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ISSUE 14 SUMMER 2013 THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF NORWICH UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS
CONTENTS VICE-CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME
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NUA NEWS
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GRADUATE PROFILE
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NUA NEWS
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JOHN HURT INTERVIEW
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COWBIRD
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ALUMNI NEWS
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GRADUATE PROFILE: AKIN AKINSIKU
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WASHI
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NORWICH SHAWLS
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FASHION SHOW
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IDEASFACTORY@NUA
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BRAINCHILD
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NUA NEWS
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POSTGRADUATE STUDY
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DEAR LYNDA
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SUPPORTING NUA
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ALUMNI BENEFITS & SERVICES
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO
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EVENTS
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Magazine edited by Caroline Bailey with written contributions from Stuart Anderson, Matt Ecclestone, Alison Humphrey, Alice Kent, Caitlin Mullally and Emma Gentry. Designed by Emma Bailey. Proofreading by Joanna Peios at WORDetc. Copyright © Norwich University of the Arts 2013. All rights reserved. Under no circumstances can any part of this magazine be reproduced or copied in any form without the prior permission of the copyright owners. All information is understood to be correct at the time of going to print. The University cannot be held responsible for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions in the information provided.
Front cover image: Washi: The Art of Japanese Paper
For more information on the Alumni and Development Office please visit: www.nua.ac.uk/alumni or contact Caroline Bailey, Alumni Relations and Development Officer at: alumni@nua.ac.uk or development@nua.ac.uk
VICECHANCELLOR’S WELCOME
On January 31st 2013 we formally launched Norwich University of the Arts – NUA. The City’s Civic Office invited us to celebrate the occasion with a special ceremony in Norwich’s historic Council Chamber. Guests included staff, students past and present and a number of distinguished supporters of NUA who have contributed to our successful journey in becoming a University. We also took the opportunity to install our first Chancellor, the actor and artist John Hurt CBE. I am thrilled that John has joined us and we look forward to his presence at our summer graduation ceremonies. As we leave what has seemed at times like an interminable English winter the summer term is well underway and the run up to the end of year shows begins. The undergraduate show opens on 26th June 2013 and we hope you will be able to join us at an Alumni reception at the private view on 25th June (details on page 34). We are delighted to be holding the Gala Fashion Show featuring the collections of our first cohort of graduating BA Fashion students here in Norwich before they head to Earls Court for London Graduate Fashion Week. Applications to study at NUA for the 2013/14 academic year are higher than ever at undergraduate level and our community of postgraduate students continues to grow, with
increases in students from both the UK and overseas. With the introduction of MA Photography in September, we hope our postgraduate community will exceed 120 students this year. The new Graduate Research Centre in the heart of our campus encourages more cross discipline collaboration and sharing of ideas between students. We hope you will be able to visit the next MA Show, which opens on 30th August 2013. We are continuing with the refurbishment of Guntons and creating a new Media Studio in the West Garth so, as ever, the estate is evolving and our building teams will be very busy over the next few months. An architect’s impression of the new stairway and entrance to Guntons is included on page 24. There are many challenges facing UK universities at present and NUA is not immune to the new climate, but we retain our reputation as a specialist arts university where we take our subjects seriously and where study leads to progression to postgraduate courses and employment. Our results from this year’s Destinations of Leavers Survey are very encouraging, with 92% of recent graduates in employment or further study six months after graduation. Regardless of when you studied at the institution, we hope you will feel part of our new university community and will continue to support and visit us soon. With best wishes Professor John Last VICE-CHANCELLOR 3
NUA NEWS
NEW CHAPTER IN 170 YEAR HISTORY FOLLOWING OFFICIAL APPROVAL FROM THE PRIVY COUNCIL, THE INSTITUTION WAS RENAMED NORWICH UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS (NUA) IN JANUARY 2013. The new university status is the beginning of another exciting chapter in the institution’s 170 year history. This along with the appointment of John Hurt CBE as Chancellor, will ensure the University continues to attract outstanding creative students worldwide to study at NUA. The new name was proposed after consultation with students, staff and governors and allows the University to develop new degree programmes in the future.
NUA WELCOMES JOHN HURT AS FIRST CHANCELLOR While there was no red carpet on the day, a sprinkling of Hollywood stardust covered a civic ceremony held at Norwich City Hall in January 2013 to celebrate the institution’s new name and its progression to university status. The event also marked the official appointment of the actor John Hurt CBE, as the University’s first Chancellor. Although he started out as an art student and continues to paint,
John Hurt CBE with Professor John Last. Photography by Andi Sapey
the actor is best known for his film roles including The Elephant Man, Midnight Express, Harry Potter and will soon be seen in a special episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dr Who in November 2013. John began his association with NUA last year and officially accepted his ceremonial figurehead and ambassador position at the ceremony. The role of Chancellor does not come with any decision making powers but in his acceptance speech, John vowed to work with students to make NUA the best arts university in Europe, if not the world. A show-reel of the BAFTA winning actor’s roles was played at the ceremony and there is no doubt that the new Chancellor will be a respected figurehead and a great inspiration to current and future students. The Chancellor’s first official role will be to congratulate students at this year’s graduation ceremony in July 2013. An interview with John Hurt CBE can be found on page 10.
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GRADUATE PROFILE See Her Faces Unfurl, oil on canvas, 2013
GRADUATE PROFILE:
WILL TEATHER
ARTIST WILL TEATHER COMPLETED HIS DIPLOMA IN FOUNDATION STUDIES (ART & DESIGN) AT NUA IN 2000. WORKING FROM HIS STUDIO IN NORFOLK, WILL CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT HIS WORK WIDELY; HIS PAINTINGS CAN BE FOUND IN A NUMBER OF GALLERIES AND EXHIBITIONS AT ANY ONE TIME. 6
WILL TEATHER PROFILE
Will’s breakthrough came in 2007 when he was selected as the inaugural artist-in-residence at Aberdeen Arts Centre and a two month solo show followed. The residency was a steep learning curve in terms of self promotion, knowing how to present his work and taught him to be proactive in finding exhibition opportunities and new audiences.
This move into performance art brings Will’s passion for the theatre into his work and allows his humour and personality to be expressed, making his work more personable and likeable as a result. The performance was awarded a grant from the Arts Council England and was re-staged as part of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival’s Beta Programme in 2012.
