In the Beginning . . .

. . . and this has nothing to do with the Old Testament, Genesis or Phil Collins - although a chocolate bar and a drumming gorilla may get a mention somewhere within the parched pages of this incredible journey 
. . .  God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. So there . . . 

The boarded up windows of the
old HND and Mac Studios

It's too far back - and I can't be bothered to get the discs out to find images - but this all started in March 2003 when the 'Editor' politely enquired of his old mentor Brian Nicholson, how he could 'get-into-education' . . . bad move!!!

When the 'Editor' worked in the graphic design industry there was an old adage that went "those who can do and those who can't, teach!!" Erm, Ah . . . so he started with six students from India and no real idea of what he was doing . . . some may say nothing has changed.

In the 'Editors' day the Art School was over in Library Street - the building is now the Town Hall. It ventured off to Trencherfield Mill before heading into the Northern Quarter! From the humble home of a damp, leaking and very noisy Pagefield Mill the Art School moved for the third time since 1979 to The Linacre Building . . . did you know the construction company was called 'Totty' - it looked very odd watching guys wandering around with Totty on their helmets!!! So we all arrived at the newly named Wigan School of the Arts (WSA) around 2005 as HND Graphics.

Within The Journey pages you'll find images of students who have passed through HND and then the early days of FD Graphic Design.

If any ex-students have images they'd like to post or feature on this site the 'Editor' would be more then happy to publish.

Three pages full of HND students over the years. A group of Indian Students who were delightful - Tripti, the lady in the yellow frame with glasses still keeps in touch from her design company in Mumbi. You'll notice the group has a traditional picture taken in front of the Tower of London, by Tower Hill tube station . . . but that will come to an end when the Design Museum moves to the West End from Shad Thames . . . look out for the iconic view from the top floor - FD Work - simply sensational. And more pictures . . . .