Thursday 17 December 2015

Just Have to Share - This Book is a Camera by Kelli Anderson

Artist and designer Kelli Anderson latest book is This Book is a Camera, a pop-up book that turns into a fully functional pinhole camera. The book acts as a simple educational tool to help explain how photography worked before we all had camera phones in our pockets. Anderson points out that making a simple camera obscura really isn’t too difficult and provides instructions on how you can make one yourself.

This Book is a Camera comes complete with a starter pack of B/W Ilford photo paper and instructions on how to use the camera to take photos. You’ll still need to pick up some developer fluid and have a dark room to develop photos in. 

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Craftspace website designed by Graphic Design students


Craftspace is a development organisation and promoter of craft commissioning exceptional, world-class contemporary craft, connecting creative practice with diverse communities, and promotes the cultural, social and economic value of craft within society.

Craftspace celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2016. Made in the Middle, a selected, touring exhibition of contemporary craft from the Midlands began as the ‘West Midlands Crafts Open’ in 1998 and has been the main constant element in Craftspace’s programme across these 30 years. Some makers have taken part once, some several times.

In the lead up to the next Made in the Middle, to take place in 2016, Craftspace are looking back at the history of this open exhibition and the people involved in it, through an online exhibition. 

Craftspace approached the University to help to design and create the website that will host this history and resource; telling the story of Made in the Middle through its exhibitors from 1988 to the present.

Second year Graphic Design students studying 5VC015 were asked to consider, resolve and visualise the website, launched with a live briefing by Emma Daker from Craftspace and Louise Taylor, an ex-director of Craftspace and also one time director of the Crafts Council. Joined by web design consultant, Tom Mayman they returned to review and judge the student designs.

“We were very impressed by the diversity of approaches and level of ability of the students which made the judging an interesting and enjoyable experience. There was a lot to commend but in the end there could only be one successful design” said Emma

Jeavan Tagger’s design was judged the best and he’ll now be involved in working with Tom to develop and code his work for publication online. He will work alongside Tom learning new skills from an industry perspective and will also spend time working at Craftspace’s offices at The Custard Factory in Birmingham.

Module leader Jeff Leak said,

“It has been a pleasure to work with Craftspace (again!). I was confident that our students would rise to the challenge of such a demanding live brief and am really happy that Jeavon’s design was chosen. There were a lot of very good submissions and it’s been great to work with the students on a web-based assignment and see them flourish.”

We’ll post again when the website goes live!

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Just Have to Share - MAGCULTURE THE SHOP!


After five years online, magCulture are opening a bricks and mortar real life shop in London. 

The Shop will stock over 500 different titles from around the world in a 400sqm space devoted to magazines. Regular magCulture Journal readers will know exactly the type of magazines to expect – a strong mix of contemporary indies alongside the best from the big publishers.

Situated at the base of one of London’s first sixties tower blocks, the original sloping ceiling and terrazo floor have been restored and bespoke furniture designed and built by South London Makers.

‘Other cities have great magazine shops with generous stocks and knowledgeable staff,’ says magCulture’s Jeremy Leslie, ‘I felt it was time London had that too. We have some good shops already, but they tend to also be bookshops or gift shops.’ 


The magCulture Shop will stock only magazines, aside from a few natural extensions such as books about editorial design.

The magCulture Shop
270 St John Street
Clerkenwell
EC1V 4PE

Hours
Wednesday–Friday 11am–7pm
Saturday 12–4pm





Design / Creative Artwork Internship - MHP Communications, London

A fantastic opportunity to work with our design team based in-house that work on both external client work and support the practices internally. As an intern your role will sit alongside and support the Design team on pitch work and presentations, so helping to generate best solutions to problems is key.

170 strong with four offices worldwide, MHP Communications is an award winning agency that excels at delivering focused and impactful communications strategies and campaigns. We are part of The Engine Group that provides clients with best-in-class communications expertise under one roof. Engine is a new kind of creative communications group, here to help businesses understand, navigate and create change. For the people they employ. The customers they serve. And the stakeholders they answer to.

Good technical skills in both Office and Adobe design packages are required, and the successful candidate will be highly self-motivated and have the ability to work well independently and within a team.

Check us out www.mhpc.com

If you think this sounds like you please send your CV and portfolio to katie.spence@mhpc.com

Monday 14 December 2015

Free font Now

Now is a sans serif typeface designed by Alfredo Marco Pradil. It is available in 6 useful weights - thin, light, regular, medium bold and black - that will help to create contrast and in any situation. 

