Art and design graduates celebrated in school’s 200th year

The halfway level of summer time commencement shone a highlight on a few of LJMU’s most artistic expertise as college students from Liverpool Faculty of Artwork and Design graduated from their programmes in Structure, Inside Structure, Artwork in Science, Exhibition Research, Effective Artwork, Graphic Design and Illustration, Historical past of Artwork and Museum Research, Trend Design and Trend Communication.

It was an additional particular celebration this summer time as LJMU can also be marking 200 years because the institution of its artwork faculty, making it the oldest faculty of artwork in England outdoors of London.

Amongst these graduating this week have been eight award-winning college students from the college, recognised for his or her arduous work, ingenuity or overcoming adversity to complete their research. They have been every given Faculty Director’s prizes on the finish of 12 months Degree Show that passed off on the John Lennon Artwork & Design Constructing final month, showcasing the scholars’ closing 12 months initiatives.

Faculty Director’s prize winners replicate on their time at LJMU and look to their future

Structure winner: Lola Scholey-Conduit

“A spotlight of my time at LJMU could be my tutors and my associates. I believe as a result of I did structure, and it’s a studio setting, attending to know everybody was very easy and so was working with everybody. And at any time when I wanted any assist with something the scholars’ union have been superb.

“I didn’t see the award coming in any respect, I used to be actually shaking to go up and get it on the diploma present, but it surely was such an honour and I’m actually, actually pleased with myself.

“I’ve discovered a job in Manchester. I’m going to be an architectural assistant on the place that I actually needed so it has all labored out.”

Inside Structure winner: James Williams

“My time at LJMU was an unimaginable expertise that helped form each my private {and professional} growth. Over 4 years, I gained confidence in my very own creativity, found abilities I didn’t know I had, and shaped robust friendships that can final a lifetime. The supportive studio setting and number of design initiatives helped me develop as a designer and outline my very own method to inside structure.

“The spotlight of my time at LJMU was being awarded a number of prizes on the 2025 Diploma Present. Receiving the Director’s Award for Inside Structure in entrance of my friends and household was a second I’ll all the time be pleased with and felt like a becoming finish to years of dedication and arduous work.

“I’m hoping to return to LJMU to finish my grasp’s after gaining expertise some inside an architectural apply, and the skilled and placement awards I obtained have already opened beneficial alternatives and helped me take my first steps into the trade.”

MA Structure winner: Shirley See Bui Syn

“My two years at LJMU have been extremely rewarding. From the supportive tutors to the collaborative studio setting, I’ve grown each personally and professionally.

“Receiving a Diploma Present prize was an enormous honour and a beautiful recognition of all of the arduous work throughout my Structure grasp’s closing 12 months. It actually means rather a lot to me.

“I’m at present exploring alternatives in structure companies that concentrate on sustainable design and innovation, and I hope to start my Half 3 journey within the close to future.” 

Effective Artwork winner: Cole Morris

“My time at LJMU has been nice, it made me really feel extra unbiased and assured as a result of I developed extra as an grownup, dwelling away from residence, discovering a brand new metropolis and making new associates. It’s not straightforward being neurodiverse, having to be taught and soak up new info, concurrently dwelling within the metropolis however being right here with people who find themselves the identical as you and having understanding tutors actually helps.

“I used to be shocked at getting an award, but it surely made me really feel that my work has an impression and it’s given me a drive to nonetheless develop my apply.

“I wish to do an MA in Movie Making or Animation sooner or later. And I plan to proceed working as an artist and construct up my work, searching for additional alternatives and initiatives in artwork, movie and theatre. I have already got two commissions that I’m engaged on for the time being. Shadow puppetry is the best way!”

Graphic Design and Illustration winner: Olivia Vaughan

“Initially I by no means thought I’d go to college, I didn’t suppose I used to be intelligent sufficient. I went as a mature pupil. Returning to training wasn’t a simple choice, but it surely’s one of the best factor I’ve ever performed.

“Receiving an award on the Diploma Present solidified that and it validated all of the arduous work I’d put in. I couldn’t have performed it with out my superb tutors all through the three years.

“On the Diploma Present I used to be launched to a designer from a advertising and design company in Liverpool. That connection led to me securing a graphic design internship, which is a tremendous first step in the direction of my artistic profession. I’m excited for what the long run holds.”

Historical past of Artwork and Museum Research winner: Dagmara Firlej

“The previous 4 years at LJMU have been really unimaginable, permitting me not solely to pursue my life-long ardour for the Historical past of Artwork, but additionally to immerse myself in a supportive and inspiring setting created by our great lecturers, and to make invaluable connections and friendships. I’m grateful for all of the implausible alternatives offered by LJMU which enabled me to realize hands-on expertise by means of varied internships, placements, and bursary awards.

“As a mature pupil of a international background, I’m particularly pleased with being awarded a runner-up for the Dissertation Prize, the Director’s Prize for sustained excellent achievement in all points of examine and the Diploma Present prize. These awards verify that my choice to affix the college on the age of 45 was proper and provides me confidence for my future tutorial endeavours.

