A few words i've sent to the press office.

The Sofa Design team had the Leek Post and Times photographer in today - well done you lot for spreading your message around. In the meantime, I've just penned a few words for our Press Office:

“a key feature of the Advertising and Brand Management course is the link with industry on a regional, national and international level. This link has enabled our students to work closely with advertising agencies and brand consultancies from Staffs to new York via London and Glasgow. The advantage this gives our students is reflected in the way their working practices evolve over three years to reflect current practice in industry. Our students develop confidence in presentation and strategy-led portfolios that give them an edge in the marketplace.

As well as engaging with industry, our students are encouraged to seek out clients and to enter competitions, particularly at Level 3. This year Level 3 students have engaged on various levels with external clients. One team that has had a successful experience with an external client was Sam Nuttall, Dan Needham, Shib Hussain and Adam Lowe. They worked very hard from initial contact through establishing their client’s needs, writing a brief and developing a brand identity (with accompanying guidelines) and a communications strategy that has been implemented by Sofa Design, a bespoke furniture company based in London. The students have worked with the client very closely and will continue to engage with them in a consultancy role ensuring brand guidelines and communications are adhered to in the short term.

The most successful team to engage in national competitions was Sian Wood and Jamie Charman who reached the final of the Constellation Wine Group’s Innovator of the Year Award. Their idea for a simplified wine brand to stand out in the cluttered markeplace was selected as one of the final six entries. The students pitched their idea to representatives from Constellation at the Gherkin in London on 29 May and will hear back on Monday 1st June. The students developed a strategy that included new products and interactive media after thoroughly researching the marketplace, understanding the target audience, and recognising a clear gap in the wine market.

These are two examples of where our students have met with success this year. There are others, one team has helped a bio-fuels company brand and market itself, another team are heading off to New York to work at an agency we have a working relationship with, and we still have the D&AD New Blood show to look forward to where ten selected students will show their work alongside the cream of the UK’s advertising and graphic design courses.”

And Sian and Jamie pitched at the Gherkin today .... good luck you two.