Find out more about the type designs of Alfredo Marco Pradil here and here and download your free copy of Now here


Thursday 10 December 2015

Graduate Success - Michael Hill, Illustrator


Illustrator Michael A. Hill arrived at Wolverhampton Poly in 1980. Straight out of a very traditional grammar school, the foundation course was a hugely creative experience for Michael. He took every opportunity to try out new artistic techniques and processes. He realised that graphic design could offer him the kind of career he was looking for and went on to study it at Bristol Poly. During his degree he also spent time on printmaking and illustration. After graduation he worked as a designer at the Brighton Museum and whilst there gradually began to move into illustration. Soon he was able to go freelance and has never looked back.

“I have now been an illustrator for thirty years,” Michael told us. “My work has developed as technology and the publishing industry have changed, and I’ve been fortunate to see a growing fashion for illustration.”
 
 These days the bulk of his commissions are hand-painted bespoke maps for both commercial and private clients. “I’ve been all over the world without leaving my desk,” he said from his studio in London. Amongst his clients are Vogue, Tatler, The Telegraph and Taschen. He has a US agent who handles his American commissions. Right now he is busy with projects for magazines in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Chicago. He also has private commissions for Christmas, and a property map for the National Trust.

He credits Wolverhampton Poly for giving him the confidence to experiment in his work, and to enjoy the creative process itself. 
 “Studying at Wolverhampton helped me find a career that I still enjoy today,” Michael says. 

A few examples of Michael’s work are below and you can see more at his websites www.michaelhill.com and www.mapsillustrated.com.





Wednesday 9 December 2015

Just Have to Share - Beatrice Warde's Dress is Lettered

Beatrice Warde during her tour of South Africa in 1957. Dotman Pretorius Studio of Photography. The researcher welcomes contact from copyright holders

Jessica Glaser's latest post for the Centre for Print History and Culture is all about Beatrice Warde, renowned typographic theoretician and publicity director of Monotype, and her promotional tour of South Africa and Australia. Leaving Britain in the summer and returning in December, her lengthy trip involved numerous speaking engagements, interviews and receptions, throughout which she was impeccably presented. Find out more about this tour and Warde's lettered dress here

Monday 7 December 2015

The Centre for Printing History and Culture

PRINT MATTERS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
The Centre for Printing History and Culture has been recently launched and has received much interest. University of Wolverhampton School of Art staff hold membership of the centre, including from Visual Communication Dr Rina Arya, and Jessica Glaser, and from Applied Arts, Dr Jane Cooksey. The consists of researchers, heritage professionals and librarians and has been established to seek to encourage research into all aspects and periods of printing history and culture, as well as education and training into the art and practice of printing.



For information about members of the centre visit here

For detail of research projects connected to the centre see here

A number of resources have been collated and provided for users of the Centre's website. These resources are divided between archives and museums and private presses and will continue to be developed as the Centre expands.

Thursday 3 December 2015

Graphic Designer - Brightwave Brighton

Brightwave, the leading global provider of learning content, products and services, is recruiting to support its expansion plans.

Brightwave holds a unique position in the market and its brand has been built on its core values of quality, innovation and creativity. Our clients come to us because they know we're experts in learning. Our people are passionate about being part of an award-winning learning agency that looks different to any other. We are looking for people who share that passion.

This is an exciting and rare opportunity for a committed, enthusiastic and skilled graphic designer to work in central Brighton with an award-winning e-learning development company that values creativity, innovation and expertise.
The role

You may have recently graduated and are looking for your first real job - here's a chance to turn your passion into your career. Or you may already have some commercial experience under your belt and are now looking to develop and grow your skills and career in a fantastic digital agency.

Your responsibilities include:
• taking a brief and realising appropriate, imaginative and engaging visual solutions for our clients
• working with a team to produce graphics that are consistent with existing styles, standards and specifications
• sourcing visual assets from online libraries and resources.

Skills and experience:
• Expert in Photoshop and Illustrator and will need to demonstrate proficiency in HTML, XML and other web technologies.
• Experience of working in a PC-based environment essential.
• Experience of e-learning or other relevant commercial website development is desirable.
• An understanding of User-Experience and User-Centred Design principles.
• Knowledge and experience of other relevant technologies such as video production, animation and photography are advantageous.
• Comfortable working as part of a multi-functional team.
• Able to work under pressure and meet challenging deadlines.
• Great communication skills - visual, written and spoken.

Your skills and experience are important but the right attitude is what really matters to us. We value your enthusiasm, your commitment and your desire to do a great job and delight your clients and colleagues.