What is interesting about Will’s work is the number of contrasting themes within a painting’s narrative, almost becoming like installations. His work has been described as macabre, fantastical, a story exploring the indefinite space between reality and fiction, horror and humour, fantasy and fact. His recent paintings have created vaudevillian characters which inhabit a play without a beginning or end.
A commissioned portrait painter, Will recently completed a portrait of theatre impresario Peter Wilson for his solo show at the Theatre Royal Norwich. Continuing on the theatrical theme, his work is in the private collections of choreographer Matthew Bourne CBE and the singer Ana Silvera.
These themes are apparent in a series of Will’s paintings following the creation of a new muse, Maudeline Spacks, named after Maud of the Tennyson poem. In 2011 Will collaborated with performance artist Holly Bodmer to stage The Reappearance of The Remarkable Disappearing and Reappearing Maudeline Spacks. A vanishing artist and femme fatale, Maudeline became lost in transit during a simultaneous show at the Sydney Opera House and Royal Opera House London. Lost between cities she was not seen again until her reappearance one evening at the Assembly House, Norwich.
Will is now making a name for himself in America following a show at the Catherine Dianich Gallery, Vermont, US, organised by the Chelsea Collective, a group of international artists which Will co-founded. In summer 2012 he was awarded the Ruth Katzman Scholarship and was Artist in Residence at the The Vytlacil Campus of The Art Students League of New York and recently exhibited in a group show at RH Gallery New York. Despite his busy schedule, Will finds time to tutor drawing workshops and lectures on a number of courses at NUA. Will is currently exhibiting in the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Competition and Exhibition at King’s Place Gallery, London until September 2013. www.willteather.com
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NUA NEWS
STUDENT LIVE BRIEFS STUDENTS AT NUA HAVE BEEN BUSY WORKING ON A NUMBER OF LIVE BRIEFS SET BY EXTERNAL CLIENTS AND WINNING AWARDS IN NATIONAL COMPETITIONS:
Brit Awards design by Matthew Callaby
Spanish skipbook design by Katie Whitton
Zoetrope by Helen Dodsworth and Kevin Smy
Matthew Callaby, BA Graphic Design Year 3, sampled the glitz and glamour at the Brit Awards 2013 after winning a design challenge to create a visual identity for Sony Music. The brief included designing the invites and envelopes for Sony’s aftershow party, plus the creation of a limited edition print, which was included in a goodie bag.
It has been another successful year for BA Textiles students at the Bradford Textile Society Designers Awards 2013. Final Year student Katie Whitton, won first prize in the Worshipful Company of Dyers Award for her colourful textile design. Polly Baker won first prize and Esme Hopkins was awarded a Commendation in the Prestigious Textiles Award. Commendations were also awarded to Hannah Wickham and Maria-Jane Moodie in the Holland and Sherry Award with Rosalyn Crosthwaite achieving third prize in the Clothworkers Foundation Award. The Bradford Textile Society Awards are considered the highest profile awards for textiles nationally and this year received over 930 entries.
BA Animation Year 2 students have been working on a brief set by Latitude Festival to create a series of 10-second stings to be shown on the main stage at the festival, which takes place in July 2013.
The challenge was set to design students at NUA by London-based creative agency FOAM. Matthew spent two weeks at Sony Music’s London offices finalising his designs before putting them into production and attended both the awards and after show party to see how his design went down amongst partygoers.
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The brief asked students to define ‘What is Latitude’ and five proposals were shortlisted, including a stop motion zoetrope created by Helen Dodsworth and Kevin Smy and promotes Latitude as ‘More than just a music festival’. Other ideas included a hand-drawn victorian style logo, a set of water projections and a 3D animation. The project was supported by the Ideasfactory@nua www.nua.ac.uk/ideasfactory
NUA NEWS
NEW VISITING PROFESSORS TO JOIN NUA THREE nEW VIsITInG PROFEssORs, ALL REsPEcTED LEADERs In THEIR FIELDs HAVE bEEn APPOInTED AnD WILL sUPPORT THEIR sPEcIALIsT sUbjEcT AREAs. Architect Anthony Hudson has been named as Visiting Professor in Architecture. Anthony set up his own practice, Hudson Architects in 2002 and was instrumental in the establishment of the BA Architecture course at NUA. Anthony’s inaugural lecture titled: How the City Lost its Spots, held in May 2013, was attended by students, local architects and members of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Jayne Pilling, creator of the British Animation Awards has become Visiting Professor in Animation. Jayne is a published author on
Anthony Hudson
animation, a curator of UK and international animation festivals and has previously taught at the Royal College of Art, the University of Pennsylvania, several universities in Taiwan, and has lectured extensively in Europe and Asia. She has also directed a series on european animation for Channel Four. Joining NUA as Visiting Professor in Games Art and Design is Gina Jackson, owner of games consultancy, Blushing Blue and Chief Executive of Women in Games Jobs (WIGJ). Gina’s career in the games industry started in 1992 and she has worked with Ocean Software, Nokia, Nintendo and more recently Sony. Gina formed the Women in Games Jobs in 2009 to give women working in the games industry better representation. Each Visiting Professor will deliver workshops with students at least twice a year and is additional to the visiting lecturer programme at NUA. Visiting lecturers have included animator Tine Kluth, Architects’ Journal ‘Woman Architect of the Year’ Michál Cohen and artist Michael Brick.
TOP 100 WOMEN IN GAMES ANNOUNCED Marie-Claire Isaaman, Course Leader for BA Games Art and Design and NUA graduate Sophia George (BA Games Art and Design 2011) have both been named in the first Top 100 Women in Games. The list compiled by MCV in association with Women in Games Jobs, names the most influential leaders, unsung heroes and developers working in today’s games industry. Marie-Claire is an active supporter of Women in Games Jobs and spoke at the European Women in Games Conference 2012 in Brighton. NUA graduate Sophia George is a co-founder of games studio Swallowtail Games and won the Ones to Watch category at the BAFTA Video Games Awards in 2012. Their first game Tick Tock Toys was released on the iOS in February 2013 and is now available on 40 different app stores worldwide.