“Whereas I’m completely satisfied in my Government Officer function within the Civil Service, I’m additionally planning to proceed increased training and from September I can be learning MA Cities at LJMU. Inspired by my outcomes and the awards I’ve obtained, I’m hoping to develop my analysis right into a PhD and to stay an energetic member and a contributor to the world of artwork.”

Trend Design winner: Millie Wakefield

“My time at LJMU has actually been life altering. The Trend Design course has pushed me creatively, technically, and personally. I’ve developed so many new abilities and constructed confidence I by no means thought I’d have. I’m proud to graduate with a First-Class diploma and of what we’ve all achieved as a 12 months group. I’ve made a few of my greatest associates alongside the best way, which has made it all of the extra particular.

“Being awarded the Director’s Prize on the Diploma Present was a tremendous honour. It looks like the right solution to have fun these previous few years of arduous work, and it means a lot to have my initiatives recognised in that method. My work this semester has targeted on tailoring, with my latest venture diving into concept-driven design and exploring the cultural roots of trend. Alongside that, I even have a ardour for streetwear, combining conventional strategies with extra modern influences. An enormous thanks to all of the tutors who made this doable – their help, recommendation, and limitless endurance have helped form me into the designer I’m immediately.

“I’m now hoping to begin my profession as a menswear designer, with a concentrate on tailoring and persevering with to develop my very own method to design. It’s thrilling to take this subsequent step, however I’m trying ahead to seeing the place it leads.

“I wish to thank LJMU for this chapter of my life. It has been a very unforgettable journey.”

Trend Communication winner: Charlotte Pratt

“Finding out Trend Communication has been an extremely rewarding expertise, permitting me to discover the style trade, from branding and styling to media and visible storytelling. I’ve developed a deeper understanding of how trend speaks to audiences and shapes tradition, and I’ve beloved the chance to specific my very own concepts by means of each sensible and theoretical work.

“Receiving the Director’s Prize for Trend Communication has been an extremely significant second in my journey. I’m really grateful for the help and encouragement I’ve obtained alongside the best way from my tutors and friends.

“As a brand new graduate, I’m excited to start gaining hands-on expertise within the trend trade. I plan to construct on the robust basis I’ve developed by means of my Trend Communication diploma by exploring alternatives inside this fast-paced trade.”

Pupil who designed LJMU’s Mowgli Canine Present branding desires of designing youngsters’s e book covers

One other award-winning pupil from Liverpool Faculty of Artwork and Design is Charlotte Wooden, who studied Graphic Design and Illustration, and was commissioned by LJMU to design t-shirts and canine bandanas for the college’s presence at this 12 months’s Mowgli Dog Show. Charlotte additionally sketched individuals’s canine throughout the weekend occasion, offering bespoke keepsakes for the attendees whereas gaining invaluable expertise to help her future profession.

Reflecting on her time at LJMU, Charlotte says: “A spotlight of college was the very fact we acquired to discover each topic areas; graphics and illustration, earlier than we picked between the 2. I believe it actually allowed me to grasp that illustration was the place my strengths lay and from there, I used to be in a position to develop much more of an curiosity and my abilities even additional. I believe the tutors on my course actually helped with me having extra confidence in my very own work, which prior to college I used to be severely missing.

“For my closing main venture, I wrote and illustrated a complete youngsters’s e book from scratch; one thing I by no means thought I’d have the time or talent to do however I did it. And profitable the Narrative Prize on the Diploma Present on account of that was very a lot a memorable spotlight.”

On being commissioned by the college for the Canine Present, Charlotte mentioned: “It was a large honour and genuinely one of the enjoyable alternatives I’ve had to date. It was nerve wracking at first as although I had heaps and plenty of expertise illustrating canine throughout initiatives, and for my line of greetings playing cards, I’d by no means explored branding and even had an expert fee this huge earlier than. It was a implausible studying alternative for one thing I believe I’d fairly love to do once more sooner or later at different occasions.”

Trying to the long run, she provides: “After commencement I’ll most likely maintain drawing canine for some time, however my fundamental focus can be attempting to interrupt into the e book publishing trade, particularly e book covers and youngsters’s books. If you need to see my work, it’s @illusbychar on Instagram.”

200 years of the Liverpool Faculty of Artwork and Design

Our Faculty of Artwork and Design traces its origins again to the muse of the Mechanics’ Faculty of Artwork in 1825.

From its enlightened attitudes in the direction of ladies in training – they have been admitted as college students from 1832, and the primary feminine tutor was appointed in 1858 – to its revolutionary basis programs within the Sixties which helped broaden entry to training, the Faculty of Artwork and Design has usually been on the forefront of artwork training.

Now housed within the John Lennon Artwork and Design Constructing – Lennon was a pupil on the faculty within the Fifties – the college continues to innovate in areas corresponding to 3D printing and the intersection between artwork and science. In depth hyperlinks with practising artists and designers assist immediately’s college students, the artists, architects, illustrators and designers of the long run, safe invaluable trade insights, connections that may little doubt be celebrated by the college’s nineteenth century founders.

Find out more about the Liverpool School of Art and Design.