Sunday, 24 May 2009 | Levent OZLER
Design is No Coincidence: Groundbreaking Approach to the Student Exhibition
Not afraid of innovation, students from Salford University's Design Studies Cluster have taken a fresh approach to "the final show." The 41 students have worked together to conceive and develop a campaign titled "Design Is No Coincidence" to place themselves, and their unique courses, in the shop window.
Incorporating a quality print book, a website and a forthcoming exhibition at the Sterling Prize-winning Centenary Building, it's an ambitious showcase of multidisciplinary work from those graduating in Design Management for the Creative Industries, Journalism and Design Studies and Design Futures. Yet this well-crafted project is also impressive due to the funding behind it being secured by the students themselves: perhaps a particularly impressive feat given the current economic climate.
"This project challenges those about to graduate to stop thinking like students and start functioning like industry professionals," says Roy Chilvers, the Lecturer leading the project.
"To finance all their ambitious components required them to identify high-calibre partners, meet with them, and convince them that their respective brands would benefit from being associated with the themes of innovation, boldness and the development of the Twin Cities as a creative hub. The response was fantastic. Over £5,000 of funding was secured as those approached recognised immediately that they were being asked to partner in a progressive venture that reflected their own vision of building a creative economy in the North West."
The culmination of the past few months intensive creativity and fundraising will be unveiled early next month at an industry launch at the seminal Islington Mill [home to, chart-topping pop stars, The Ting Tings in addition to celebrated ceramicist CJ O'Neill, Raw Design and the Chapel Street-based Sounds from the Other City Festival] and comes with support from Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, Argent Manchester and Meredith Thomas PR Consultants.
The exhibition itself will run at the School of Art & Design, Peru Street, Salford, from 5th June to 12th June.
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