A collection of printed materials and a red promotional object are scattered across a light blue surface. A white flyer reads “Thinking”, “Doing” and “Anything”, while another reads “SUMMER SHOWS 2014”.

A look at this year's most exciting degree show invites and identities

Words: Rebecca Fulleylove
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Date: 19 June 2014; Work
Graphic Design

Getting any form of post is exciting but when it contains the invites for this summer’s student shows we can’t help but feel giddy and weirdly proud. So it’s time for The List to give a run down of some of this year’s most playful and inspiring invites and identities for this year’s graduates. The colours blue, red and orange are big this year, but the overall theme to these identities seems to be about creating something new and fresh, which can only be commended and celebrated.

A red balloon against a light blue background. Bold white text on the balloon reads “About to Blow”, with the website “ntuabouttoblow.com” printed below. — Above
Nottingham Trent University: About to Blow

A red, spherical object against a light blue background. White text on the surface reads “About to Blow” and “Degree Show”, listing dates and venues for events in 2014. — Above
Nottingham Trent University: About to Blow

A promotional poster for the “NTU Graphic Design Degree Show 30.05.2014”. Large pink text across the centre reads “About to Blow”. Eight black and white portraits of people are arranged in two rows of four. In the top left, a person’s hair blows upwards as they hold a balloon. — Above
Nottingham Trent University: About to Blow

A grid of six black and white portraits showing three people. The top row features neutral headshots, while the bottom row shows the same people posing playfully with inflatable toys. — Above
Nottingham Trent University: About to Blow

Like any sane person we love a good pun, so already Nottingham Trent University’s Graphic Design show is onto a winner with their show About to Blow. What sets them apart from the rest is the fact their invite is a fun little beach ball that you have to physically blow up. It’s a summery, memorable and unique take on the degree show invite that we think is genius. Their website is equally as entertaining and gives us just a glimmer of the work that’s been created.

Showing at D&AD New Blood 1-3 July 2014 and New Designers 2-5 July 2014.
www.ntuabouttoblow.com

A white card sits centrally against a plain light blue background. The word “Everything” is printed in a bold black typeface across the middle. — Above
Kingston University, Graphic Design: _ing

Two white cubes are stacked on a light blue background. The cubes feature bold, underlined text that reads “Thinking”, “Doing”, “Anything” and “Everything”. — Above
Kingston University, Graphic Design: _ing

A folded white invitation on a light blue background. Bold black text reads “Presenting”, “Kingston”, “You are invited to_ing our Graphic Design 2014 Degree Show” and “Coming?”. — Above
Kingston University, Graphic Design: _ing

An invitation for a “Graphic Design 2014 Degree Show” set against a bright blue background. The white card reads “You are invited to_ing” at the top and “Coming?” in bold text at the bottom. — Above
Kingston University, Graphic Design: _ing

A grid of diverse images and typographic experiments, each featuring the suffix “ing” as a central motif. The compositions vary from photography and 3D renders to minimalist graphic design and handwritten notes. — Above
Kingston University, Graphic Design: _ing

Going for a minimal look this year is Kingston University’s Graphic Design course. Using the suffix “-ing” as the basis for their show, Kingston are keen to show their passion for thinking and doing as opposed to just presenting. The monochrome look is striking and gives little away allowing for just enough intrigue to make you want to see what they’ve been up to. In the meantime, check out the show’s website to see all the “-ing” related posters the graduating students have produced.

Open now until 22 June 2014
www.ing2014.co.uk

An orange envelope inside a clear plastic sleeve, set against a turquoise background. White text on the envelope reads “just what creatives do.” — Above
Northumbria University, Graphic Design: Damn Good 2014

An orange invitation on a turquoise background. The white text reads “We’ve gone through thick and thin, wind and rain and a great deal of caffeine,” and invites the reader to a degree show opening. — Above
Northumbria University, Graphic Design: Damn Good 2014

A purple poster features a person wearing a white chef’s hat that covers their eyes. Bold white text at the top reads “WE CAN’T MAKE A SOUFFLÉ RISE”, followed by “Come and see what we can do.” Smaller text at the bottom identifies the event as the “Northumbria University Graphic Design Degree Show” and lists the dates and times. — Above
Northumbria University, Graphic Design: Damn Good 2014

Five people pose against a bright blue background. One person in a red T-shirt has their hair flying upwards, while another holds a red paper bag over their head that reads “DAMN GOOD BAG”. A white speech bubble at the top reads “DAMN GOOD” and large white text across the centre reads “19 – 28 JUNE”. — Above
Northumbria University, Graphic Design: Damn Good 2014

Four people stand against a bright blue background, surrounded by floating playing cards and red paper scraps. A speech bubble above the central figure reads “DAMN GOOD”, while large white text across the middle reads “PRIVATE VIEW 18 JUNE”. — Above
Northumbria University, Graphic Design: Damn Good 2014

Hand-delivering 300 of their invites, we received Northumbria University’s Graphic Design show invite with glee – not just because it gave their tired legs a bit of a rest but because it came in a see-through plastic envelope, which just doesn’t happen enough within our mailing culture. Out of the envelope came the most elaborately folded poster we’ve ever seen with one side detailing their journey and the other using image to explain what they can’t do. With a strong Twitter account and great website to accompany the invite, Northumbria are really making sure it’s a damn good show.