For more details or to apply visit here

Just Have to Share - Monotype Recorder


Monotype launched their first issue of Recorder Magazine last year – a bi-annual magazine which uncovers the world of Typography and graphic design. Monotype is an international type house that publishes and designs new typefaces, as well as bespoke type. The Recorder was designed by graphic designer & art director Luke Tonge, and it could definitely be declared as being one of the most aesthetically beautiful editorial print magazines devoted to the art of type in circulation.

Since the initial launch and success of the first issue of Recorder amongst typenerds & typophiles - art director Luke Tonge and ( Editor ) Emma Tucker have recombined their talents for the secondary type & illustrated issue – featuring a broad range of subjects. For this issue of Recorder, topics such as sport branding to the continued resurgence of sign writing are covered. The content is once again divided into four sections – features, profiles, opinions and essays – each one appropriately balanced.





Type infiltrates almost every aspect of our visual culture. Whether it’s on our screens, in our books, or on the streets we walk; the letters that surround us play an integral role in our lives. To celebrate and explore this further, we’re relaunching the original Monotype magazine, The Recorder. Taking on a new editorial remit, and a complete redesign courtesy of Luke Tonge, the twice-yearly magazine will focus on the wider implications of typography and how it contributes to a broader cultural context. Monotype

more information can be found here



Wednesday 25 November 2015


Green Screen is the largest international nature film festival in Germany. For the first time a Design Competition for the poster of the 10th Nature Film Festival in 2016 has been launched.
The poster should express strongly the connection between nature and film and act as a motivator to participate in the event. All styles of expression (for example: photography, drawings, painting, typography) are permitted.

Entries have to be submitted in EPS or PDF (X3:2002; 300 dpi). If the data volume is too high to be sent a jpg format may be send alternatively.

Single and group works are accepted.

There is no entry fee.

Eligibility

Open worldwide to students and trainees of media design, visual communication, information design and similar, agencies and freelance designers.

Prize
The winner will receive 1,200 Euro (approx. 1,290 USD).
For more information visit here

Friday 20 November 2015

Free Font Cormorant from Catharsis fonts


It's not very often that elegant free fonts are available in a massive 45 different weights, but that is the case with Cormorant by Catharsis fonts. 

Named after a long necked waterbird, Cormorant is described as display type family developed by Christian Thalmann of Catharsis. It's available in 9 different styles (Roman, Italic, Infant, Infant Italic, Cormorant Garamond, Cormorant Garamond Italic, Upright Cursive, Small Caps, Unicase) and 5 weights (Light, Regular, Medium, Semibold, Bold). As there are so many different options within Cormorant we are only able to show a selection here. To view all of the different weights and styles click on the link below
To download your free copy of Cormorant visit here

Thursday 19 November 2015

Very Own Studio - Brighton, UK

We’re looking for a junior designer to join the team at Very Own Studio. Do you have strong design ability, curiosity and drive?
We are a small, friendly design consultancy based in Brighton. Set up in 2009 we create design with insight, integrity, imagination and impact. We offer brand, digital and print design services, working in the built environment, the third sector and with start up businesses.

Are you…— Motivated, enthusiastic and friendly
— Well organised
— Interested in visual culture
— Confident communicating with clients and colleagues

Do you have…— A methodical approach to research and problem solving
— A head full of great ideas
— A good sense of typography, image, colour and layout
— Experience working across identity, print and web
— Proficiency in Adobe CC (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
— An eagle-eyed attention to detail
— Ability to convey your creative concepts in writing

If this is you, please send your covering letter, portfolio and CV to: work@veryownstudio.com

Salary: Dependent on experience
Contract: Full time but happy to be flexible
Applications close: Friday 4 December 2015

Graphic Design Intern - THE IDLE MAN, London

The Idle Man is an online menswear start-up based in Shoreditch. Collectively we are a young team of writers, designers and buyers that all have a genuine passion for music, food and of course fashion.
We’re currently on the lookout for a creative and enthusiastic designer to join the team. So if you are available ASAP (minimum of 1 month) please get in touch.

Main Responsibilities
• Working with our lead designer producing content for the site and other in-house projects

• Designing web pages and UX/UI elements

• Conveying seasonal concepts and themes in design work

• Designing advertising artwork for social media

• Help to establish the look, feel and functionality of the site

• Opportunity to collaborate with brands (Levi’s, Edwin, Carhartt, Hot Creations, etc)

Required Skills & Experience
• Preferably a recent design graduate

• Ability to work in a fast paced environment

• Ability to create eye-catching designs with the customer and brand ethos in mind

• Strong typographic and layout skills with an attention to detail

• Fresh design portfolio

• A strong working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator

Please send your CV & portfolio to: jordan@theidleman.com

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Introducing CPHC and Dr Chris Hill





The Centre for Print History and Culture [CPHC] has just appointed its first full time Research Fellow, Dr Chris Hill.

