. . . I did it MY way . . .

On Thursday 30th March I closed the HE graphic design studio door at Wigan School for the Arts for the last time . . .

Having, just over 14 years earlier ventured into education - something I swore I'd never do - and during that period gained so much knowledge about the world of art and design - knowledge which I didn't even know existed  . . . the demands of education, the needless checks and double checks by those who knew little about the demands of the design business resulted in the final straw falling upon this camels back!

Along the way I met so many great people in the business [mentioned many times in the pages of this blog] had so much support from people I held as 'Gods' who became friends, being paid to take students to Paris and introduce them to culture beyond belief and to have worked with several very special individuals within the walls of WSA and battled against apathy from many others . . . I leave to others to evaluate if the job, the direction, the life skills, the humour and at times the brutal and yet caring hand that guided them was worthy of praise "there were times when I bit off more . . ." my own measure would always be how many made the business, how many look back with fondness at their time on HND / FdA / HND and still ask to be friends on FB.

Exciting times, some great design work from students, some amazing visits to those who we'd all like to be . . . great end of year shows, but too many times sat here at my ageing iMac until the wee-small hours assessing and brief writing took it's toll.

Design was my career, from the first double page spread in Sea Angler to the most amazing reception from this country's pre-eminent advertising agency the 38 year journey "travelling each and every highway" . . . has reached its terminus.

I've left my shoes for someone else to fill . . .

First Footings will remain as testament to ALL of those who travelled the road with me.

The Return of an Old Friend

Imagine it's 11.59pm on 31st December . . . and the cartoon wags in newspapers depict the frail old year coming to an end of his life, and his last action is to usher in the new [baby] year . . . well, we had something similar happen when on 9 September 2015 a brand new graphics course burst into life.

I say new . . . what I really mean is a graphics course 'returns'. I recall suggesting that back in 2010 with the departure of Jenny, Will, Kristian, Jayde, Ciara, James & Beth that it was the last HND, never to return . . .

Never say never as new for 2015 is the Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design. Same professional education - just a different title and the course still has the option of a single year Top-Up at the University of Salford as long as the quality is there.

So FD Lime is the last Foundation Degree with UoS for a while - but their 'antics' will still be on show here for the next several months.

The new HND group can be found on their own page [HND Graphics Returns : 2015] with their own graphic brand to boot!

Illustrious!

STOP-PRESS . . . for the first time in the short history of FD we have been able to place two illustration students on to a final top-year at the University of Salford.

The editor was thrilled that Rachel Carter and Heather Holst delivered such excellent portfolios that Jo and Robert at the University were more than happy to offer the extraordinary places.

Both girls have arrived at the same place by two very different routes. Rachel was one of the few students who arrive at FD with an unconditional offer having completed a level 3 in Art & Design and created one of the most professional looking final projects calling on her love of nature seen for many a year. Heather on the other hand although exhibited at the same exhibition from the same course kept her potential ability under lock and key.

Rachel's illustrations for her vehicle, Christmas and Boots 'Hello Delightful'. 

From the off everything Rachel created as she came to understand the relationship between graphic design and illustration was of a quite unbelievable quality - her style ran through every piece of her art, from research to amazing workbooks into her final submissions.

She surrounded herself with hand lettering, patterns, cute illustrations of animals and flora. Her vehicle to secure placement was a work of art, all items contained within a giant strawberry tote bag.

Heather was less sure of her direction, lacked belief and didn't like much of what she produced. The editor first spotted signs of life in her Almanac design where her illustration style raised its creative head.

Although a 'cow-prod' was needed to make her her believe that her vehicle was good enough to deliver to industry . . . she ducked and dived and the finished design stayed firmly hidden in her college drawer.

Heather's FD illustrations

The second year saw both the girls team up with Hayley to form 'Three Peas' and to tackle The Shapers range of snacks at Boots. Their creative style delivered a fantastic solution [featured elsewhere in this blog] and was highly praised by Will Bentley of BD2.

