Young Fashion manufacturing star

Charlotte Bryan, a graduate from BA (Hons) Fashion Studies in 2010 and from Sleaford in Lincolnshire has been announced as one of thirty young rising stars of the manufacturing world by Business Minister Mark Prisk.

The Make it in Great Britain ‘30 Under 30’ come from all walks of manufacturing and were selected by a panel of expert judges. As well as Charlotte Bryan who is a trainee designer at David Nieper in Derbyshire, they include young talent from companies such as Pendennis Shipyard and GlaxoSmithKline as well as SMEs including The Paper Cup Company and Vantage Power.

Charlottewas selected for being a true high-flyer, standing out from her peers and demonstrating passion, enthusiasm and ambition in her role.  She joined David Nieper straight from university after winning a paid internship at the fashion house and has been employed full-time ever since.  Based in Alfreton in Derbyshire, David Nieper designs and manufacturers all its women’s clothing and lingerie in the UK. 

Charlotte will now go on to act as an ambassador for the Make it in Great Britain campaign, which aims to challenge outdated opinions and transform the image of modern manufacturing.  She will have a special role in engaging with other young people, to ensure that the next generation is aware of the great jobs and careers in the industry.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

“There’s a huge range of different job opportunities in modern manufacturing, in design, in engineering and in production.

“We need more talented, enthusiastic people to fill these roles, and we hope that the 30 Under 30 will inspire the next generation to consider a career in manufacturing.”

Paul Jackson, CEO of Engineering UK and one of the 30 Under 30 judges added:

“I am always impressed at the level of young talent present in manufacturing and engineering, and over the years have met countless young people brimming with potential who have gone on to achieve great things.

“That is one of the reasons why I am supporting Make it in Great Britain, and why I was happy to be a judge for the 30 under 30.

“We need to be encouraging more motivated, ambitious young people to consider careers in manufacturing to ensure that the industry continues to grow. The 30 Under 30 finalists are all enjoying successful careers, and I believe that they will inspire other young people to follow in their footsteps. I look forward to meeting them.”

Successful entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den Star Deborah Meaden is backing the Make it in Great Britain campaign, and is particularly supportive of the 30 under 30.

She said: “It’s important to encourage young people to see the value of manufacturing careers. The 30 under 30 will be a valuable asset to the campaign by offering a fresh perspective on what it takes to start up a business or launch new ideas.

“I look forward to working alongside them to help inspire the next generation of youngsters about a future in manufacturing.”

Charlotte Bryan from David Nieper concluded: “It is a great privilege to be chosen especially as I’m the only person representing the fashion manufacturing industry.  I got my big break after winning a paid internship, and know first hand the importance of getting experience in a real-life manufacturing environment.  We’ve already been working with local schools to pass on fashion manufacturing skills, so this is a great opportunity to hopefully inspire more young people to consider a career in manufacturing.”

The Make it in Great Britaincampaign will culminate in an exhibition at the Science Museum, taking place from 24 July until 9 September.

To find out more about Make it in Great Britain, please visit the Make it in Great Britain website.

For more information on David Nieper, visit the David Nieper website.

Fatal Attraction Wins Exposure for Photographer

Beauty and death are captured simultaneously in a stunning photograph of a bug balancing on a carnivorous Pitcher plant taken by University of Lincoln Contemporary Lens Media graduate from 2012, Elizabeth Cheek (22). The image, Fatal Attraction, has been selected for inclusion in London’s largest annual photography exhibition; the prestigious Foto8 Summershow.

More than 3200 images were submitted for consideration in the fifth annual photographic show, with entries as far afield as Hong Kong to Chile and Russiato Australia. Elizabeth’s photo was one of 159 chosen for display and the freelance photographer said she was excited to be included among some of the world’s best photographers and hopes her image inspires people to think about fatal attractions.

“I hope viewers see both beauty and evil in the image. I hope it makes people stop and think about its juxtaposition and the harsh rules of nature,” she said.

Photographs at this year’s Summershow – established in 2008 as the UK’s only open exhibition of photography which invites both professional and amateur photographers to submit work - reflect events of the past 12-18 months including the defeat of Gadhafi in Libya, the spread of the global Occupy movement, protests against austerity and the build-up to the Summer Olympics.

This year the Best in Show will be judged by acclaimed British photographers Alison Jackson and Simon Roberts, the BBC’s online photography director Phil Coomes, TimeOut’s chief arts critic Ossian Ward and critic and curator Gerry Badger. Visitors to the gallery during weeks of the exhibition are also invited to register their vote for the People’s Choice and challenge the experts view with their personal choice of which photograph is the best.