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JOHN HURT INTERVIEW
John Hurt in Alien (1979)
John Hurt as The Elephant Man (1980)
MEET THE nEW cHAncELLOR NUA’S FIRST CHANCELLOR, jOHn HURT cbE, WAS OFFICIALLy INSTALLED INTO HIS NEW ROLE IN JANUARy 2013. John Hurt was introduced to NUA by Stuart Craig, an alumnus of NUA and Production Designer on The Elephant Man in which John starred. After a visit to the University, viewing the facilities, work by students and getting a sense of what NUA is about, John accepted and we are thrilled he did. In this interview, NUA students Caitlin Mullally and Emma Gentry met the actor to ask him about his own days as an art student, his role as Chancellor and his vision for the future of NUA. 10
How did becoming NUA’s Chancellor come about? I received a letter from Professor John Last asking me if I would like to be involved. I was naturally flattered and at the same time was rather excited by the idea because before I became an actor, I was at art school myself at Grimsby School of Art then at Central St Martin’s, London. I have tried to paint all through my life, but I can’t really call myself a painter – I believe if you’re going to be a painter you should be painting all the time. I don’t paint as a hobby I paint
as meaningfully, I hope, as I act. I was intrigued by the whole idea. Even though the role as Chancellor is just a title in a sense, I don’t have any power, but I do have the ability to make contributions. I would hate to be without my art school experience and I am interested in other peoples’, so if I can be of any help and if what I have done in my life allows me to take on the role of Chancellor, I am extraordinarily happy to accept.
JOHN HURT INTERVIEW
So could you say it is a rewarding role as a former art student?
As an artist, how would you like to see NUA develop in the future?
Well that again remains to be seen. I am definitely encouraged by Professor Last, the driving force of the whole thing is the Vice-Chancellor. I want to listen to the students and understand them. As long as we work together and have the same impetus, same desire, same energy, I think we can make NUA into a community that anybody in the world would wish to join.
I think that needs to be under constant debate. It is early days, we are a new university but it is important that the student voice is heard.
narrower margin than that but let’s go with the top 10 to start with. I would love to see the day when someone says: “I couldn’t get into Norwich so I had to go to the Royal College.”
You mentioned previously you would like to see Norwich University of the Arts in the top 10 of arts universities in the world, do you stand by that? Absolutely. I think I was being a bit conservative with the top 10, I would like to see a
John Hurt in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) All images © IMDb
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COWBIRD
Michael C Place and Adrian Shaughnessy discuss the future of print
DEsIGn sYMPOsIUM DIscUssEs PRInT In A DIGITAL WORLD AS THE DESIGN INDUSTRY EMBRACES DRAMATIC TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, COWBIRD, A TWO DAY SYMPOSIUM ORGANISED BY THE GRAPHICS TEAM AT NUA WAS HELD IN MARCH 2013. The purpose was to debate graphic design as a medium, output and profession and to explore the relationship between print and digital communictation and how they might co-exist in the future.
According to Nic Maffei, the name Cowbird suggests: “mutual dependence, hybridity and parasitic behaviour associated with the bird and paralleled in the coexistence of print and digital.”
The symposium was the brainchild of Graphic Design Course Leader Andy Campbell and Senior Lecturer Dr. Nicolas P Maffei and was inspired by an initial idea of the late Nic Hughes, a former lecturer on the Graphic Communication course.
Leading figures in graphic design were invited to address the audience including Patrick Burgoyne Editor of Creative Review, Michael C Place of Build, Hamish Muir of 8vo and Outcast Editions, Tom Roope from the Rumpus Room, Craig
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Oldham from Design by Music, Denise Wilton of Berg and Matt Ward from DWFE. The symposium was expertly chaired by Adrian Shaughnessy, former Creative Director of Intro. Themes addressed over the two days included what the future of graphic design and the distributed text – books, posters and magazines might be. How is digital design changing how we view print and is print becoming more tactile, unique and physical in order to compete but also how has print influenced digital design? It discussed the impact of rapid technological advances and how designers can keep up with these developments, including
COWBIRD
Cowbird symposium leaflet. Creative Direction by Andy Campbell. Designed by Studio Two. Photography by Andi Sapey. Poster designed by the late Nic Hughes
the ability of digital design to quickly engage and the accessibility of online content via smartphones, tablets and social media. Digital design has affected how we think, react, and buy goods and pressurises designers to continually create new experiences. A largely fleeting medium, social media encourages living in the moment and the documentation of daily life, whereas the physical nature of print allows time to revisit, ponder, and keep as a memento long after its initial use. Drawing on their own experiences Adrian Shaugnessy argued the debate – that there is a clear line between print and digital – is irrelevant, the two
already co-exist and designers should think less and make more. Craig Oldman agreed that it wasn’t about choosing between print or digital but knowing what medium was the most suitable to a given design opportunity. Tom Roope agreed and thought there should be less debate and designers should just get on with it. In contrast Denise Wilton, designer of Mag+, the first magazine for the iPad, proclaimed the heyday of print is over and interactive design is the future.
challenges that are facing their chosen profession. Andy Campbell commented: “One of the legacies of Cowbird will be how it influences designers and students’ approach to their work. The issues raised have definitely encouraged more questioning amongst students about what they are doing and the work they are producing.”