Rachel's wrapping!

From their first project in year two Rachel and Heather have gone from strength to strength. Rachel securing placement at Tigerprint in Bradford working on greeting cards for M&S and Next, Heather secured placement at Creative Spark a Manchester based design consultancy.

As a bonus, Heather had submitted items of her work to Sarah Beetson a renowned artist at Illustration Limited. A week back she was contacted and at a meeting in June when the company considers new artists to represent Heather's designs are going forward to the board - fingers crossed.

For their FMP's Rachel is tackling her own line of greeting cards and wrapping paper, Heather has created a children's pack for Blue Planet.

Rachel's FMP greeting cards and wrapping paper illustrations

Heather's FMP Blue Planet children's guide

It'll be tough when they land at the University next September - but both are very talented young ladies . . . watch out for their work in the coming years.

Rave!

For many a long year the editor has been asking the University for the opportunity to just hang-out at Mediacity and experience life as an undergraduate.

Discussed at a very recent Joint Board of Study as one of the actions was to get the group in for some feet-finding and the chair was thrilled that an event had been organised.

So last week under the excellent guidance of the level 5 leader, Darren Raven FD Magenta arrived at Mediacity and were thrown straight into the deep end in small groups to work through concept thinking . . . it was great to hear the chatter, laughter and for the groups to come up with some real off-the-wall ideas.

The flip-chart sheets were filled with associated words, ideas and creative directions and for most of the group heading to the University they are safe in the knowledge that as their level 5 lecturer they had connected with Darren instantly.

Once the brainstorming was over the editors daughter acted as a chaperone to point the group in the right direction for the stop-frame animation studio, the mac rooms, the break-out rooms and the best places to grab lunch.

Pour Tu

Have you ever bought coffee from a vending machine? Mmm, it’s not always pleasant experience. Did you know that the coffee industry in this country is worth £5.8bn?

The editor has sampled ‘instant’ coffee in many a service station and even when travelling on the French motorways . . . it’s never a highlight. So it came as a little of a surprise when a ‘live’ brief arrived in the department from a local food company.

Aimia Foods have a coffee product delivered in very graphic cups from really stylish machines [although they are mainly situated in Scotland and the SW] and go under the banner of Pour Moi.

The brief was to create a new design that must not date, must not be tied to a specific event this year or next. The design cannot be tied for copyright reasons to specific events e.g. World Cup / Commonwealth Games.

The students had to work to a specific size and a limited number of colours. The designs had to tell a story of some sort but what that was, was up to the designer.

Although a FD1 student had already had a look at the brief when it arrived during the summer, the FD2 group took the challenge onboard as one of their professional practice module live briefs.

One of the massive benefits of the FD course is that you get to meet really nice people ‘out-there’ doing the business. People like Domenic Lippa [Pentagram], Trevor Beattie [BMB], John Winnard [Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls], Brian Cannon [of Oasis and Verve design fame] and working with Aimia Foods brand manager George Thomas.

For a couple of weeks George fielded questions from the editor and the students so that the final product fitted the requirements of the brief. The first stage was to provide initial concepts to be considered by the company and then feedback would be given to the group.

George came to the FD studio and explained the reasons behind a design being or considered or rejected. Three designs made the podium and Danny, Hayley and Dean were asked to develop their themes further with direction from Aimia.

A couple of weeks later the final designs were in and a decision had been made. George returned to the studio to announce the winning theme. All three solutions were strong and fitted in with the Pour Moi tradition  . . . but as always there can only be one winner – and the prize which was a hefty sum, a visit to the print works to see the designs in production and a box-full of finished cups went to Dean.      

FD2Magenta : from the right : Chris / Rachel / Billy / Hayley / Dec / Ben / Chris / The Winner Dean / George / Megan / Mel / Emma
and below the winning designs.