Open now until 28 June 2014
www.damngood2014.org

A small, off-white rectangular box sits against a bright blue background. The word “embrace” is cut out of the top surface, surrounded by smaller, abstract geometric shapes. — Above
Arts University Bournemouth, Graphic Design: Engage

Two white cards are laid against a light blue background. The bottom card features the word “engage” cut out of the paper, revealing a purple layer beneath. — Above
Arts University Bournemouth, Graphic Design: Engage

An open folded brochure on a light blue background. The top half features a cutout design of abstract shapes and the word “ENCORE”, while the bottom half contains event details for the “Bournemouth Degree Show” and “D&AD New Blood Exhibition”. — Above
Arts University Bournemouth, Graphic Design: Engage

A cream-coloured folded card with a laser-cut pattern on the left panel. The right panel contains text for the “Bournemouth Degree Show”, including dates, times and the location at Arts University Bournemouth. — Above
Arts University Bournemouth, Graphic Design: Engage

A simple but thoughtful invite from the Graphic Design students at Arts University Bournemouth. With laser-cut and opaque shapes coming together to form the whole word “engage,” the aubergine and light pebble grey work beautifully together to create one of the most sophisticated invites we’ve seen this year.

Open now until 27 June 2014
www.engageshow2014.co.uk

A cream-coloured flyer for Ual reads “SUMMER SHOWS 2014” in bold black type. The date “2–27 June” is printed at the bottom, and the flyer sits atop a brown card with a red and yellow graphic. — Above
UAL, London College of Communication: Summer Shows 2014

A white brochure on a blue background reads “SUMMER SHOWS 2014” and “2–27 June”. A yellow card marked “1” and a red grid-patterned card marked “2” are tucked inside. — Above
UAL, London College of Communication: Summer Shows 2014

Two rectangular cards lie side by side on a light blue background. The left card is yellow with the number “1” in the centre, and the right is orange with a grid pattern and the number “2”. — Above
UAL, London College of Communication: Summer Shows 2014

Two invitation cards, one yellow and one red, lie on a bright blue surface. The yellow card reads “London College of Communication invites you to celebrate work, by students from the School of Media”. — Above
UAL, London College of Communication: Summer Shows 2014

We love how orderly and neat the London College of Communication’s invite is for their summer shows, it felt like a receiving a 2D bundle of crisp maths books. With bright, gridded primary colours, it’s punchy, vibrant and on the right side of minimal. It’s fantastic to see the sheer volume of shows the LCC are putting on this year, an impressive feat in itself among the chaos that reigns when graduating.

Open now until 27 June 2014
www.arts.ac.uk

An orange rectangular card set against a light blue background. A white circular graphic in the centre contains the text “CALL ME” and “2014” around its edge, with smaller text in the middle. — Above
Kingston University, Illustration: Call Me

An orange rectangular card rests on a turquoise background. A white circular graphic in the centre contains the text “KINGSTON DEGREE SHOW” and “DALSTON DEPARTMENT STORE”, surrounded by a ring of smaller circles reading “ALL ME 2014”. — Above
Kingston University, Illustration: Call Me

A white invitation card with a scalloped red edge rests on a turquoise surface. Red text reads “Kingston Illustration 2014 Show” and lists the event location and dates in June. — Above
Kingston University, Illustration: Call Me

A red poster for the “Kingston University Illustration Animation (BA) Degree Show”. A central white circle is surrounded by smaller white circles containing the text “CALL ME 2014”. Text on the left lists the venue as Dalston Department Store and the dates as 13–16 June. Navigation links for a blog, directory, Twitter and directions run along the bottom. — Above
Kingston University, Illustration: Call Me

A screenshot of a website with a red header that reads “CALL ME KINGSTON”. Below the title, a grid of images displays various artworks, including a black and white illustration and a small red figure. — Above
Kingston University, Illustration: Call Me

It’s the little details on Kingston University’s Illustration show invite that really make it come to life. The rotary dial lettering on the front followed by the red silhouette of the finger-sized dividers you get in telephone books are delightful touches and if feels like a very personal identity. As well as a website, the Illustration students have also created a Tumblr to sit alongside it, showcasing snapshots of all the work that’s displayed in the final exhibition. So if you didn’t get the chance to go to the actual show, it’s a great chance to spot your favourite.

