Graphic design student wins three industry-recognised awards and secures dream job all before finishing degree
It’s been a busy few weeks for University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) graphic design student Harriet Richardson who is not only celebrating winning three industry-recognised awards but has also just secured her dream graduate job.
21-year-old budding designer Harriet from Sale, has seen her final year project designs win big at the Design and Art Direction (D&AD) New Blood awards.
The New Blood awards are open worldwide and winners receive the prestigious ‘coloured pencils’ which represent the very best in design and advertising.
Harriet’s pieces followed briefs from top companies such as Sony and Adobe which saw her create three award-winning stand-alone designs titled ‘Creative Block’, ‘Boredom – the board game’ and ‘Samples by Sony’.
However, the winners of the awards won’t find out what ‘coloured pencil’ they will be taking home until the New Blood ceremony in London on 6 July.
"Winning three D&AD awards was obviously a massive surprise. I would have been so over the moon with one but to have won three is just insane!"
The idea behind one of the pieces, ‘Boredom - the board game’, came from everyone always being on their phones, laptops and tablets and rarely finding themselves bored. Players place their phones in the centre of the board game and each time they get a call or text they have to move back a space, all whilst answering trivia questions on boring subjects. The aim of the game was to become bored and there is no limit as to how long the game can last.
The former Ashton-on-Mersey School and Trafford College student, said: “All my pieces had to have really strong ideas that would be able to make it from the original idea stage to final designs. Winning three D&AD awards was obviously a massive surprise. I would have been so over the moon with one but to have won three is just insane!
“I really enjoyed the process of putting all these designs together. It wasn’t too stressful and it was quite fun as I’ve had the support of the tutors behind me along the way and I’m really happy with the outcome.”
But the celebrations don’t stop there for Harriet, who spent a year out in industry in London during her degree. She has recently secured her first graduate position at graphic design agency Turner Duckworth, who create visual identities and packaging for consumer brands.
"The graphic design course at UCLan really prepares you so that you’re ready to tackle anything and I can’t praise the tutors enough for all their help."
Returning to the capital next month to start her Junior Graphic Designer role at the company, Harriet commented: “I just had the news confirmed that I got the job. I am so excited to make the move to London as I love spending time down there and I can’t wait to get stuck in.
“The graphic design course at UCLan really prepares you so that you’re ready to tackle anything and I can’t praise the tutors enough for all their help. All my hard work has been building up to this moment; I can’t believe it’s all done!”
Harriet’s work has been under the spotlight this month in the Lancashire Arts Festival – UCLan’s degree show that runs from 9 – 16 June and displays the final work of students from architecture, design, fashion and art courses.
View Harriet’s work on the D&AD website
https://www.dandad.org/awards/new-blood/2017/arjowiggins-creative-papers/3044/samples/
https://www.dandad.org/awards/new-blood/2017/adobe/3165/creative-block/
https://www.dandad.org/awards/new-blood/2017/hasbro/3043/boredom-the-bored-game/