AUB Graphic Design students create a new brand identity for National Lottery Heritage Funded Our Museum project

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Earth AUB Human was proud to support Earth Day on 22 April and enable students from across the AUB campus to engage in a range of activities that explored how they could make a positive difference to the environment through their personal choices and creative practice. AUB Human: Earth Day Day Earth Day is an annual global event that aims to raise awareness of climate change and the ecological crisis. Earth Day calls upon us all to protect the environment, pledge support and take action. At AUB we are committed to implementing best environmental practices and in 2020 we achieved the EcoCampus Platinum award. Our Environment Management System, alongside our Sustainability Plan, ensures we manage the campus efficiently, continually aim to minimize emissions and utility usage, and ultimately achieve our carbon neutrality ambitions. We have also made a commitment to never investing in fossil fuels. In addition, all new staff attend environmental sustainability inductions and we promote biodiversity and Fairtrade.

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Costume for Change | Adele Keeley

Instagram: @costumeaub #aubcostumeforchangecomp

In association with AUB Human, students from the BA (Hons) Costume, BA (Hons) Performance Design and Film Costume and BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design had the opportunity to be part of an incredibly exciting competition, — ‘Costume for Change’.

Students were asked to design a costume that addresses issues of climate change and the environment, requiring them to create a visual gateway that encourages proactive care for the natural world. Realised by costume students in the coming months and sponsored by the Jean Hunnisett Fund, the winning design will be used as a symbol of the courses’ intentions to move towards more sustainable practices. The designers were also asked to consider how the costumes would be made and what impact they’d have on the environment when realised. They were asked to consider recycled, sustainable or eco fabric and materials.

An amazing selection of designs were entered with a variety of themes, including climate change, forest fires, deforestation and the impact of the fashion industry. Instagram judges, Sophie Fretwell (alumni and costume illustrator,) Dr Anjana Khatwa (Engagement Lead, Wessex Museums) and Anita Bagdi (Climate Illustrator), shortlisted five finalists, which all feature in a online exhibition. Instagram judge Anita Badgi commented: ‘It’s just incredible what the students express and explain in their designs.’

The five finalists were then tasked with submitting more detailed information outlining their concepts and ideas, as well as the messages behind the designs. They were also asked to summarise fabric choices and the sustainable approaches they would take to realise the costume. These were then judged by a second round of judges which comprised of, Mary Oliver (Dean of Faculty of Media and Performance), Natalie Carr (AUB Human Representative), James Jackson (AUB Environment Group representative), Lorna Rees (Goobledegook Theatre, Performer, director and activist) and Tom Clarke (National Trust Studland).

This exhibition showcases the five finalists and

the creative thinking, problem solving and dynamic imagery that went into developing ‘Costume for Change’. The overall winner of the competition was Ella Kearvell. Judge Lorna Rees commented: ‘I can completely imagine wearing this dress and being the character! I think it’s a beautiful, clear idea about

connecting our next generation to nature. It’s very well realised’.

Ella Kearvell, a Level 5 student on the BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design course, designed her costume to be an interactive, educational piece. It was inspired by a child’s ‘Welly-walk’, an exciting nature walk in which children can attach sticky materials to their wellies and see what is picked up as they walk through meadows and forests. The cape of the costume represents the forests and the mushroom fungi, made from a piece of wet felted wool. The dress takes its shape from a beehive and the shape of the honeycomb, which doubles as pockets for collecting seeds and nature treasures. The learning opportunities for all ages are endless. This costume has the potential to capture a lifelong interest in nature and the environment, be it habitats, pollination, climate or sustainability. Ella told us why she took part in ‘Costume for Change’: ‘I have always been interested in the natural world and eco-friendly art. More recently, the devastating effects of the fashion industry has been brought to light, and it’s more important than ever to encourage sustainability across all art forms and in our everyday lives.’

Finalist Benedicte Olsson Lønes is a vegan, Norwegian student currently in her third year studying costume design. Her costume is inspired by the human impact on the environment, nature and wildlife. She designed a maximalist costume, with each component in the costume symbolising a different aspect of the climate crisis. The jacket is made from pineapple leather, representing oil spills, while the flames represent the rising temperatures on our planet. The red wellies are a symbol of humanity keeping our feet dry while sea levels rise. The gas mask and body covering suit is to keep us safe from viruses, toxins and gases. The flowers blooming from the costume symbolise the hope we have and nature’s strength to take

“I believe that in order to enact change we need to capture the interest of the next generation.

Ella Kearvell, student