Chris has research interests in histories of mass communication and radicalism and the relationship that has existed and evolved between them in modern Britain. 


His Ph.D. research, which focused on broadcasters, newspapers and protest movements in the 1950s and 60s, has given him a particular interest in areas congruent with those of the Centre for Printing History and Culture, including the political economy of the press, printing unions and radical print. Chris is about to embark on a project entitled ‘Solidarities of Print: Printers and the Struggle for Press Freedom in Modern Britain'. The project explores how printing unions forged and furthered solidarities with workers, ethnic minorities, protest movements and women through the crafts of their members and the creation of objects of dissent. It challenges narratives of ‘the freedom of the press’ by placing the printer and his or her labour at the centre of a story spanning from the repeal of the newspaper stamp through to the Leveson Inquiry.

Chris's publications include
BOOKS 
Media, Movements and Democracy in Cold War Britain: Peace and Power (Bloomsbury Academic, due 2017)

ARTICLES 
Nations of Peace: Nuclear Disarmament and the Making of National Identity in Scotland and Wales’, Twentieth Century British History (available through advanced access)

CHAPTER CONTRIBUTIONS
"The Problem of Frontiers and Desert”: Non-Violent Direct Action against Nuclear Bases and Tests in the Cold War’, in Patrick Major, Mara Olive & Linda Risso (eds), The Bomb, Volume Two, Society and Culture (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016)

‘Media and Democracy in Labour History: Re-assessing the Defence Debate of 1960’ in Class, Culture and Community: new perspectives in nineteenth and twentieth-century British Labour History (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars, 2012)



The Visual Communication Department at the University of Wolverhampton is an associate member of the new Centre for Print History and Culture [CPHC]. The centre exists to:

• Stimulates, supports, publicises and disseminates knowledge of printing history and culture; 

• Provides a local, regional, national and international means of exchanging information, skills and expertise in printing history and culture; 

• Engages in and supports ground-breaking interdisciplinary research into printing history and culture; 

• Seeks partnerships between universities, heritage organisations, independent scholars, businesses and practitioners to sponsor and encourage the investigation and understanding of printing history and culture; 

• Promotes transfer and exchange of knowledge of printing history and culture amongst individuals and within communities and institutions.

Planning Intern - mcgarrybowen - London

WHO WE ARE
mcgarrybowen is an integrated advertising agency committed to creating work we’re proud of, for clients we’re proud to work for.

Take a look at our website for more about us: http://mcgarrybowen.co.uk

THE ROLE
We’re looking for a smart, energetic and useful Planning intern to join us from January 2016 for 2 months. We want someone who’ll be impossible to ignore, and will add value with every breath.

You’ll be working with the Planning department across a range of brands, and will gain an understanding of advertising & account planning whilst you’re here.

This is a great chance for you to get a great start at a great agency doing great stuff.

Specific responsibilities will include…
• Researching, analysing and compiling reports about a range of topics including brand, category and consumer trends

• Compiling competitive reviews

• Assisting with social media community management & social media trend spotting

• Researching data for input into creative strategies and briefs

• Conducting primary research activities for clients & new business (e.g. VOX pops)

• Inputting into the weekly staff & client newsletter

• Helping the Planning department prepare for strategy presentations & briefings

SALARY
£1250/month.

HOW TO APPLY
At mcgarrybowen, we don’t believe in brands, we believe in icons.

These days, anything and anyone with an opinion and a YouTube account can claim to be a brand, so we think we should aim a little higher. If brands are symbols of ownership (rooting from branding cattle), and icons are symbols of belief and faith, icons connect with people in a much more profound and valuable way. There are 2 simple parts to being an icon:

Facts – The stories, beliefs or features that make them what they are

Acts - The way they present themselves to the world in an original, remarkable and enduring way.

To apply, we want you to write 200 words about an icon of your choice, explaining why you think it deserves icon status. What you choose is entirely up to you – it could be an iconic brand, a person, an object, a character. Try to think beyond the obvious, and if you’re stuck for ideas, take a look at some we’ve written at http://mcgarrybowen.co.uk/latest/.

Send your 200 words, along with a cover letter & your CV to Rhonwen.lally@mcgarrybowen.com.

The deadline is 19th November 2015.

Thank you & good luck.

Tuesday 10 November 2015

Graduate success - Kate Ackley and the Cumberland Pencil Company


Regular readers of this blog may remember reading about graduation awards. This years winner of the The Cumberland Pencil Company Award for Visualising (and The Canon Illustration Prize Awarded for the most innovative student work in Illustration) was Kate Ackley. Kate also was the first winner of The Orion Publishing Student Illustration competition


Since receiving her award from the Cumberland Pencil Company, Kate has been enjoying using many of the companies products within her work. She has been in touch to share some of her resulting illustrations.