The event was well attended by the design industry including NUA alumni and students and gave them an insight into the
www.nua/cowbird
Cowbird was dedicated in memory of Nic Hughes, inspirational designer at NUA, who cared deeply about design and all its responsibilities. For future Cowbird announcements follow @NUAcowbird
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ALUMNI NEWS
ICONIC ICE CREAM REBRANDED The Cornetto Classic ice cream has undergone a strategic rebrand by London design agency Carter Wong to give the product a more youthful appeal aimed at the 14-25 year old market. The brief was to re-position the brand from a seasonal out of home treat to compete with chocolate bars as something to enjoy at home at any time. The new logo features hand-drawn free-flowing letters which reference the iconic Unilever Heartmarque (also designed by Carter Wong in 1996) and playfully mimics the shape of the cone so it becomes the main graphic element as it would on a chocolate bar. Working on the project was NUA graduate 14
Martyn Garrod (BA Graphic Design 2010) who joined Carter Wong in 2011 and worked alongside master typographer Geoff Halpin to create the new Cornetto lettering. To support the new branding and packaging, Carter Wong also created guidelines for Point of Sale collateral, new look mini-packs and to help them reach a younger audience, Cornetto is co-hosting a summer music festival with MTV in Italy in 2013. Carter Wong was formed by Phil Carter and Phil Wong (both BA Graphic Design 1977) who met as students at Norwich School of Art in 1974. www.carterwongdesign.com
NATIONAL TRUST LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN The National Trust launched a new advertising campaign in May 2013 created by The Click Design Consultants, co-founded by NUA graduate Bobby Burrage (BA Graphic Design 2002). The campaign Nature’s Playground encourages visitors to explore, enjoy, savour and touch and to see the National Trust in a new way. A series of 10 signs which feature typical phrases you might expect to see at a Trust property but with a clever twist have been created and sent to each of their properties in the Eastern region. The inclusion of social media links and hashtags is to encourage visitors to have a more interactive visit and share their experiences online. www.theclickdesign.com
ALUMNI NEWS Access for Art workshop
I by Amy Rogers
ACCESS ART WINS ARTIST DRAWING AWARD SHORTAccess Art co-founded by NUA graduates Paula Briggs (BA Fine Art 1990) and Sheila Ceccarelli (BA Fine Art 1992) has been awarded a Drawing Inspiration Award by the Campaign for Drawing for the Big Draw 2012. The award was for the event which: “most successfully engaged young people in creative activities.” The event, in association with the Cambridge School of Art, involved 98 teenagers attending a full day workshop and aimed to widen the perception of drawing’s scope and significance within a wide range of creative disciplines including architecture, sculpture, animation and textiles. The award was sponsored by the National Association of Decorative & Fine Art Societies (NADFAS) and Paula and Sheila were presented with their award, a commemorative certificate designed by Quentin Blake
in March 2013. On receiving the award, Paula commented: “Access Art has worked for many years to help inspire and enable drawing skills in all ages – children to adults, so we are proud that our work in promoting drawing skills has been recognised through this award.” Access Art is a registered UK charity which promotes high quality visual arts teaching and learning through workshops for individuals and schools and through online resources. www.accessart.org.uk Shelia Ceccarelli and Paula Briggs (centre) receive their award
LISTED FOR PAINTING PRIZE A painting by artist Amy Rogers (BA Fine Art 2011) was selected by the Royal Society of Portrait Painters for their self portraiture competition SELF. The painting titled I was short-listed out of 1,000 entries and was in the running for the £20,000 prize. The exhibition, held at Mall Galleries London, during May 2013 featured works by other leading portrait painters including John Wonnacott CBE, Sam Dalby and Oliver Jones. www.amyrogers.co.uk
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GRADUATE PROFILE
AKIN AKINSIKU, ART DIRECTOR AT NICKELODEON UK VISITED THE CAMPUS IN FEBRUARY 2013 TO GIVE A TALK TO CURRENT ANIMATION STUDENTS ON HIS CAREER AND IN PARTICULAR THE LAST 10 YEARS AT NICKELODEON.
GRADUATE PROFILE AKIN AKINSIKU (BA GRAPHIC DESIGN (ANIMATION) 1996) Akin began his career at Tandem Films and MTV Europe before joining Nickelodeon in 1999. We caught up with him on campus to find out more. Why did you decide to study at Norwich? When I came for my interview I fell in love with the city and the course was really 16
appealing. At the time, you had the opportunity to do a bit of everything before specialising in a particular area but I always knew I wanted to study animation. What made you want to become an animator? As a kid I was obsessed with comic books. I was always reading, writing stories and drawing. An obsession with films overtook the comic books and I was always watching films, from all over the world, in English, Russian, Mexican…subtitled. I guess animation brought the two together.
How did you get started in your career after graduation? After I graduated, I knew I couldn’t afford to take a holiday so I immediately started calling between 20-30 employers everyday and sent out copies of my showreel. My first job at Tandem Films was on a project called Flatworld, a short film using rotoscoping for visual effects. I then got a call from Suzie Hanna, my tutor at NUA who told me that MTV were looking for new talent. I sent in my showreel and they offered me a job as an Associate Producer. It was
exciting times – MTV was cool and I was suddenly working at the cutting edge of TV graphics with a lot of experimentation. When I joined Nickelodeon I only planned to stay for six months but I liked the environment and there were lots of opportunities to grow and progress, hence I am still there. What does your current role involve? As Art Director I am custodian for the overall Nickelodeon brand which includes three channels: Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons. I ensure brand guidelines are adhered to and logos are used correctly and that design follows the style guidelines. Sometimes I create interstitials (short programmes or segments used in-between main programmes) which are usually around 45-90
seconds each, channel idents, print, …just overall channel branding. I was also responsible for the rebranding for the channel. I needed to create a series of channel idents of five seconds each but with a very tight budget and a crazy deadline. I got to work with my design hero Neville Brody on new fonts and we developed the idea of the Doodles logo together. It was a very rewarding experience. Do you get time to work on your own projects? Not that much but I still have a love for comic books and recently released my first graphic novel St George Blood and Martyrs, a street art/manga style re-take on the legend of St George. What do you think of the work you have seen today? It has been fantastic visiting Norwich and the University,
plus seeing the work current students are producing. I am impressed with their focus and dedication to their work, as well as by the facilities and technology they now have access to. If you were graduating this summer, what advice would you give yourself? To make a varied showreel of work and to show what you’ve spent your last three years doing. My first two jobs after graduation were from second year projects I did – one was actually a one day film project. Students also need to be proactive and keep reminding employers who you are. A lot of work is by referral so always make a good impression on the people who hire you, be memorable – for the right reasons! www.nick.co.uk
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WASHI
WAsHI: THE ART OF jAPAnEsE PAPER AS PART OF THE INAUGURAL NORWICH WASHI FESTIVAL 2013, THE GALLERY AT NUA HOSTED THE EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF THE EXHIBITION WASHI: THE ART OF JAPANESE PAPER, ATTRACTING A RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS TO NUA FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. The exhibition marked a very successful collaboration between NUA, the Sainsbury Institute for Japanese Arts and Cultures and the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Washi, or handmade Japanese paper, has long held a central role in the domestic, spiritual and cultural life of Japan. In this exhibition Curator and Sainsbury Research Fellow Nancy Casserley compares a collection of early Meiji-era washi which forms the 19th century Parkes collection, held 18
at the Economic Botany Collection at Kew and the V&A, with the contemporary collection Washi: The Soul of Japan. It was the first time both collections have been exhibited outside of Japan or displayed together, allowing the audience to compare and contrast the washi of the two periods. The items on display included samples of highly decorative washi used for both ornamental purposes and within traditional partition doors, faux-leather washi, and even the helmet of a
Japanese government official crafted through the layering of washi and black lacquer. Prior to the opening, a performance by Nagauta musicians who travelled from Japan especially for the private view was held in NUA’s Duke Street Building. Sakata Yoshie from Washi: The Soul of Japan committee and Dr Mark Nesbitt, Curator of the Economic Botany Collection officially opened the exhibition and there was a ceremonial exchange of gifts
Photography by Denisa Ilie and Alison Humphrey
between Norwich and Kyoto to strengthen relationships between the two cities. As part of the festival NUA organised a one day washi conference, as well as paper making demonstrations and a masterclass to teach and showcase traditional techniques. Events were well attended by keen papermakers from as far afield as Turkey, Germany and the US, all eager for the chance to learn from famed Japanese papermakers Naruko Tetsuro and Kasai Shinji.
