The creative paths that first and second year Graphic Design students are encouraged to go down at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) will be on display to all this Friday.
The students have taken the reins themselves in planning and organising their own Sketch Book and Poster Show, which will take viewers on some of their design journeys.
Maksymilian Szyrmulewicz, 18, with some of his sketch book work
Year 1 Graphic Design course leader Lyndsey Webster said: “A lot of students tend to come to university expecting to be graphic designers straight away.
“We teach them about the importance of sketch books where the whole emphasis is about generating ideas – you get a brief and think ‘what am I going to do with this?’
“The sketch book is a bit like going behind the scenes on a film set, you see what goes into the end product.
“We don’t want the students all to come out as clones, we want them to bring something new and different to the working world.
“A sort of magic really happens in sketch books and this show is about showing something of that.”
Some of Maksymilian Szyrmulewicz's work
The students have been given a lot of responsibility, not just in how to display their work, but also by seeking out sponsorship, inviting industry partners, schools and colleges to attend, and by publicising the event.
Alfie Eyden, 18, from Nottingham, a first year on the Graphic Design Interactive course, said: “It’s about celebrating our work and showing pride in what we do.
“We want to raise awareness to potential employers, industry people and to schools and colleges of what we can do.”
Steph Honey, 29, a first year Graphic Design student from Loughborough, added: “The sketch books are also about embracing what goes wrong, they’re not meant to be perfect.
“By trying things out you find what works and sometimes mistakes can give you a creative idea.
“DMU is so different to other universities because it allows the first years to have their own show of their work.”
The Sketch Book and Poster Show will be in the Queen’s Building, rooms 3.05 and 3.10, on Friday, March 17, from 12 until 3pm.
DMU staff and students are invited to visit and are being encouraged to take their daughters, sons, nephews and nieces.
Posted on Thursday 16 March 2017