Doctors Surgery

Foundation Degree had an unexpected visit from the GP. Messer’s Golpys and Page popped by the studio to talk about their work, their expectancies, their approach to two very different but very similar disciplines within the design industry.

Both are former students of graphic design courses at Wigan & Leigh college, both had an insatiable desire to succeed and both have the business acumen required to make it ‘BIG’ in the industry.

First to visit was Andy Golpys from Shape http://madebyshape.co.uk [top] who recently employed one of FDpurples graduates and also lectures at the University of Salford. He spoke about his journey, which led to him pitching design solutions to a huge, well know Knight of the Realm and Shape won! As Andy said “It really will be a life changing moment” for the company and those lucky enough to impress as he adds to his creative team.

A couple of days later Matt Page http://mattpagedesign.co.uk arrived on the eve of being offered his first ‘desk-bound’ position having travelled many-a-mile working freelance in London and up north and creating some amazing websites and inter-active multimedia presentations – in fact it was difficult to know how to describe what Matt actually specializes at as he seems to lend his hand to just about everything and anything graphic – and does a fantastic job too!

Having been a member of the very first FD course, having gained a First at the University of Salford and then created some amazing work – by in the first place experimenting and then mastering new digital art he was about to take a giant leap up to the stratosphere.

It’s a brilliant experience for the students to be able to pin down the guests and pick their brains or relive their experiences and hopefully follow in their footsteps so even those who from time to time are under the ‘weather’ their arrival was just what the [design] doctor ordered. 

Buried Treasure

While wandering through a few blog links the editor came across this image of some of FDPurple in the Mortar Boards accepting their BA [Hons] in Graphic Design from the University of Salford back in June 2014.

From the left : Danny Humphreys, Chris Wordley, Adam Ascroft, Josh Hurst, Dec Woodward and Tom Saunders . . . all very smart too!

Cann Do!

Back in November 2011 Brian Cannon graced the pages of the FD blogsite after opening a photographic studio in the middle of Wigan. Although he has created many fantastic designs he will always be best know for his work with the groups Verve and Oasis.

Through Jordan in FD1, who has regular contact with Brian in the local Northern Soul music scene, the Foundation Degree course was graced with his presence one Thursday morning before Christmas.

The editor, being a few years older than our guest, recognised Brian’s traditional way of working and his graphic terminology and smiled at his design analogies.

For an hour he held students from both FD courses, level three graphics and art & design under his spell as he recounted the events that led him to meet both Richard Ashcroft and Noel Gallagher and then the sky-rocket ascension to design immortality!

It would be remiss of the editor to pass on those stories – other than to say "a pint of milk and adidas trainers".

Brian has recently moved into the old Wigan courts and refurbished an office and in moving all his ‘stuff’ he came upon all kinds of original design work, which on Friday 12 December he auctioned online.

To have a look at his move/office/auction follow the link . . .

http://vimeo.com/113736813    

Creative Pitch

The first module in year 2 is Design and Production. Within groups, the teams select a company to re-brand or re-launch and that is the easy bit – what is difficult is that they have to put together a proposal and sell the idea to an industry professional who to all intent and purposes is the client. This year Will Bentley, principal of BD2 accepted the challenge [see “Where there’s a Will”].

Once those first meetings had taken place and direction given the groups had to go to work in designing, costing and considering how best to create the new look or new message.

The culmination of two months hard effort, the odd ‘fall-out’, the odd creative spat, the teams were ready to present their ideas once again to Will. In taking them all out of their comfort zone the editor booked a room in the professional studies building, top floor . . . ready to act like real professionals.

Each group had the opportunity to customize their presentation in hanging posters, providing an aircraft seat, providing food and drink as part of their presentations. First up were Visceral and their repositioning of BP after the Gulf disaster explaining the Big Possibilities [BP] that the company had in an attempt to re-establish all the good things the company has undertaken over the years.

