News: Rotherham students get their design fix

University Centre Rotherham Graphic Design students have been tasked with an exciting project by a successful graduate and founder of The Design Fix.

Graduate Amy Kilner visited the £12m town centre campus and met with foundation degree students to share her experiences of working as a creative lead at design agency, Hotshot. She is also the founder of The Design Fix – an online community of over 50,000 followers using the hashtag #thedesignfix to highlight how creativity inspires them as designers. The hashtag has been used 150,000 times so far whilst The Design Fix has been featured across blogs and stories 2,000 times.

Amy studied a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Graphic Design Communication Design (Top-up) at University Centre Rotherham and completed her course in summer 2019.

A brief was provided by Amy to the students on The Design Fix-led project titled Positive Creativity. This project is aimed at highlighting the benefits of online users sharing their work digitally and via social media, with wide-ranging opportunities such as references, constructive feedback, networking and the possibility of beginning new adventures and journeys for the budding Graphic Design students.

Tasked with creating artwork which communicates positive aspects of sharing work online, the Graphic Design students have been provided free reign to use their creativity in crafting exciting and relevant visuals.

As part of The Design Fix's participation in student award series The NeXt Big Thing Awards, the chosen finalists will be shared across all of The Design Fix's platforms for its thriving online community to see and share their thoughts on. Three finalists will receive a one year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.

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Amy said: "The whole idea is for the students to use their creative expression to highlight how to use social media in a positive light – especially when sharing work.

"You have to like what you do otherwise there's no point; that's why the learners have chosen this course and this project is a good outlet for them to share their passion."

Graphic Design Foundation Degree Year 2 student Jack Reavey was one of the class of University Centre Rotherham students Amy provided the project brief to.

Jack said: "The project is an advertising campaign celebrating positivity in creativity and encourages people to post on social media whom may have previously not wanted to in fear of negative comments. It seems a good idea for people to engage with social media and put their work out there – there are decent people online who may pick up on this.

"I want to approach this with typography. Words just behave all the time! They're versatile and never get grainy. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do."

Graphic Design Lecturer Tracy Gelder was present for the project brief and previously taught Amy when she was an aspiring Graphic Design student.

Tracy said: "For our students, this year is all about design work with work-based employers. The students now have the liberty to work with live clients. For example, Amy's visit is a wonderful opportunity for them to ask questions and delve in to how things are changing in the workplace.

"It's a brilliant chance for them to get ready to hit the ground running when out in the wider world."

Hotshot Creative Agency website
Design Fix website
UCR website

Images: UCR

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News: Eat, Sleep, Design, Repeat

Freelance graphic designer and Rotherham College student Amy Kilner was stunned when one of her original designs was discovered and purchased by DJ, musician and record producer, Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim.

As part of a project set by tutors for a degree assessment, Amy created and uploaded her design inspired by the dance music favourite to her Twitter account.

After the discovery, Fatboy Slim's management approached Amy and asked to purchase the design stating he would hang it alongside his artwork collection which includes the likes of Ryca, Chemical X, Banksy, London Police and Jimmy Cauty.

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Amy has worked in busy agencies across Yorkshire for over five years and is currently studying a Degree in Graphic Design. She said: "After working for busy agencies and to tight deadlines, I decided to return to education to recharge my creativity alongside launching my graphic design business.

"My mission statement is to "amplify ideas though creativity" and I want to help companies create lasting impressions, and to have Fatboy Slim email me asking for a print of my work was such an honour. I've already designed the brand identity for Ibiza Bible and have already worked with a whole host of other big brands, but this is up there with the biggest names in my portfolio!"

Norman Cook has a huge smiley face collection at his home in Brighton and the acid house smiley is often used as his logo. Amy's work creates the famous smiley face using the lyrics to "Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat" - the 2013 track he released with Riva Starr under the Fatboy Slim moniker.

Amy Kilner website
RCAT website

Images: Amy Kilner / twitter

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News: Rotherham college student succeeds in style

A course in graphic design at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology (RCAT) has helped Amy Kilner gain success in the classroom and in the world of work.

Amy Kilner left her sixth form college and A Levels in 2010 so she could pursue her passion in graphic design. She enrolled on Rotherham College’s Graphic Design BTEC Level 3 course where she could concentrate on the specific subject and find her style.

Drawing her inspiration for Kandinsky, Joan Miro and other geometric abstract art, Amy flourished in her studies with the help of her tutors at the College. During the course she learnt how to follow briefs from clients, took part in group sessions and used the latest software to create designs.

She said: "From experience, I think BTECs prepare you for University and working in the industry a lot more than A levels. In the long run it has helped me a lot, at University in the first year I had lessons that recapped what I'd already learnt on my BTEC course, a lot of people who did A levels struggled with them as they hadn't had the lessons as they'd been studying other subjects at the same time."

Since leaving the College, Amy went on to study a BA Honours in Graphic Communication Design at the University of Huddersfield and in 2012 she started freelancing as a designer, taking part in a range of projects such as The V Festival project with Rotherham-based Rainforest Graphics. During the project Amy designed the branding for the "Champagne Garden" for the VIP area.

She said: "By helping Rainforest out I was given VIP Wristbands for the weekend. It was amazing seeing my work up and being used in such a big festival! It was really motivational."

On her days off from University, Amy works for Creative Media Design and Print Ltd based in Denaby. They have worked with clients such as the BBC, Samsung and Coca Cola.

Amy also recently launched a clothing brand called Blootit Clothing in partnership with Blossom Pengkerego.

After completing her course, Amy will continue to work in the Graphic Design industry and continue with her freelancing.

"Freelancing keeps me on my toes," she added. "If I hadn't started my freelance and built up a portfolio of a wide range of work then I wouldn't have had anything to show new clients when they ask what I can do for them!"

Amy Kilner website
RCAT website
Rainforest Graphics website

Images: RCAT

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