Well done Kate and many thanks to the Cumberland Pencil Company and Derwent Pencils for their continued support of Visual communication Students

Monday 9 November 2015

Katie May Green Lecture


Katie May Green will be visiting the School of Art to talk about her Illustration Practice on the Wednesday 11th November at 1.30pm in MK301.

The talk is open to all Visual Communication students at all levels on the Illustration, Graphic Design & Joint course. It will provide a fascinating insight into the working world of a freelance practitioner in Illustration.

Katie's clients include Walker Books, Penguin Books, Oxford University Press, Harper Collins, Candlewick Press. She will be taking questions at the end of the talk.

Friday 6 November 2015

Young Package - Packaging competition


2016: Don't let packages end up in the trash, find their additional function!
Packaging design has a special position not only in design, marketing and transport, but also in how it affects the environment. Paper waste makes up about 25% of household waste and it cannot be recycled indefinitely. Therefore, we have chosen a topic that can help reduce the amount of packaging waste and at the same time provide an additional use for consumers - PACKAGE UNLIMITED. Let's cut down the proportion of non-recyclable packaging waste, and let's think about how to create a package with multiple uses.

We are looking for imaginative, multi-functional and detailed packages that can be used for several purposes.

Create an innovative package and show how packaging doesn’t have to end up in the trash.

Think of a package that blooms after use, a special pencil case, or a package that becomes part of the product after opening. Create an imaginative and thoughtful package for your favourite product, which could be used for better handling of the product after unpacking, or be used for decoration. Discover the possibilities of paper! Create a package so graphically eye-catching, that nobody would want to throw it away. Take time exploring design solutions and finding additional packaging functions!

To register or find out more look here
Deadline March 25 2016

Thursday 5 November 2015

TYPE TALK Yves Peters: Trajan in Movie Posters

Thursday 12 November 2015

Lecture Theatre, Parkside Bulding, Birmingham City University Cardigan Street, Birmingham.

Book your FREE ticket here.
Registration opens at 1730. Talk scheduled 1800-1930

Soon after its appearance on the font market more than twenty years ago, the Adobe Original Trajan was embraced by Hollywood. Now it seems to grace more movie posters than any other typeface. Its stately and classic character shapes made it the go-to choice for Oscar material. Yet in recent years the popular font has apparently fallen from grace, and a pretender to the throne is vying to take its place.

About a decade ago, after Yves Peters had joined Typophile’s Type Identification Board, he noticed that there was a real demand from people who wanted to know which typefaces were used on film posters. This inspired him to start writing ScreenFonts, regular reviews of film posters with a focus on the typefaces used in them. Originally published on the FontShop BeNeLux blog Unzipped, ScreenFonts was ported to The FontFeed when Yves Peters became its editor-in-chief. It quickly became one of the most popular series on FontShop’s design and typography blog. Now it has found a new home on FontShop News.

As Yves became more and more acquainted with the world of film posters through his review series, he started noticing things – picking up trends, and distinguishing specific (typo)graphic tricks. As he further explored the medium he discovered how film posters use their own visual shortcuts as a way to communicate more efficiently with the intended audience. This codified language is not limited to images and colour schemes, but is also applied to type styles that identify film genres.
However one typeface defies all categories – Trajan.
After hearing one too many times that Trajan was the “movie poster font” without any evidence to back up this claim, he went on an epic journey (pardon the pun) to investigate if Trajan truly was the most-used typeface in the history of cinema posters, and if indeed it helped films “win Oscars”. The story of his investigation will not only make you discover many hidden facets of typography, but most of all, as Yves says at the beginning of his presentation: “I will tell you very little that you don’t already know; you simply just don’t realise it yet.”

Yves Peters is a graphic designer / rock drummer / father of three who tries to be critical about typography without coming across as a snob. Former editor-in-chief of The FontFeed, he has found a new home on FontShop News. Yves writes about type and talks at conferences. His ability to identify most typefaces on sight is utterly useless in daily life.

Tuesday 3 November 2015

John Baskerville: International Man of Mystery - Lecture by Professor Caroline Archer


24th November 2015 6.00pm 
 
Room MK045, City Campus



This talk is about John Baskerville – the complete printer, who did so much to progress the industry of his day.


He created a typeface which bears his name; improved the printing press; helped produced the first wove paper; reconsidered the production of printing inks; and took a wholly new approach to the design of end papers. But he was much more than that – Baskerville was the embodiment of an Enlightenment man.