Visceral present BP to Will : Dean, Chris R and Chris P

 Second group, ESM Creative took on the challenge to smarten up and add a bit of class the eastJet with great ads, new livery and iPads for hire as the main thrust of their presentation. A sparkling new logo also caught the eye.

ESM deliver their new easyJet branding. On the right Mel, Simone and Emma

The next group, Milky Coffee took on an urban challenge by identifying a gap in the market for one of the worlds biggest and best know sports goods companies [but not fashion wear] Puma. Linked with clothing ‘styled’ by Pharrell Williams the group created a ten second viral ‘sting’, flagship stores, publicity and break-in opportunities in cities and towns the night before a Pharrell gig. The group also screen printed t-shirts, hoodies, sweats and presented one of their creations to Will.

Milky Coffee urbanize Puma and provide Will with his own bespoke Sweatshirt. On the left Dec, Danny and Billy

The penultimate group was one, which Will was really looking forward to. 2’s Company had decided that the tired and unconnected corporate look of Wetherspoon’s taverns and hotels was in their sights. A nice corporate wood-cut look and a simplification of their overly complicated menus. Their gift was three relabelled bottle of beer.

With free beer as a gift [or bribe] to Will, megan and Ben deliver the new look for Wetherspoons

The final group stole the show, Rachel, Heather and Hayley, the 3 Peas took on Boots lunchtime menu and their Shapers range of sandwiches, drinks and bars. Although not the worst design ever, the group who spent time in the local store to watch the shoppers snack selections completely re-branded and renamed the range and blew Will away. 

Hello delightful! Rachel, Heather and Hayley blow Will away scoring 9.9/10 - he never gives a 10!

Hello delightful is fresh, colourful, engaging and the publicity that surrounded it linked the whole new look into a new store position and new proposition to entice the hungry shopper to go for a healthy under 500 calorie alternative with the Boots assurance of quality. The girls had taken the time to discover the type of sandwich Will likes and presented his choice in their new packaging.

Even a visit from the new head of Higher Education didn’t put the group off.

Salford Key?

In mid-November all of FD went over to meet the staff of the University. It is a tradition for the second years to receive guidance before they apply to complete they creative study.

The University’s new home [on a very wet Wednesday] at MediaCity is really starting to come to life – and it’s a fascinating place to study with great views over the Quays and the Lowry.

 

From the left : Jo, Tim and Gary explained their different Pathways and took questions from the floor. Once the talk and tour was over the course student reps and the editor sat down for the first semester student & staff committee with Jo.

Andy, [stand-in rep] Ben, Jo, Naomi and Heather cleared the table of agenda items and then spent time looking at examples of Level 6 design work around the walls of the spacious studio.

Top : 24 hours without sleep due to deadlines Andy, Ben, Jo, Naomi and Heather during the SSC meeting. Below : the group look out of the windows at the Quay's [and work] and then chat with Mel departed from FDPurple about the illustration pathway she is to complete in June 2015. 

Before the group departed, Mel one of the courses ex-students in her final year of illustration dropped by to say hello and provide some insider-information.

Being Organised

As part of their first years Personal & Academic Development module in groups of two the FD1 LIME students had to research and present information of five industry-based organisations or publications. The five under scrutiny this year were D&AD /  Pentagram / Tate / Design Museum / Creative Review.

The groups had to research their origins, what roles they play what membership costs and how they can assist in the group becoming better designers and artists.

From the left : Creative Review with Lucy and Jordan, Tate with Hannah and Jack and Design Museum with Naomi and Luke. Later presentations by Andy, James and Zeta ended up on the cutting room floor.

Initial contact with the audience was through a poster [or in the case of Tate four posters], a handout and finally a five-minute presentation, all created in the graphic style of that organisation.

The editor is very keen to take the students out of their comfort zone by presenting to their peers and feeling the pressure of ‘talking’ to an audience. The results were impressive – and no expense was spared . . . by Andy who provided D&AD t-shirts for each of the group . . . and several ink cartridges for his flyer!

