UCLan to host its 2020 Degree Shows online

7 July 2020

Students and families to experience stunning 360-degree interactive tour of outstanding and awarding winning creative work from throughout the year

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is to host its first ever Degree Shows Launch and Awards Ceremony online next week (

Thursday 16 July) giving students and their families a unique 360-degree interactive insight into outstanding creative art, media and textiles work from the past year.

The physical Degree Shows, held on campus each year, usually involve the transformation of venues across the campus into immersive galley spaces. They are a celebration and culmination of 3 years hard work; exemplifying creativity, innovation and blue sky thinking.  The events showcase students’ work to the public and industry, launch them into their future careers and are a rite of passage for creative students.

The 2020 event continues this tradition, showcasing imaginative and eye-catching student designs.

In response to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic during the past four months, UCLan has devised innovative, creative Degree Shows, to be accessed virtually, replacing its traditional, physical event. For the very first time, it will give audiences the chance to enjoy an immersive online experience which will mirror an actual live celebration.

The event will enable students, parents, the public and members of industry to experience the show in almost exactly the same way they would do in the university’s on-campus Degree Shows, with interactive technology allowing them to view student portfolios and manoeuvre fully 360 degrees during online tours, enabling them to pause and move around exhibitions at their leisure.

The new interactive show has been created by both students and staff from the University’s academic and Innovation Lab teams, the latter comprised completely of alumni students who have used their collective skills and technology to create the online event space.

Just as with UCLan’s physical Degree Shows, the launch event will feature special introductory speeches by Vice Chancellor Graham Baldwin, Jenny Rutter, Chair of Creative Lancashire and Jane Anthony, UCLan’s Executive Dean of Culture and Creative Industries. As well as featuring announcements of the student award winners for individual work on the day, the show will also feature student portfolios and a wide range of specially nominated creative art, media, design and textiles exhibits.

"This is an exceptional year as for the first time we are broadcasting the Degree Show into people’s homes and inviting them to explore the final collections and portfolios virtually."

This will include work from UCLan students who have picked up major external awards during the past 12 months.

Among them is Tia, a striking short animation film created by student Jamie Walsh which won a Royal Television Society North West Award earlier this year.

The show will also feature the work of students from UCLan’s graphic design and advertising courses, who won gold, silver and bronze prizes at the annual national Creative Conscience Awards. The awards celebrate projects that aim to improve local communities and inspire and help change people’s lives through the art of design. The winners included Graphic design student Dom Parsons who won gold for a typeface he created for the Grenfell Tower campaigners and community.

The event will also feature the work of Chelsea Barker, a final year fashion design student, who has won a national design brief competition for popular social media channel Tik Tok. Chelsea will shortly be travelling to London to participate in a 5-day residency following her success, where she will be mentored by some of today’s leading designers and will produce four garments of her winning design. 

Work by Chelsea Barker
Work by Chelsea Barker

"Both the Innovation Lab and academic teams have used their creative skills to push the boundaries of technology and create a new format for the awards show within a tight timescale."

Jane Anthony UCLan’s Executive Dean of the Faculty of Culture and the Creative Industries said : “The Degree Shows provide us with an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the creative talent of our students. That talent has been nurtured and supported within the University of Central Lancashire by a whole host of dedicated and talented staff, all of whom ensure each of our students reach their potential and leave us as creative practitioners.”

“This is an exceptional year as for the first time we are broadcasting the Degree Show into people’s homes and inviting them to explore the final collections and portfolios virtually. In doing this, we are able to engage with many more of our stakeholders be they industry specialists, parents, friends, alumni and of course, all of our students..“

Danny Livingstone, Project Manager for the Innovation Lab team working on the project said: “Both the Innovation Lab and academic teams have used their creative skills to push the boundaries of technology and create a new format for the awards show within a tight timescale.

“Thanks to their efforts the result now is a truly unique online experience which will showcase the talents of our students off extremely well in these challenging times.”