Other events held as part of the Norwich Washi Festival 2013 included the intriguingly titled The Art & Soul of Paper, exhibited at Mandell’s Gallery, Anteros Arts Foundation and artshoproject. The show included contemporary artists who work predominantly with paper, and was organised by NUA graduate Prue Dobinson (BA Textiles 2004). Prue also exhibited her work at Anteros and hosted a one day workshop titled Beginners Papermaking from Plants.
The catalogue Washi: The Art of Japanese Paper by Nancy Broadbent Casserly, is available to buy and can be ordered via the Gallery at NUA, priced ÂŁ15. www.nua.ac.uk/thegallery
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NORWICH SHAWLS Winning shawls by Lillie Turner, Rebecca Mack (not pictured) and Daisy Bryan. Photography by Charles Sharpe
Winning shawl by Lillie Turner
nORWIcH sHAWLs MAKE A cOMEbAcK THE NORWICH SHAWL, THE DESIGNER ACCESSORY EVERY WELL-DRESSED LADY WANTED IN THE MID 19TH CENTURY MADE A COMEBACK AT A ONE-OFF CATWALK EVENT HELD AT NORWICH CATHEDRAL IN APRIL 2013. Students from the BA Textiles Year 2 course were invited to design patterns inspired by Norwich for new shawls. Their designs were then digitally printed on to silk satin and displayed alongside the original Norwich Shawls at the event, organised by the Costume and Textile Association (C&TA). The shawl originated in Kashmir, India and was imported into Britain during the late 18th century. Alderman John Harvey is credited with bringing the shawl to Norwich, which quickly became a leading manufacturer of shawls in the UK. 20
Original shawls displayed at the event included a silk shawl once owned by Caroline Colman and a shawl dyed ‘Norwich Red’ a shade of red which became synonymous with Norwich for its consistency in dying both silk and the heavier worsted cloth. Early designs featured a pine motif, which later became known as Paisley after the town in Scotland that marketed the design as their own. A series of prizes sponsored by the C&TA were awarded to students at the event. The first prize was awarded to Lillie Turner for her shawl, which was inspired by the colours and
patterns of the beetle collection at Norwich Castle Museum. Rebecca Mack and Daisy Bryan were awarded second and third prizes respectively. The Norwich Shawl also played a significant role in NUA’s own history. When the original School of Design was established in 1845, students created designs for the local textile industry. 170 years on students are safeguardiing the heritage of Norwich’s textile industry so this important piece of history is not forgotten. www.norwichtextiles.org.uk www.nua.ac.uk/batextiles
FASHION SHOW Photography by Clementine Beck
GALA FAsHIOn sHOW A catwalk show featuring exciting new collections by the first year of graduating BA Fashion students was held in May 2013. The show allowed the talented young designers emerging from the University to showcase their work before taking their collections to Graduate Fashion Week held at Earls Court, London. Prizes were awarded to two students for their outstanding collections: Siobhan O’Keeffe was named Student of the Year by show sponsor Jarrold and Amy-Olivia Parish was presented with The Gallery Haircutters Creative Cut Award for her precision in cutting and tailoring techniques. Her work was also selected as one of 12 student pieces from fashion courses across the country to be included in the marketing materials for Graduate Fashion Week. This included a pack given out to all visitors to the event including journalists, designers, buyers and potential employers. www.nua.ac.uk/bafashion
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IDEASFACTORY@NUA
STUDENTS DESIGN NEW BEER BRAND A GROUP OF NUA DESIGN STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE IDEAL BRIEF WHEN THEY WERE INVITED TO CREATE A BRAND IDENTITY FOR A NEW BEER. The Craft Brewing Company contacted the Ideasfactory@nua to help launch their new beer Redwell, named after the street where their bar in Norwich is located and coincidentally the address for the University. The brief was to create a beer brand from scratch which would appeal to mass-market beer brand drinkers and craft beer drinkers alike. Students were asked to come up with concepts for a stand alone logo, tap lenses, bottle labels, bar paraphernalia and a website. The brand required a sophisticated look that would equally hold its own in a Shoreditch pub or a west London bar. The portfolio of products include three lagers, an Indian Pale Ale and an American Pale Ale; each requiring its own 22
identity so are easily distinguishable to customers. Eight concepts were pitched to the client, three were chosen to develop further and the final design was selected with assistance and technical advice provided by Norwich Labels and Redwell’s contract bottling partner. The chosen design was by BA Graphic Design Year 3 students Jason Drake, Sam Povey and Tim A’Court. Their design included a brand mark featuring an hourglass to represent the importance of the beers’ longer brewing time; while the shape of the bottle label is inspired by the ticket you take as you wait in-line at the deli, playing on a consumer’s willingness to
wait for something that tastes delicious. The different beers are presented in a collection of contemporary colours, giving each brand clear stand out while also presenting a confident collection of products. The Craft Brewing Company was delighted with the final result. Ben Thompson commented: “The professionalism with which the students conducted the process from the initial brief through to final delivery was outstanding and the result is as strong as we could have hoped for.” The range was launched at the Tap House, Redwell Street, Norwich in May 2013. www.nua.ac.uk/ideasfactory
BRAINCHILD Still from The Wanderer: Tears of Irrigo
GAMEs sTUDEnTs WIn EnTERPRIsE cOMPETITIOn A team of Year 2 students from the BA Games Art and Design course were announced winners of the Brainchild Business Idea Competition 2013. Split Path Studio is a core team of seven students led by Lead Producer Jonathan Pace and a number of other games and animation students were involved on a freelance basis. The studio’s aim is to create titles which will help to advance video games as an artistic medium as well as a form of entertainment. Their first title The Wanderer: Tears of Irrigo, a side-scrolling 3D platform game, puts the player in the place of Zoe, a lone protagonist stranded on a foreign planet after her ship is wrecked in a storm. Jonathan explained the game’s concept: “Our goal is to create content with an emphasis on player choice. Details of the story change according to the player’s actions and decisions and the path they decide to
take in terms of narrative and gameplay. With this game we hope to subvert the expectations that players have of traditional action/adventure games whilst evoking thought about our medium.” Second place was awarded to Clare Vickers (BA Graphic Design 2012) for her product Shelf Life, a 100% home-made natural moisturiser. Third place went to Danielle Neale, BA Textiles Year 3, for her bespoke and personal service that transforms treasured memorabilia, travelogues, collections and textiles into highly personal and original heirlooms. The winners received £1,000 cash, business mentoring from the competition mentors worth up to £4,000 and a year’s free membership to Norfolk Network. The two runners up will also receive one-to-one mentoring from the panel.