For more information about Elizabeth Cheek’s photography click on her name above or contact Elizabethon: M: 07825518847 or E: cheek_e@hotmail.co.uk

All press enquiries contact: Emma O’Neill, Media Officer, University of Lincoln. M: 07530390698 E: eoneill@lincoln.ac.uk.  Thanks to Emma for this blog post.

Fashion student comes 2nd in Chevrolet competition

Fashion student Chloe Smith has just been awarded 2nd place with her fashion entry to the Young Creative Chevrolet! UK competition with her design 50's Vintage Road Trip.

The starting point for the design ideas was an American style 'road trip' and Chloe decided to base hers on a '50's vintage road trip'. Chloe chose Route 66 in America and produced an outfit design that was a modern take on 1950's fashion. She explains that "it is such a famous and well known road trip, I wanted to stylize it and add a modern twist on the 50's fashion.  The car I have chosen to use is the Chevrolet Nomad model, produced from 1955 to 1961 and then again in 1968 to 1972.  This car screams vintage and style with its slick frame and glossy rims.  This car is well suited for a road trip along Route 66.  I could imagine this car being driven by a young stylish couple dressed in modern 50's clothes.

"Styled with short cropped hair and leather boots, the full skirt is a very cool pattern consisting of Chevrolet cars.  The brown belt was taken from the idea of the Chevrolet logo and the shirt would be a light blue denim shirt with added pearls for buttons, as they remind me of the round headlights of the car.  It is also essential on a long journey or road trip to be comfy just as much as being stylish".

This design has earned Chloe 800 euros.  Congratulations to her from us all at Lincoln.

Fashion students at Graduate Fashion Week London

Following our recent Fashion Show here in Lincoln, some of our final year students were selected to showcase their collections at last week's Graduate Fashion Week held over 5 days at London's Earl's Court.

The event was very well attended and our students received some very positive feedback.  Portfolios were openly displayed, as well as panels showing the collections from the Fashion show.  Next year, students will hopefully also have the chance to participate in the catwalk shows, which are only open to Universities after they have participated in the static shows for the first 2 years.

Interactive Designer lands job with world renowned Erik Spiekermann

Former BA (Hons) Interactive Design student and graduate Mike Smart has just landed a position with world renowned German typographer and designer Erik Spiekermann (shown above). Internationally renowned graphic designer, typographer and type designer, Erik founded the multidisciplinary design consultancy MetaDesign in Berlin in1979, opening a major San Francisco office in 1992, and another in Zurich.

Mike will join the team at the edenspiekermann strategy design communication office in Potsdamer Straße Berlin later this month.  Edenspiekermann also has offices in Amsterdam.

Clive McCarthy, Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Interactive Design said that "Mike has joined the agency as part of a recruiment drive by edenspiekermann to bring talented developers into their Berlin office under the title "We are busy building awesomeness and we want you" proving that Interactive Designers are much in demand as all round designers for today's digital world.  

Below image shows Mike with Clive at Mike's graduation in 2010.

Clive and the Interactive team at Lincoln wish Mike every success in his future design career in arguably the hippest city in Europe, BERLIN.

Jewellery students experience Barcelona and Gaudí

Current students and staff from the Jewellery & Object BA programme, together with 2 MA Design students spent 5 days in Barcelona earlier in the year, a city which offers as much culture, inspirational architecture, art, design, shopping opportunities and food and wine experiences required from a single city.

One of the main events was a visit the jewellery department at the Escola Massana, where Sarah O’Hana, Programme Leader, and Ramón Puig, Professor of Jewellery, exchanged presentations of the work carried out in their respective schools. A tour of the school included the specialist workshops such as Carmen Amador’s repoussée class, the enamelling room and the Japanese lacquer workshop.

Thanks to the close attendance of jeweller artist Xavier Monclús and his knowledge of the city, the group were introduced to specialist galleries and Klimt02 where we met with Leo Caballero who runs the famous website and curates work for the gallery.  It was a delight and a privilege for students to be able to handle prized work by the current exhibitor Karin Johansson and other known makers, especially a recent piece by Ted Noten. 

Xavier Monclús organised a presentation of his work at the independent school of jewellery: Taller Perill.   Fiona Parkinson, 1^st year Jewellery & Object student, was delighted to be included in his talk as having been influenced by his work in an early project back in Lincoln.  In appreciation of bringing her piece to the talk, Xavier handed her a small piece of his work that she now treasures! Both Xavier and Fiona are pictured above.

The visits to the two schools of Jewellery were informative and revealed different ways of working in older more established environments. There were, however, many aspects that both Barcelona schools and the University of Lincoln's BA (Hons) Jewellery & Object course had in common. Staff and students photographed and absorbed this pleasurable learning environment and took a great deal of valuable inspiration back with them.