Caroline Archer is Professor of Typography at the Typographic Hub, Birmingham City University and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham where she works to promote the history, theory and practice of printing history and culture. Caroline is the author of three monographs and a frequent contributing author in the academic and trade press.

Attendance is free

Junior Designer - Brooker & Sowerby, Bath

WANTED: JUNIOR DESIGNER TO SUPPORT OUR GROWING CREATIVE TEAM

IF YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR DESIGN, A PORTFOLIO PACKED WITH CREATIVE IDEAS AND A KEEN ATTENTION TO DETAIL THEN GET IN TOUCH.

Job description
New client wins and continued growth mean we’re on the lookout for a talented creative to join our growing team in Bath. You will support our existing design team to deliver digital marketing campaigns - crafting email and web content - for leading automotive brands like Jaguar, Land Rover and BMW. In addition, you’ll help deliver a range of marketing materials for our other clients so should be comfortable working across different media - both printed and digital - taking ideas from initial concept to production.

You’ll join a small dynamic team so this is an opportunity to enjoy increasing levels of responsibility with a real chance to shine. 

Ideal candidate
A hands-on, energetic style is a must – in addition to a thorough knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign and illustrator in particular). Experience of working with HTML / CSS would be highly advantageous but not essential. The ideal candidate will be able to work under pressure across multiple projects and have excellent communication skills. 
This position will suit either a star graduate or someone with a few years of commercial experience under their belt.

Benefits
Salary: £18,000 - £21,000 (based on experience)
25 days’ holiday (in addition to public holidays)
Regular team social events
Life insurance

To apply
Please send your CV, a pdf of your latest work and a few words about yourself to mark@brookesandsowerby.co.uk.

No agencies please – unless you’re looking for a brand refresh, in which case please drop us a line...

Junior Designer - Communicate (Europe) Limited, Leeds

It is exciting times for our bold, innovative agency. At Communicate, we don’t settle for average. As a company, we push the boundaries of creativity and demand that our designers deliver the very highest levels of work.

The skill and talent of our staff is helping us rapidly develop, and as a junior designer, you will get the chance to work with a range of clients, including blue-chip corporations, across all facets of design. At Communicate, a big opportunity awaits where you can really stand out and make your mark.

You will be collaborating with leading creatives, from brilliant senior designers, to skilled wordsmiths, on projects across both digital and print. You will need to be a genuine creative thinker and highly organised, as you will be helping to build designs from the ground up and seeing projects through from initial brainstorming to completion. You will be eager to get involved and contribute fresh ideas, so you will need to be motivated and confident.

We love a good, exciting portfolio full of bright ideas. But, we want more than that. We want to see how you arrived at those ideas, and what your creative process was. So, including a combination of finished work and sketches/roughs/scamps would really help give us an idea of who you are and how you work.

Expert knowledge of the following industry-standard software is a must:

Adobe suite - 
Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator 

A good understanding of HTML and Wordpress would be a bonus.

This sort of opportunity, to work on these sorts of brands, does not come up very often,
so send us your CV and relevant work samples immediately. 

We offer a competitive package for the right candidate.

Email Jamie Sparkes: jsparkes@communicateco.com

Blueprint - Grey London's entry level talent scheme

WE’RE HUNTING FOR HUNGRY MINDS

Blueprint is Grey London's entry level talent scheme for the people who will fuel our culture and one day lead our industry. It’s for the hungry minded with the energy to make famous world defining work.

If that sounds like you, we’re interested in your talents and where you want them to take you, no matter what your background is. We’re open to everyone so select the route you're interested in and apply. To find out more and make an application see here

"We’re always welcoming people who think the way we do.
Energy beats talent. Beats grades. Beats time."
- Nils Leonard, Chief Creative Officer and Chairman

Advertising might look like a closed shop when you’re starting out. But that’s not the case at Grey London. We’re famously open.

We welcome anyone who has the energy to forge a long and remarkable career in the creative industry. We aren’t precious about where you’ve come from, we just want people with a can do attitude.

Friday 30 October 2015

Graduate Success - Briege Letham


Visual Communication graduate Briege Letham has been in touch to share her recently illustration for Made Magazine, a publication for parents in Edinburgh. Made comes out every two months and is full of information, events, news, reviews, competitions, articles and advice - it's available free from shops, leisure centres, cafes, libraries, clubs and classes around the city.

Congratulations Briege

Tuesday 27 October 2015

Centre for Printing History and Culture - Launch

The launch of the Centre for Printing History and Culture, a joint initiative between Birmingham City University and the University of Birmingham is taking place between 6 and 8pm in the Nicholson Building in Winterbourne House, on Wednesday 25 November. The event includes an exhibition and talk on Leonard Jay (1888-1963), head of the Birmingham School of Printing and one of Birmingham's most eminent printers. Refreshments will be provided.