Following the Rainbow

These days inkjet and laser printing may appear [for students] the only way to output a final digital job. The first module the second years tackle on their return is Design & Production – the report on contact with industry is above – so not only do they design they have to also produce industry ready artwork and get quotes to publish their ideas from newspapers, magazines, radio, television and litho printers. All know what CMYK is – but not many know the process.

The editor has knows Chorley’s premier print company from his days working in industry and they have over the years invited groups of students to see how a job that arrives at their door is produced and delivered.

NB Colour in Fellery Street, Doug Nelson and Jenny Stead welcomed the editor into their fantastic working environment. Even though he has spent many a happy hour ‘passing-on-press’, checking proofs, negotiating quotes and in the ‘old’ days making sure film was RRED [right reading emulsion side down] a print shop still is as fascinating to the editor today as it was back in the mid-eighties.

But how getting a piece of artwork to the press has changed, no more black and white artwork – everything is digital today. No more film to worry about the emulsion and no more fall off in quality as the image is transferred via film to a litho plate.

Today a digital file [NB Colour prefer PDf’s although accept ALL file types!!!] is sent direct to their  litho plate imager from the company’s computers creating high quality first generation images. All very technical but so simple although the laser imager and the developing process really is cutting edge.

From top to bottom - Kodak plate maker, Heidelberg litho press and stocks of paper

The plates are taken down to the press and the first surprise to the editor NB have sold their Komori presses and have invested in a 5 colour plus coater Heidelberg ‘monster’ – and impressive it is!! The company also has a 6 colour Indigo digital press, ideal for quality,short run print and this machine doesn’t even need plates!

 Both hand and machine finishing is now completed on the premises – so just about the whole print service is available from gaining a quote online to delivering high quality print work.

The final feather in their cap . . . NB Colour is very proud of being a fully Carbon Balanced business. All of their paper comes from sustainable sources and most of the paper they use are Carbon Balanced too, all at no extra cost to their customers.

Where there's a Will . . .

For the past two years FD has been proud to be associated with Tony Lythgoe who has been both the brief setter and client for FD2 as they put their professional heads on. But we are happy to see him go . . . [Ed : what?] . . . as Tony has been so busy with new clients and new projects he was unable be part of this years Design and Production module.

But FD was happy to send out a tentative invitation to one of the courses oldest and most influential supporters in the hope that the company principal would offer assistance.

Will Bentley of BD2 – a mere hop-skip-and-a-jump across Mesnes Park who has been a great help with previous quality inspections, has offered placement to FD students, been to talk with the groups  and of late employed one of our graduates did agree to be our industry eagle-eye.

The editor had arranged FD2 into five groups and asked each to provide three possible re-brand or re-launch options. Through discussion the suggestions were whittled down to one per group - and what a diverse selection. EasyJet / BP / Puma / Boots Shapers / Wetherspoons. Each group created an abridged proposal for Will to get a taste of their targets and the day before Will came to the studio to meet the creative teams, a full proposal, branded, with deliverables.

And as the editor would have guessed, Will didn’t disappoint in providing each of the groups his thoughts and suggestions presented on BD2 branding as well as engaging for 30 minutes each team in a frank discussion about their aims, the likely outcomes and achievable final solutions.

Clockwise from top left : ESM present easyJet, Visceral present BP, Three Peas present Boots Shapers, 2'sCompany present Wetherspoons and Milky Coffee present Puma

Somewhere between now and final presentation in December it is hoped the groups will either have questions for Will to consider or an opportunity to show off their development to date. Watch this space for the final presentations.

Lime is the New Flavour!

Welcome aboard the new FD group – all brave souls, all ready for the ‘fight’ all ready to travel the arduous and yet screaming-banshee trail to the University and beyond. Hang on Tight!!!