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NUA NEWS Guntons and Havers factory pre-1967
GUNTONS REFURBISHMENT ENTERS FINAL STAGE A MULTI-MILLION POUND REFURBISHMENT OF GUNTONS BUILDING IS SET TO ENTER ITS MOST EXCITING PHASE AND WILL COMMENCE OVER THE SUMMER 2013.
Artist’s impression of the new atrium, entrance and staircase
Guntons Building as it looks today
The creation of an atrium will be the building’s centrepiece, giving it a new heart. The space, which will feature new stairs and bridges, will be filled with light from a roof skylight installed during the re-design of the graphics studios last year.
been careful to reflect this in their design.
The existing entrance will also undergo a transformation with the installation of glazed doors on to St Georges Street. The project has been overseen by RIBA award-winning Hudson Architects. 24
The former Guntons and Havers factory was acquired by the institution in 1967. The old warehouse provided three large open plan floors, which made ideal studio space and meant the institution’s main teaching accommodation was all located on St Georges Street. An initial refurbishment programme remained sensitive to the exterior and interior fabric of the building. It has retained it’s original character throughout and Hudson’s have
The Guntons redevelopment is part of a wider investment in NUA’s estate providing modern, industry standard and accessible facilities to students, as well as preserving the heritage of the campus.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY Photography by Simon Bell Alice Lee
Andrew Logie
“
We are a community of specialists with divergent experiences. Collaborative working is a central part of creative practice and we emulate this. We work with established relationships such as the artist and curator or the photographer and fashion designer but we also invite different perspectives that provoke new ways of approaching creative problems.
“
Paul Fieldsend-Danks, MA Leader
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Lucas Yeung
NEW RESEARCH CENTRE THE OPEnInG OF THE nEW POsTGRADUATE AnD REsEARcH cEnTRE On cAMPUs AnD THE APPOInTMEnT OF PAUL FIELDsEnD-DAnKs TO THE POsT OF MA LEADER Is FOsTERInG A sTROnG sEnsE OF cOMMUnITY AMOnGsT nUA MAsTERs sTUDEnTs.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY Beatrice Heuvel
Kate Cooper
Veronica Domingo Alonso
We asked a group of current MA students to share their thoughts on what this community ethos means in practice.
experience in terms of transportation and environment, I worked with students from all courses, we shared ideas over a research blog and we delivered a group presentation at the end of the project.
we have an event called Dialogues which is a Fine Art symposium where artists, gallery owners, exhibition organisers etc. come in and talk to us about various aspects of industry.
Beatrice Heuvel (MA Textile Design): The first project we did was a research unit and all postgraduate students were taught together. This opened the door straightaway to interdisciplinary working. I got to know students on other courses so I now feel comfortable asking them for advice with say photography or film making.
Beatrice: We too have regular contact with guests from industry. Memorable lectures include Guy Hills, co-founder of Dashing Tweeds, Sarah Angold, a designer who specialises in laser cutting and Karen Nicol an embroidery and mixed media artist. What is also really valuable is that at the start of the course several of our tutors did presentations introducing their own practice. It was inspiring to see the work of the people teaching you and to know they are practitioners themselves with a lot of experience to impart.
