Building a Future

The period before the show is hectic - what with all the deadlines, all the assessment, a visit from the external verifier and two trips to the University's Exam Boards - the final one being on the day of the show.

But prior to all that the group have to set about clearing the studio, getting boards up, painting them and then getting their work printed out . . . the editor then spends three days rooted to the spot mounting and cutting out the final pieces for display.

Not everyone put their backs into it - some sit around pretending they've just one last 'tweak' to do before they can help. As usual someone paints a board and then sets about walking in all the drips and trailing it around the college.

It was the students intention as part of their show to have a 'cinema' area to show off their FMP's and Confessionals and as with FDGreen last year the students had the major say on how their room and exhibition looked.

Mel went purple crazy [and I think everyone really liked the overall effect] and created a purple trail from reception - although level 3 graphics weren't happy to allow our balloons!! So from starting on the stairs two years earlier . . . it was fitting they should again play a part in their story.

To grab attention in a very busy reception on the evening of the show four of the lads created a 'break-in' video, the type of thing seen on the likes of the Batman films when Lex Luther takes over Gotham City or when some crazed 'Nerd' wants to secure world domination.

Such was the effect one visitor threw her orange juice into the air in horror. Follow the link - but be warned . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EctnhQcdP0E&feature=youtu.be

So a proper Higher Education do - with bourbon biscuits, cocktail sausages, fizzy pop and of course a variety of 'horizonal hootches' . . . which did leave something for the editor to clean up the following day.

The happy crew . . . Chris/Matt[hic!]/Emily/Tom/Danny/Big G/Ryan/Dec/Tash

But what an event, the break-in, the trail, the balloons and the overall look of the studio with some fabulous work was a winner. In fact the whole show from art and design to photography was a success.

Who is that handsome guy on screen?

Student Voice

What with Exam Boards and External Verifiers, Joint Boards of Study and assessment from the middle of May it is manic for all concerned with Foundation Degree.

As a student rep, something the editor is very keen to have across both years, they have to make themselves available to attend college student association meetings and at least once in their tenure travel to Salford to play a part in the Joint Board of Study where the make-up of the course is discussed.

For the final board of the year, Adam, Melissa, Chloe and Matt ventured to the University along with the editor. It may look like a cell, but it isn't quite as bad as that. With a chairman and several members of the University teaching staff the group discussed their progress. Yes, it may be a touch daunting with so much academia bouncing off the walls but it gives the students the opportunity to see the depth of the structure that goes to make up their course.

In the next academic year a new group of reps will continue to carry the standard and argue from the students perspective.

Catch-Up-Time

The first of several end of the year postings. What a hectic time - but then nothing unusual there for the Team and students of FD Graphics.

The best place to start is to look at the four chosen designs by FD1 to be this years End of Year Show identity - something year one whether as part of HND Graphics or latterly FD Graphics have taken on from being a way of publicising their own show to creating the graphics for all the Art School courses.

It's a difficult task with those not involved only as onlookers being critical of the final solution. But as with everyone of the previous seven years the group came up trumps.

Josh Dinsmore, Chloe Pierce, Rosie Beattie and Beth Pugh were selected from the group of 10 to go forward to the voting process by the Art School students.

The four sets designs were put up in the foyer. Over 150 votes were cast and the winner by a clear margin was design number four by Beth Pugh.

Shame the editor didn't photograph them better. Credit goes to Beth who through several long shifts at Tesco still managed to get all nametags completed in time for the show - the rest of the group would like to take some credit too - the editor will let them argue that out with Beth.

mieux vaut tard que jamais . . .

. . . better late then never!

A year after the event [pressure of work] WSA's answer to Martin Scorsese - Dec Woodward - has edited and published (for personal use) a video of the London/Paris trip - the editor though you might like a sneaky peak. Follow the link . . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tQWfGbULTg&feature=youtu.be

Final University Interviews

The final group of FD2 students in the first week of the Easter holiday's had their interviews at the University of Salford. Although unknown at the time of going to press of the offer to Jemma (MINT) and Emma (Illustration), the graphic communicators accepted the final year option on offer to them.

So ALL 16 second year students have achieved places at the University. 

It's going to be one hell of a 3rd Year . . . the editor hopes Salford is ready for their arrival and expects the group to go in and do some serious a**e-kicking and prove just what a great opportunity starting their higher education study on the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design at Wigan School for the Arts has been in their development towards design and illustration employment.

London Calling!

As a preview to the London trip review - two images which sum up the trip and the pleasure and hilarity experienced by the group.

Below left : a group of the FD lads pose with Trevor Beattie at the Crown at Seven Dials in Covent Garden after an amazing afternoon / evening in the company of the advertising guru of all gurus and the legend that is Antoinette de Lisser.

Below right : the boss aka  . . . . well you have a guess! To read about the whole experience go to London 2013. Enjoy.

Top-Up Triumphs

In the previous post (16 into 1) the litmus test was about to provide results. How many of the 16 students from FD2 would successfully achieve a single year top-up?

The Process
Just in case anyone is unclear how the Foundation Degree works - the ultimate is for students to opt for the cheaper - but in no way as far as study is concerned inferior two year course, working with The University of Salford modules, getting a huge slice of professional practice, being moulded to the way of the design industry talks and walks . . . then after full-on 100% commitment the objective is to secure a final year at the University to gain a BA(Hons) having had a hands-on education in a smaller pond.

On the return from a brilliant London trip (see London 2013) the interviews started. Admittedly the administration hiccups that seems to blight education did have one or two chasing around confirming times and dates - but with portfolios complete the interviews began . . .

On the afternoon of Wednesday 6 March two members of the Salford Team were heading over to the School of the Arts to meet with the Editor to discuss how as a partnership the final year top-up can be the rule rather than the exception with only 'Agent' Wilcock achieving a single year opportunity in September 2012.

The cost of University places are becoming very prohibitive, in the academic year 2014/15 students going on from WSA will have to stump up £8,750. The current 'crop' having registered with the University in September 2011 at the start of their first year of FD will only be paying the lower previous fee.

But as the Editors guests were pulling into the Art School car park news filtered through that the first four FD2 students had all been offered a single year top-up . . . result!!!

Since then another graphic communication student has been offered a single year, one of the group was offered two years and he acknowledged he needs the extra time to develop his skills further and three of the illustrators have been offered two years. There are a handful of the group still to arrive for interview -  they take place on 26 March

There is a definite pattern emerging . . . if students put a real 'shift' in from the first day they walk through the door of 201 it pays off. Go off the boil, spend more time being 'social' than hitting deadlines, don't turn up to sessions . . . then every day a student misses reduces the likelihood of securing a single year . . . and that can be expensive!!