The group having just arrived at Lime Street station on their way to the Mondrian exhibition at Tate Liverpool are from left to right . . . James / Jordan / Hannah / Luke / Naomi / Jamie [hang-in-there] / Jack / Andy / Zeta.

We've Topped-Up

The essence of the FD course is for students to spend two years under the editor’s guidance and then secure a single year top-up at the University of Salford. When FDPurple departed Wigan School for the Arts in June 2013 just about all the group headed to the University.

So how would they do on a single year . . . would FD have prepared them well enough for the rigor of academic study, would they achieve good grades or just average? The editor waited with baited breath to see if his methods, his rants, his guidance, his professional spirit had delivered the group to the standard expected by the courses illustrious partner?

Four of the lads achieved a 2:1 with a couple having missed their Firsts by a mark or two [gutting!] but the gold stars were delivered by Natasha and Emily who came back to their old FD studio [Tash laughing, Emily 'hating' everyone] to talk to the groups about life at Uni who both achieved Firsts – and not only that in attending University business seminars they both secured employment at a Manchester based design company when they completed their study. Two of the 2:1 lads [to date] have gained employment in the last few weeks also.

Although a few gained 2:2's [the editor acknowledges here one of those students who has been in touch with his great news has gained design employment already] it has been proved that those who really put the effort in at the University, can achieve as ‘good-a-grade’ at a fully educated University student and saved over £6000 – not bad value for money. Why study anywhere else?

Cyan disappear into the wide blue yonder

It’s funny how two years passes so quickly and another group of slightly mystified students as they sign up to the ‘boot-camp’ that is professional graphic design education spread their wings having absorbed all they could in such a short period of time.

So it was in mid-June that FDCyan brought together their final show, complete with ceiling adornments and a gazebo to wave goodbye to foundation degree and start the next part of their educational journey. For a couple industry was the next step, for the remaining seven the calling of University of Salford like a siren drew the almost fully-fledged designers for one last ‘project’.Their show, full of colour, full of both quality design work and illustration was as usual a hit and as busy as ever. Perhaps it was the Premier of the Happy in Paris video, perhaps it was the editor dressed up in an Easter bunny outfit in the girls Remotely Funny video or maybe just the fact that after two long years worth of study which have flown past they had delivered excellent results.

Keeping FD in Check!

The serious stuff of education depends on integrity and judgement. Assessment is the very lifeblood of a students development. To be guided through the course and to build upon experiences – both good and sometimes bad is how the raw recruit learns the business. The professional environment the editor arrived from 11 years ago is the yard [or should that me metric] stick that the answers to set briefs help provide the rungs to climb the career ladder.

BUT – to maintain standards, to be 100% certain that each student has achieved their correct level the FD comes under the scrutiny twice a year from an External Verifier which since the courses metamorphosed from a Higher National has been the excellent [even allowing for him being a City fan] Ian Beckett from Stockport College.

Although his expression never changed I’m sure his heart must have dropped from time to time when all the work for inspection covers the tables in the studio. His support at all the University Exam and Joint Boards of Study meetings was legendary – a better ally no one could ever wish for.

But everything has to come to an end and after five years as a beacon of fairness and a light to guide the course through ever-increasing educational demands Ian’s tenure has come to an end. Students and the editor are going to miss his human touch.

Happy in Paris

It’s the editors favourite time again – springtime [printemps] in Paris. Although there had been issues in reserving the groups visit to the Louvre due to the lack of old technology – a fax machine – as the group departed from Piccadilly on Monday morning for the first overnight stop in London everything was in place.

The graphics group headed for The Science Museum while the fine art group made their way down to Tate Modern.

The following morning was bright and sunny as the walk to St Pancras and EuroStar set off – the first step to the French capital – for four days of fantastic cultural opportunities.

And talking of culture, FD2Cyan and the editor had decided they’d mimic Pharrell Williams Happy video and create their own singing and dancing[!?] record of their adventure.

