Students are the creative force behind new UON marketing campaign

Creative students are at the heart of the latest recruitment campaign from the University of Northampton.

Applicants offered a full-time place at the University receive a pack of goodies, including a T-shirt designed by undergraduates studying Graphic Communication and Illustration.

There are eight different T-shirt designs in all and, to promote the campaign, 10 students sported them for a special photoshoot with undergraduates on the Photography course.

All of the students received payment for their time and work.

Models on the Waterside campus photoshoot.

Graphic Communication graduate, Marissa Braam, was one of the T-shirt designers.

She said: “It makes me feel a bit special knowing something I came up with and designed is being worn by others. This is something not everyone can say.

“The project has definitely boosted my CV. Plus, it was a nice add-on for my portfolio. When explaining that my T-shirt design was chosen and people actually wear them, it got people that I showed my portfolio to, really excited.”

Since graduating in 2019, Marissa has secured a job working for a design studio/marketing company in Rotterdam, in her home country of the Netherlands.

She said: “Finding a job takes time and a lot of effort, so my tip for everyone planning on working after graduating is to start soon and make sure to send your CV to as many companies as possible.”

Designs by Marissa Braam, left, and Katie Bell.

The other designers were Illustration student, Katie Bell, and Graphic Communication students Xenia Toorop, Max Grymel and Toby Clarke.

The Photography students who took part were Joe Westly, Sorina Poclitaru and Alex Macchiarelli.

The models were Josephine Boye, Chloe Owens, Naf Tuifua, Salomen, Kwarme Boaitey, Kelvina Yeboah, Lucky Osunde, Zarkah Shazad, Olivia Grey and Ella Warren.

Designs by Max Grymel.

University Marketing Officer and the campaign’s coordinator, Rob O’Malley, was impressed with the high standard of the students’ work.

He said: “We were delighted to offer our students the chance to experience working on a real-world marketing campaign.

“We provided the designers with a fairly loose brief, allowing them to run with their ideas – and we’ve been incredibly impressed with the results.

“The feedback we’ve received from applicants has also been really positive, with many saying the T-shirts are exactly the sort of thing they like to wear.”

Rob added: “While the designers were able to show what they can do, it was also great to see students stepping up to model the clothing and our Photography students capturing such professional shots to promote the whole campaign.”

Designs by Xenia Renée Toorop.

Designs by Toby Clarke.

Designs by Xenia Renee Toorop.

Designs by Toby Clarke.

Designs by Max Grymel.

Designs by Marissa Braam, left, and Katie Bell.