Being inside the circle of contemporary jewellery in Barcelona would not be complete without dropping in at a private view. In typical fashion, the exhibition at Amaranto, owned by Grego García, was an informal and very friendly event that spilled out onto the pavement. Students enjoyed being able to speak to the exhibitor, Martina Pont, about her jewellery and to others in a relaxed atmosphere.

The trip was a perfect antidote to a busy year and preparation for future design projects, the next busy academic year and forthcoming exhibitions.

Jewellery and Objects’ first international field trip was a huge success, on the whole all the students filled their five days in Barcelona with culture, jewellery, art and architecture. Many arrived home exhausted but fulfilled and pleased with their efforts at fitting what was expected of them and more besides.

Our "home" for 5 days

What did staff and students have to say about their first international visit?

“The Gaudí architecture was of course, hugely influential. Gaudí has inspired and influenced my own work repeatedly in the past and will continue to do so.

We visited three of his major works, Parc Güell, Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló, I bought books and took hundreds of images, all of which will inspire future projects.” (Ann Povey, Senior Technician, pictured below with students Heather and Caroline in one of Barcelona's many tapas bars!)“

“The interaction with another school of jewellery was a valuable experience because we were able to see other students practice and the environment they work in.  The talk by Xavier Monclús and the visits to jewellery studios has inspired my MA work.” (Michelle Brown, MA Design student, pictured below left with fellow MA student Janet on right).

 Sarah seated in middle, together with students Heather (right) and Caroline (left)

 “I have a strong affinity with Spain and I am never disappointed with the way in which that country opens its arms to visitors and makes them feel welcome. Understanding how other cultures behave is part of the learning process. The style of contemporary jewellery in Barcelona is quite different to our own, full of colour, life and infinitely varied materials. I look forward to seeing the students’ influence of this trip in projects to come.” (Sarah O’Hana, Programme Leader).

1st year student Ruth shows her exuberance, with 2nd year student Emma looking on from behind!

Contemporary Crafts Network Exhibition at The Collection, Lincoln

Ann Povey

The Collection in Lincoln is currently hosting an interesting exhibition from the Contemporary Crafts Network. It runs until 24June and is open 7 days a week from10am to 4pm.  There are a quite a few Lincoln graduates exhibiting and also one of our current MA Design students, Kelly Fisher, not to mention our own member of staff, Ann Povey, MA.

Lincoln graduates of our MA Design and former BA (Hons) Contemporary Decorative Crafts, which has now been replaced by the growing BA (Hons) Jewellery and Object programme are

Alena Shaugnessy / Lorrie Stock / Liz Pearson / Jenny Ashby / Adele Billinghay / Nel Wise

Ann is also exhibiting at the Ropewalk Gallery at Harpswell which is running from Friday 15 June (preview 6-8pm) until Sunday 24 June where she will be showing two large glass, metal and wood sculptures. The exhibition is open every day with sculpture and applied arts both inside and out.

And last but not least, Ann is also taking part in the Lincolnshire Artists Society Summer Exhibition held at the Sam Scorer Gallery in Lincoln from 26 June for two weeks and again from 24 July to 5 August in another exhibition OBJECT which features both Ann and four other East Midlands designer makers. Open every day 10 am til 4pm.

The below images are all taken at the exhibition at The Collection.

Alena Shaughnessy

Alena Shaugnessy

Degree shows are open for a further week

If you missed the opening night, all is not lost; the Degree shows are still open for a further week.  Entrance is free of charge and the shows are open weekdays 10-4.  For show locations visit our dedicated degree show website.

Fashion final year students stage the best show ever

Final year students from this year's BA (Hons) Fashion Studies staged their Fashion Show at the end of last month to a packed house.  Feedback received so far has been fantastic, with many commenting on the strength and diversity of the collections this year.

Selected students from the course will be showcasing their collections at Graduate Fashion Week which opens on Sunday and runs until Wednesday 13 June at Earl's Court, London.  This is the second year running our students have been part of this prestigious event.

Above image shows collection from Sareema Elimlahi, called "Ascencion" which draws its influence from the Egyptian pyramids.  Second year student Marina Walger designed and made the hat from brown felt with orange quills.

At the end of the show, the students thanked their tutors for all their help and support during their three years at Lincoln.  Below image shows Programme Leader Maria Manning receiving her bouquet of flowers.  From centre left, tutors are Victoria Bellandini, Kathy Gaul, Dagmara Childs, and Sarah Elliott, together with technicians Tricia Clarke and Polly Lancaster.

Meanwhile here is a snapshot of some of the collections; all photographs were taken and kindly submitted to the University by local professional photographer Adam Rhoades.