What’s the most valuable aspect of MA study? Andrew Logie (MA Moving Image and Sound): The atmosphere is inspiring. On my course students all specialise in different areas. My practice is in sound installation whereas other people are into animation, film and another student specialises in augmented reality. Alice Lee (MA Curation): I chose the course at NUA partly because it didn’t restrict applications to people from Fine Art or History of Art. I feel it is a more innovative course informed by students from varied sectors. I studied Graphics and Animation for my BA. How important is cross discipline collaboration? Lucas Yeung (MA Communication Design): It’s good to get perspectives from people in other disciplines. During a group project looking at improving the commuting
How have you collaborated with industry? Kate Cooper (MA Fashion): We have practical workshops with industry guests. For example a leather workshop with Kat Marks who also spoke a lot about networking and promoting yourself. We also have guest lectures for instance a duo from INSIDEOUT talked to us about their career journey. Veronica Domingo Alonso (MA Fine Art): There is a Fine Art lecture series plus
For more information on fees, funding and application details as well as more discussions with students from the NUA Postgraduate community visit: www.nua.ac.uk/courses/ postgraduate/students E: postgrad@nua.ac.uk T: 01603 610561
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LYNDA MORRIS
Lynda, John Wonnacott, 1983
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LyNDA MORRIS:
DEAR LyNDA… DEAR LYNDA… OPEnED AT THE GALLERY AT nUA In MAY 2013 AnD WAs A FITTInG HOMEcOMInG TO cELEbRATE THE OnGOInG WORK OF cURATOR, ART HIsTORIAn, WRITER, PATROn, MUsE AnD PROFEssOR, LYnDA MORRIs. ALIsOn HUMPHREY (MA cURATIOn 2012) REVIEWED THE sHOW WHIcH DIcK snAUWAERT DEscRIbED As: “An HOnEsT cURATOR’s cOLLEcTIOn”. The exhibition originated in 2012 with Matthew Higgs at White Columns, New York. The show formed from Lynda’s own personal archive, consisted of an unimaginable quantity of interesting items, from original artworks by Rosa Loy, Lucy McKenzie and Rose Wylie to letters and postcards sent from Gilbert & George, Jeremy Deller and John Baldessari. Many of the exhibits were straight off the walls of Lynda’s house, including the Toby Zeigler ‘Disco Light’ hanging above a reading area. A coffee table overflowing with books, EAST catalogues and dispatches from the history of the Norwich Gallery and a comfy brown sofa which once belonged to former NUA Principal Bill English, was the perfect place to sit and contemplate the volume and virtue of Lynda’s work. Lynda curated the show chronologically, beginning with her student days in Canterbury where she met the Rolling Stones and Robert Wyatt (of the band Soft Machine) was her life model. Present are objects and
ephemera from her trip to New York, assisting Richard Hamilton and her days at Nigel Greenwood’s gallery, London, with Gilbert & George. The vitrines were full to bursting with newspaper cuttings, exhibition catalogues, editions and artworks, all kept by Lynda, including a cheque from Charles Saatchi for an EAST catalogue. The walls were covered with works and posters collected from her days with the Midland group and pieces from her 33 years at Norwich Gallery and EASTinternational, the democratic open submission show which she organised between 1991 and 2009. Many artists who exhibited at EAST have been shortlisted for the Turner Prize including Laure Provost in 2013 and Luke Fowler in 2012. Lynda’s political interests and her sense of humour were paramount throughout. Each label written as if she was speaking to you sharing her tales. A video of Lynda talking to Andre Cadere, her voice resounding around the Gallery, was a constant presence.
Also on display were items relating to Lynda’s world leading research project, major exhibition and book Picasso: Peace and Freedom, 2010 at Tate Liverpool, Albertina Vienna and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark, and her continuing involvement with artists and the politics of peace. Lynda is known as the ‘artist’s curator’ working with and for artists but has always said that for her what she does is not a job, it’s just a wonderful way of life. www.nua.ac.uk/thegallery
Dear Lynda installation. Photography by Alison Humphrey
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SUPPORTING NUA Richardson Brown Travel Scholarship. Sue Chowles, Course Leader, Georgie Gilbert and Dr Hilary Carlisle, Dean of Arts and Design
Caroline Beale Memorial Award Claudia Rumford and Peter Martin
THE NExT GENERATION
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN MEMORY OF FORMER STUDENTS Two student scholarships have been awarded in memory of former students at NUA. The Caroline Beale Memorial Award is named after the former BA Visual Studies (1999) student. The award donated by Caroline’s family is given to a student whose work looks to help and support people through art. The prize for 2012/13 was presented to Claudia Rumford, BA Visual Studies Year 3, in recognition of her final year project which examines the therapeutic uses of art. The project involves creating art boxes which Claudia will donate to local nursing homes and community centres for the elderly to encourage them to be more creative and interact with each other. The Richardson Brown Travel Scholarship is awarded in 30
memory of Frances Brown, a former student whose legacy to NUA offers a student the opportunity to travel abroad to enhance their creative practice. This year’s prize was awarded to Georgie Gilbert, BA Fashion Year 2. Georgie plans to visit Barcelona to research the art nouveau architecture and work of Antonio Gaudi who inspires the structure, creative pattern cutting, colour, silhouette and the form of the garments she designs. If you are interested in sponsoring a scholarship, or considering leaving a gift in your will to NUA, please contact Caroline Bailey, Alumni Relations and Development Officer, for an informal discussion. Please call: 01603 756288 or email: c.bailey@nua.ac.uk
If you would like to support the next generation of creative practitioners at NUA, you can now make a donation to the Alumni Fund online. Hosted by BT, MyDonate is a not-for-profit online fundraising resource and is a secure, quick and easy way to make a gift, and as BT does not charge a handling fee on donations received, more of your money will come straight to the areas where it is needed most. If NUA has helped you in your career and you would like to make a contribution to someone else’s, please make a donation. Whatever the size of your gift, you will make a difference to the future of the University and the student experience. If we can claim Gift Aid on your behalf your donation goes even further without costing you an extra penny. To make a donation online, please visit: www.nua.ac.uk/supportingnua
ALUMNI BENEFITS & SERVICES
cAREERs sERVIcE The Careers Service offers support and advice to students and graduates on future career development and further study options. If you graduated within the last three years you can continue to access the Careers Service at NUA and book one-to-one appointments with Richard Peat, Careers Adviser, free of charge (or with an Alumni Card).
ALUMnI cARD
NUA Careers Service including one-to-one career appointments The University Shop Remote access to the intranet and online Library resources Alumni membership to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.