Book your free ticket for the event via here 

We very much look forward to seeing you at what promises to be an enjoyable event.

The Centre for Printing History and Cultures exists to: 

• Stimulate, support, publicise and disseminate knowledge of printing history and culture; 

• Provide a local, regional, national and international means of exchanging information, skills and expertise in printing history and culture; 

• Engage in and support ground-breaking interdisciplinary research into printing history and culture; 

• Seek partnerships between universities, heritage organisations, independent scholars, businesses and practitioners to sponsor and encourage the investigation and understanding of printing history and culture; 

• Promote transfer and exchange of knowledge of printing history and culture amongst individuals and within communities and institutions.

http://www.cphc.org.uk

The National Student Survey 100% satisfaction




The National Student Survey (NSS) annually gathers students’ opinions on the quality of their courses. Every university in the UK takes part, as do many colleges. Since the survey’s inception in 2005, response rates have been consistently high, with over 300,000 final year students participated in 2015.

Visual Communication are pleased to announce that third year students within the division have overwhelmingly endorsed the course. In this years survey, Graphics students registering 100% satisfaction and Illustration students in excess of 89%.

“The University results have improved by two percentage points overall, a number of courses have achieved 100% - well done” says Professor Geoff Layer, Vice Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton

The results referred to in this post have been disaggregated from the KIS data shown on Unistats. KIS data reflects the combined NSS scores of courses within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Wolverhampton and number of franchised institutions. 

Monday 26 October 2015

V&A Illustration Awards 2016: Student Illustration

The V&A Illustration Awards are held annually to highlight the best book and magazine illustration published in the UK.

The awards have been running since 1972 and have included a student category since 2005. All entries, including past winners, can be viewed on the main V&A Illustration Awards page. Each year, the winning books are added to the holdings of the National Art Library and may be read in the Library’s Reading Rooms in the V&A.

Entry into the Awards is free
This award is open to anyone who has attended an illustration course in the UK during 2014 or 2015.

How to enter
Entry is via the online entry form only found here. One entry per student only. Entrants may submit up to three images to accompany their entry.

You will need to register here before submitting your entry. To do so, use the link in the Submit an entry box on the right hand side of this page and select the Create new account tab. Once you have registered you can log in following the same link. If you have previously registered, but have forgotten your username or password, please re-register.

Once you have uploaded your entry, it will appear in the grid of entries on this page. Please note that you will NOT receive a confirmation that the entry has been received.

Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully.
The closing date is 10 December 2015

The Prize
The winner of the Student Award will receive £3,000 and a trophy. The Student Runner-Up will receive £2,000 and a trophy.

The winning work will be shown in the V&A Illustration Awards gallery which opens on 23 May 2016. Winners must be prepared to lend some or all of their original artwork for the display.

Friday 23 October 2015

Blueprint's Ones to Watch - 2015 Graduates


Congratulations to Visual Communication graduate Katarzyna Wozniak, who has been named one of Blueprint magazine's One to Watch graduates of 2015.

Blueprint highlight Kat's powerful image using text on the life and work of Bauhaus designer Lázló Moholy-Nagy. This piece was designed as an introduction page on the constructivism and simplicity of Moholy-Nagy's work.

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Junior Graphic Designer - Creative Graffix, Dundee

PART TIME POSITION

We work on a number of creative projects from brand identities to wee print jobs. As we are getting bigger & better we are looking for a new graphic designer to work with our creative team.

You’ll work on a number of design, branding and individual projects, producing creative work for clients and for Creative Graffix. You’ll need an understanding of branding and strong layout & typography skills are a must. A high level of enthusiasm will be required to develop your existing skills whilst keeping up with our fast paced studio.

Essentials:
• To create, develop and implement creative responses to briefs
• To accurately proof and prepare jobs to print
• To successfully manage and organise your workload to meet tight deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• An understanding of PDF creation for proofing and print
• To develop creative ideas for different levels of the business
• Proficient in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop

Bonus points: 
• Work experience in a creative role
• Web design experience
• Photography skills
• Experience in social media marketing
Fancy joining our team? Send a cover letter, CV and examples of your work to Richard Smyth, Director.

Creative Graffix
12b Riverside Court, Dundee DD2 1XD

01382 660099
hello@creativegraffix.com

Design intern - Lowe Profero, London

Lowe Profero are a digital agency, with a mix of inspired creative, media, technology and strategic talents, part of the Mullen Lowe Group network.