Much to the amazement to the rest of the carriage the first recorded section of the video was filmed as the EuroStar hurtled through Nord-pas–de-Calais it may have required five takes – but the group got the ‘footage’ and were roundly applauded by the French and Belgium travelers!

The Hotel Picardy was across the rue from the Gare du Nord, the proprietor and receptionist made registering very easy. Just as well as getting the carnet to travel on the Metro was a little more complicated but “pour moi aussi” once the editor had bough his tickets did the job for the rest of the group.

Next stop Notre Dame, a wander down the Rue de Rivoli, past the Louvre and then up the Champs Elysées for a left turn for a 7.30pm ascension of the Eiffel Tower and more Happy video. Several of the group went all the way to the top – the editor seems to get ‘afflicted’ with deputy editors who have a dislike for heights – but the café at level two was more than welcome on a breezy evening.

The following day started at the Louvre – which was busier then on any previous occasion – always amazes everyone – it’s so big you never get around everything – but the Mona Lisa is a must. Next port of call the top of the Arc du Triomphe and a sunset over Paris – stunning.

Thursday morning it’s Notre Dame, crêpes on Rue d’Arcole [two Nutella for 5€ result] up to the Pompidou Centre for Parisian modern art before heading via the metro to Sacre Coeur that provides an amazing vista of Paris. The whole group sat down to 'dinner' in the Clairon des Chasseurs and once Stephane had taken everyone's orders he agreed to dance to Happy with the editor through the restaurant and out into le Place du Tertre.

Final stop on our visit and a Marilyn Munroe moment for the Cyan girls as part of their video was the Moulin Rouge.

Lots of tired feet, lots of broken French spoken but many amazing memories once again – and a video soon to be published to marvel at some ‘Dad Dancing’! Vive la France.

'Mates' done well!

In February [see tab London 2013], FD Graphics made a return trip to Adam & Eve having caught up with them at their previous home in Covent Garden. With a new business partner [DDB] and a new home in Paddington and looking every inch a proper 'Empire' the group on their last stage of their creative week away arrived at the Agency's new front door.

Provided by Katie and Sarah the group had the chance to meet and chat with a couple of Adam&EveDDB creatives Aidan [left] and Laurent. Later on the tour the editor had the chance to stop by their 'desks' to hand over cans of Uncle Joe's Mint Balls and chat about the way the lads go about their work. Great fun.

Their latest [published] work - and becoming iconic at this time of the year - the John Lewis Christmas advert, follows on from the snowmen last year and the expectant child the year before. Featured in Campaign Creative Fix the guys explain how they went about the creative process and all the off-shoots a campaign like this 'demands' - the number one download on iTunes for Lily Allen, a full interactive book, a Christmas card maker, twitter accounts for the bear and the hare and a projection  on the South Bank.

Not many Universities, never mind a college from Wigan, get the opportunity to meet and pick the brains of such renowned creatives . . . and it's an enormous thrill to see Aidan's and Laurent's work again making such an impact.

Your future is in the STATS!

It's time for Level 3 students to make a decision about their next GIANT step in to Higher Education. One of the biggest decisions of their lives - whatever happens over the next three years WILL shape their future careers.

Mum's and Dad's want their kids to gain a BA Honours, [and why shouldn't they?] and that is the very reason the editor pushed to change the two year graphic design course from a Higher National Diploma [HND] to a university-linked Foundation Degree.

But surely, a HE course at little provincial Wigan & Leigh College School for the Arts can't be as good as a 'life-changing' three year stint in the educational stratosphere?

You wouldn't imagine so . . . what do students think of other graphic courses?

UniStats is an independent government comparison site, that provides information about undergraduate courses for prospective students - and it makes very interesting reading. So how happy are students about their course at universities?

Above University of Leeds . . . and University of Central Lancashire [UCLAN] and below Liverpool John Moores and University of Chester.

And what a surprise [really?] Wigan School for the Arts Foundation Degree . . .