All graduates from NUA can continue to access a number of university facilities with an Alumni Card. Valid for three years, the card costs ÂŁ25 and offers access to: For more details and to The Library for reference use download an application form, please visit: Reduced membership to Cinema City Norwich www.nua.ac.uk/alumni
Career appointments can be by telephone, face to face, email or Skype so even if you are no longer living in Norwich, you can still access the help and advice available. To book an appointment, please email Richard Peat at: r.peat@nua.ac.uk, call 01603 751471 or Skype: nua.careers There is also a dedicated online Job Shop which all graduates can register to free of charge and receive new job alerts straight into your inbox. To register, please visit: www.nua.prospects.ac.uk
KEEP In TOUcH We enjoy hearing your news and if you move house, change email address or change jobs, please update your details at: www.nua.ac.uk/alumni/register
sIGn UP FOR OUR nEW E-nEWsLETTER Ensure you receive the latest news and invites to events by signing up to our new e-newsletter. The bulletin is also an opportunity for graduates to promote their
own events and exhibitions and details can be sent into the Alumni Office at: alumni@nua.ac.uk two months prior to the start date. www.nua.ac.uk/alumni/register
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO
jOn HIGHAM (bA GRAPHIc DEsIGn 1983) I am a published children's author and illustrator. Still freelancing with occasional teaching on the FdA course at Sussex Coast College. I have been a regular freelancer for BBC children's magazines since 2000 and now for CBeebies weekly magazine. I have illustrated many children’s books, educational and picture books. Besides working with app developers I launched a character book app in March 2010 called Elly the Reindeer. There are now 12 in the series and sales are heading to 30,000 apps. I also illustrate packaging and greetings cards, clients include Sainsbury's, Early Learning Centre, Tesco, Paperchase and many more. www.jonhigham.co.uk
PHILIPPA LAWREncE (bA FInE ART 1990)
sTEVE jOYcE (bA FInE ART 1995)
I graduated from Fine Art (Printmaking) in 1990, before going to study at the Royal College of Art. I now work from a studio in Bristol on commissions and projects that have taken me to Japan, Australia, Canada and the Czech Republic. I also lecture at Cardiff School of Art & Design. I am currently developing new work for a major textile exhibition Cloth and Memory 2 at Salts Mill, Saltaire in autumn 2013 and a planting scheme, a 470 meter bed of wildflowers, titled Darning the Land: Sewn for Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury. My work is concerned with man's acquisition and use of the land and with the potential for cloth and the language of textiles to connect people to place.
After finishing my degree at Norwich I continued my art practice, attained my PGCE and worked in galleries, before leaving to live in Canada for a year. I returned to live in Suffolk where I am now based. I have been teaching on the Foundation and BTEC courses at Chelmsford College for the past 10 years and run the AA2A scheme. I also work independently and collaboratively on arts projects and have become more active in my art practice since completing my Masters degree in 2012. I have finally built myself a website and use blogs to document and discuss my work and projects.
www.philippalawrence.com
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www.stevejoyce.co steveart@btopenworld.com
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO
HEIDI HOLM-PEDERsEn (néE MORTEnsEn) (HnD GRAPHIc DEsIGn 1997) I studied HND Graphic Design at Norwich in 1997 before returning home to Denmark to finish my design education. At the time, I was one of the oldest in my class because I had taken a couple of years out traveling around the world and working in Paris as a ski guide. I now live back in Denmark and for many years worked for different advertising companies as an art director. For the last seven years I have been running my own company, MyMind, based in Viborg in the middle of Denmark. We do lots of different kinds of jobs – brochures, graphic identities, websites etc. I employ in-house a photographer, graphic designer and a web director. www.mymind.dk www.facebook.com/pages/ Mymind/204969846207023?ref=hl
sARIKA THAKORLAL (bA cOnTEMPORARY TEXTILE PRAcTIcEs 2006)
sIMOn HARRY cOX (bA GRAPHIc DEsIGn 2010)
I am based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, amidst a thriving and prominent art community and I now work as an illustrator and textile designer. Since graduating I spent nearly three years curating and reviving a prominent craft gallery and I launched an online greetings card range. I use expressive line and form to create illustrations, surface design and functional textile objects. My drawings are created instinctively and often inspired by alter egos of real people, who are typically found expressing very basic emotions – maybe even having a tantrum. My textile pieces are an extension of this work and allow me to use my characters in a new context.
I am currently working at a branding packaging agency Brand Opus in London. I work on a variety of international packaging projects as well an impressive array of identity projects from around the globe. In my rare free time I try to engross myself in freelance work as much as possible. Recently, I have been working on three large personal projects including the on-going rebrand of The London Clockmaker as well as creating an extensive identity for a London-based interior design agency, which will be finished soon.
I was lucky enough to exhibit at the prestigious Site Festival in 2013, and I am looking forward to expanding my practice in to publications.
www.behance.net/gallery/The-LondonClockMaker/4457479 www.be.net/simonharrycox www.simoncox.carbonmade.com
www.sitefestival.org.uk www.sarikathakorlal.com
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EVENTS
EVENTS@NUA THE GALLERy
OTHER EVENTS
MA cURATIOn sHOW – ARTs cOUncIL cOLLEcTIOn
UG DEGREE sHOWs
MA OPEn DAY
31 October 2013
26 June – 2 July 2013 NUA Campus Open daily (except Sunday) 10am – 5pm (Last entry 4pm) Late opening 27 June 2013 until 9pm
Monday 2 September 2013 3pm – 5pm Meet Course Leaders and have a tour of new facilities and the MA show at our PG open day.
TOnY HILL: DOORs
PRIVATE VIEW
12 – 23 November 2013
25 June 2013 BarNUA 5.30pm – 8pm Join us for a drink, view the exhibition and catch up with old friends at this year’s UG Degree Shows.
20 August – 19 October 2013
LEs bIcKnELL: UnPIcKInG/UnbInDInG
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Closed: Sunday and Monday www.nua.ac.uk/thegallery
LOnDOn PUb nIGHT 27 November 2013 6pm – 11pm The Water Poet, 9-11 Folgate Street, London, E1 6BX
MA OPEn DAY 18 July 2013 3pm – 5pm Book online at www.nua.ac.uk/opendays
MA DEGREE sHOW 30 August – 4 September 2013 NUA Campus Open daily (except Sunday) 10am – 4pm
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Book online at: www.nua.ac.uk/visit/opendays or call 01603 610561
An exciting new programme of events for the autumn will be anounced shortly. Please check: www.nua.ac.uk/visit/ events for details. For updates on alumni events, please like our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ NUAAlumniNetwork
This edition was printed using Explorer Offset, an FSC速 accredited paper, produced from sustainably managed forests, using vegetable based inks. The plastic wrapping used to mail the magazine is degradable polythene. If you would prefer to read the magazine online, each edition is added to our webpage at: www.nua.ac.uk/alumni
When you have finished with this newsletter please recycle it.
WWW.NUA.AC.UK
cOnTAcT Alumni and Development Office Francis House 3-7 Redwell Street Norwich Norfolk NR2 4SN T 01603 756288 E alumni@nua.ac.uk W www.nua.ac.uk www.facebook/NUAAlumniNetwork @NUAAlumni