The University of Sunderland’s Art and Design degree show returns for another year to celebrate the innovative, creative, beautiful, and often unconventional work of its final year students.
Starting tomorrow (June 10) the University is inviting everyone to come and view the exhibitions on display across three different locations around Sunderland, including National Glass Centre, CitySpace, and Priestman Building.
Graeme Thompson, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Design, and Media, said: “The University of Sunderland degree shows are a fantastic showcase of our talented Art and Design students in the city.
“The amazing exhibitions in three locations are a brilliant opportunity for people to discover what our final year students have been working on over the last 12 months, and to enjoy the eclectic and skilled work on display.”
Running until Friday, June 17, all areas are free and open to all, including the opening event evenings, held tomorrow (June 10) across all exhibitions from 5.30pm until 8.30pm, where there will be the opportunity to speak with the students themselves.
The degree show features work from final year students studying Design, Fine Art, Photography, and Glass and Ceramics, and includes students who have already been recognised nationally for their talent.
Jordan Williams and Dan Mitchell, final year Advertising and Design students, have won two national competitions in the last few months. The first saw them create a campaign for The Sleep Council to raise awareness of the impact sleep has on healthy lifestyles.
They said: “We were so happy to win. The topic really appealed to us and there’s a lot you can talk about when it comes to sleep. We came up with the concept ‘Sleep Tight, Be Bright’ and thought of the funny things people do when they are tired, and what would be instantly recognisable in any kind of advertising or marketing.”
Following on from this the pair, who team up as Mitchell & Williams, won a competition to create a direct call to agencies to change their policies and working culture to attract and retain female creative talent, supporting gender workplace equality.
The Creative Circle and Creative Equals student competition saw their winning entry, ‘#WorkToGetHer’, turned into a billboard displayed outside London’s Roundhouse arts and concert venue leading up to the Creative Circle Ball – the biggest event in the creative calendar which attracts professionals from the advertising industry from all over the UK.
Jordan, 21, from County Durham, said: “We only found out about the competition a few hours before the deadline and started working on it straight away, got it submitted, and then hoped we had a chance of winning – a week later we got the good news. Then we got tickets to the event that would usually cost £250 each and our work on a billboard.”
Keith Nevens Senior, Lecturer and Programme Leader in Advertising and Design, said: “This was the team’s second big win of the year and needless to say I couldn’t be more proud of them. They are well on their way to landing the career of their dreams.”
Between June 10 and June 17 each exhibition is open from 10am until 5pm. For more information on the University of Sunderland Arts and Design degree show visit http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/faculties/adm/degreeshow/