOL Studios, Hope Mill, in Manchester where Transmission Creative are housed. The open evening was a showcase for creative practitioners who are based at the mill. This was a great opportunity to see creative professional practice first- hand and included graphic designers, painters, photographers, interactive designers, furniture makers, radio production and jewellery design amongst others.

Looking for Erik..........

Berlin played host to Staffordshire University this week, when students from Graphic Design and Illustration (first, second & third year) enjoyed the culture, history, art and hospitality that only Berlin can offer!

After a great walking tour of the city (in beautiful sunshine!) and getting to grips with the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, University, Reichstag, Jewish Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie, amongst others,...the students had the opportunity to check out the Berlin cuisine-including the beer.

An early start the next day and a train to Dessau....and The Bauhaus. A great tour and insight into the architecture, designers and practitioners of the famous and influential design school- and very tasty lunch.....the souvenir shop was emptied of type posters and it was back to the 'mitte' to delve into Berlin's nightlife - including Jazz like you've never heard before.

The opportunity to visit one of the best typographers, designers, spokesperson - and all round god-like human being, came on the last day in Berlin. 10 lucky students were able to visit Edenspiekermann and as luck would have it, Herr Spiekermann was in residence!!!! After a fantastic presentation and look round the studios, the students felt like old friends with Erik---and left with type in their hearts! (and wisdom from Erik)

Auf Wiedersehen Berlin!

Type really does matter....Erik checks Jim Williams' kerning.
Holding court over all things typographical........Herr Spiekermann
Edenspiekermann presentation
Erik's homage to mr. Fletcher?
Then there were ten. (Edenspiekermann offices)
Students of the Bauhaus, circa 2011..............
Masters of the Bauhaus, circa 2011.
Fine dining Bauhaus style





History, architecture and design....all in a days work for Staffs students.


(it's behind you!)
Lunch bunch.......

VIP cocktail lounge at the hostel gets the thumbs -up from first years!

Student Grant

Grant Mitchell (ex-staffs student and visiting Lecturer) will be part of AWOL Studio's open evening. Worth a look to all you creative bods.......

Friday 4 March 2011

TAKE A PEEK – AWOL STUDIOS OPEN EVENING THURSDAY 24 MARCH 2011

As proud residents at Awol Studio’s in Hope Mill, Transmission Creative have been asked to promote the latest showcase of Manchester’s finest creative talent.

The voyeuristic theme behind this open evening is to to take a peek inside the minds and studios at Manchester’s leading creative space.

Awol Studios is home to over 50 creative individuals and businesses practising in a diverse range of disciplines including fine art, ceramics, photography, graphics, fashion, crafts, jewellery, sculpture and many more. The open evenings give you the opportunity to meet the creatives in their working environment, purchase work, be inspired, socialise and celebrate Manchester’s finest artistic talent.

So come down on Thursday 24 March 2011 from 4pm onwards to Awol Studios, Hope Mill, 113 Pollard Street, Manchester M4 7JA

A flutter with a shutter.......

Second year graphic design & illustration students ventured to Wolverhampton---in the freezing cold - to capture the excitement of a race meeting (night racing) as part of their photography:art direction module.

After stocking up on curry and chips and placing bets, the photography could begin. Luckily, the photography turned out a lot better than the horse tips.