We are looking for a Design Intern to come and support our amazing team! Contact; iwantowork@loweprofero.com

Junior Copywriter and Junior Art Director - TBWA, Manchester

We are looking to recruit a Junior Copywriter and Junior Art Director to challenge, to inspire, to surprise and to create an unfair advantage for our clients.

You’ll need the creative muscle to think fast, to flex your thinking across a range of clients and media, to bounce between briefs big and small, to challenge convention. Or as we like to say in the agency, to sting like a Manchester Bee. Your portfolio of work will demonstrate your ability to translate ideas into distinctive, brand building campaigns that will get people talking.

What we want you to bring:
• conceptual experience and an obvious aptitude for creating ideas and translating the brief into specific executions and great advertising
• a clear understanding of the industry we work in and the media available to us
• a passion for copy, art and design
• a good knowledge of the latest technology and a full understanding of how to communicate with consumers in a digital age 
• excellent communication and presentation skills
• excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
• the tenacity and resilience to make concepts a reality
• the ability to work constructively with others

If you are a talented Junior Copywriter, Junior Art Director or Junior Creative team, please send your CV, your portfolio and salary expectations to:
mcr-recruitment@tbwamanchester.co.uk

Only those with a disruptive spirit need apply.
Close date; 26th October 2015.

Monday 19 October 2015

Annual Recruitment Fair

For Students and Graduates

If you are a student or recent graduate of the University of Wolverhampton and are looking to develop your career, then you need to attend our Recruitment Fair 2015 being held on Wednesday, 21 October and Thursday, 22 October 2015 at Wolverhampton Campus, 11-3 pm. On the Wednesday, 21 October the event will be hosted at the Harrison Learning Centre and the Student's Union. Thursday, 22 October meet with a range of organisations in the Harrison Learning Centre.
This event will be a great opportunity to get ahead of the field in a highly competitive jobs market.

Opportunities available

Opportunities on offer at the Recruitment Fair 2015 will include:
  • The chance to meet with local, national and international employers, recruitment agencies and support organisations
  • Access to the latest graduate, placement and seasonal job opportunities
  • Free advice on job applications, interview techniques and career planning from our careers advisers 
  • Enterprise and self-employment resources
Organisations attending are from a variety of sectors. Large multi-nationals will be represented, as will small and medium sized local companies and the public sector. They will be offering local, national and international opportunities in a wide range of occupations. For a full list of organisations attending the event click here.
Attending the event is the only way to make sure you can access all these opportunities.

Plan your visit

There is no need to book and it is free to attend.  All you need to do is plan to spend about a couple of hours at the event to make sure you get the most from it.

Keep up to date

Our website will be updated regularly with the latest news and information about the Fair, so bookmark this page now

Tuesday 13 October 2015

Graphic Designer - Raconteur, Covent Garden, London

Location: Covent Garden, London
Type: Permanent
Salary: £24,000

Raconteur is a premium publishing house and brand publishing agency. Raconteur produces 60 different special reports for The Times and The Sunday Times per year, as well as content marketing solutions for brands and bespoke market research. Raconteur combines first-class journalism, imagery and graphic design with a commitment to high-quality executions in print and online across all of our services.

To view our content, please visit www.raconteur.net.

Graphic Designer:
We are currently looking to hire a Graphic Designer for our special reports in The Times and The Sunday Times team.
The Challenges:

Raconteur is a premium publishing house, which places first-class design as one of the pillars of its publishing strategy. Furthermore, our first and most important corporate value is “commitment to excellence”. The successful applicant will, therefore, have to display a strong passion for our publishing approach and have the track record to back it up.

Only people aiming for awards and recognition need apply!

The Position:
Working in a vibrant and growing creative department, you will be responsible for developing initial concepts, adding value and crafting the art direction of the publishing projects, and creating a range of stunning, below-the-line communications.

Candidates should be able to show a portfolio that demonstrates outstanding editorial design ability, a keen eye for typography and that quirky "little something extra" which will catch our eye!

You will be proactive and hungry for success, with an infectious enthusiasm for design and the desire to be brilliant.

Skills & Qualifications 
Great design skills with a curiosity for all sort of multi-platform interactive content
Mastery of Adobe CS Suite
A keen eye for detail
Experience with editorial and layout work
Well executed work with typography
Excellent ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
Ability to work quickly and effectively to tight deadlines is a must
An outstanding, versatile portfolio that demonstrates the ability to create clean, corporate design

What we offer
Basic (first year) salary of £24,000. In addition, Raconteur offers healthcare and dental insurance. 20 days holiday per annum.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please email your CV and portfolio to Natalia Rosek, Head of Production, nr@raconteur.net