www.callemekingston.com

An illustration for a poster titled “NOMAD”. A central figure in a long white coat stands above a dense, chaotic crowd of small, distorted figures. Text below the title lists the venue as “The Red Gallery” in London and the date as “June 24–30”. — Above
University of Worcester, Illustration: Nomad

An illustration for an exhibition titled “NOMAD”. It features a figure with a long white beard and a head covering, set against a grey background with a blue border. Text below the title reads “http://nomadshow.co.uk”, “THE RED GALLERY, 3 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DT”, “JUNE 24 – 30” and “PRIVATE VIEW 24TH, 5PM”. — Above
University of Worcester, Illustration: Nomad

An illustration of a dense, tangled forest with small houses and a large white tent. Stylised text at the bottom reads “Worcester Illustration”. — Above
University of Worcester, Illustration: Nomad

A website header for “Nomad” features a navigation menu with “Home”, “About” and “Contact”. Below, a row of four illustrations shows different camping scenes, each credited to an artist. — Above
University of Worcester, Illustration: Nomad

A grid of eight different illustrations of tents and shelters, each paired with a name. The styles vary from a colourful, patterned teepee to a yellow fabric drape and a dark, atmospheric scene. — Above
University of Worcester, Illustration: Nomad

This is the only invite from the ones we received that boldly went for an uncomplicated single poster format. It feels like the University of Worcester Illustration course have taken it back to basics with this choice, combining hand drawn pictures with printing to create something magical. Both the image and the title of the show, Nomad, give a real indication of the kind of work you can expect from their show in terms of the exploration of materials and themes the students have tried to incorporate.

Open from 24-20 June 2014
www.nomadshow.co.uk

A white invitation card on a light blue background reads “FRESH MEAT”. Smaller text describes it as a private view pass for design work from the University of Greenwich. — Above
University of Greenwich, Graphic & Digital Design, 3D Design & Animation: Fresh Meat

A bright orange rectangular card set against a light blue background. Small black text in the lower left reads “MEDIUM RARE?” and “freshmeat2014.co.uk”. — Above
University of Greenwich, Graphic & Digital Design, 3D Design & Animation: Fresh Meat

A website layout for “Fresh Meat”, a showcase for the University of Greenwich. A grid of images displays various student projects, including app designs, illustrations and a portrait. — Above
University of Greenwich, Graphic & Digital Design, 3D Design & Animation: Fresh Meat

The University of Greenwich went for a simple but bold approach with their invite using the notion of students as “fresh meat” venturing into the world of design. It was a meaty line-up this year with the pupils of both Graphic & Digital Design and 3D Design & Animation exhibiting. We love the old school butcher’s invoice with the fantastic University of Greenwich stamp. The simple frontage is contrasted wonderfully with the alarming, fluorescent orange on the back of the invite that simply says “Medium rare?” rather cryptically.

www.freshmeat2014.co.uk

A collection of printed materials and illustrations scattered across a light blue surface. A white folded card reads “Camberwell Illustration presents” and “In Place”. — Above
Camberwell College of Arts, Illustration: In Place

A folded white flyer on a light blue background. Red and blue text reads “Camberwell Illustration presents In Place” at Copeland Park, Peckham, from “27th June – 5th July”, with a private view on “Friday 27th June”. — Above
Camberwell College of Arts, Illustration: In Place

A grid of 12 small illustrations in blue and gold on a white card. One panel features a person in a suit, while another shows a storefront with the words “CAFE ROY”. — Above
Camberwell College of Arts, Illustration: In Place

A green and white collage of fragmented photographs on a light blue background. The images include architectural details, a close-up of a textured dome, and blurred figures. — Above
Camberwell College of Arts, Illustration: In Place

A last minute entry came from Camberwell College of Arts’ Illustration show, and we’re so happy it arrived in time, for the whole bundle of paraphernalia we received was a joy to look through. As well as a poster and map with relevant info, the pack also came with a handful of A5 prints of the graduating students’ work. It’s a great idea and the pieces work both individually and when grouped together with the blue, green and gold hues blending beautifully.

Open until 5 July 2014
www.inplacepeckham.co.uk

A purple book cover features a white, abstract ink-blot shape. A small white circle in the centre contains the handwritten text “MAN OVER BOARD”. — Above
University of the Creative Arts Epsom, Graphic Design: Man Overboard

An open book displays a collage of images and symbols on a white background. The pages feature a person holding a card that reads “BECAUSE”, a close-up of an eye, a sketch of a rabbit, and a 3D render of a room. — Above
University of the Creative Arts Epsom, Graphic Design: Man Overboard

An open magazine spread featuring a layout for “LAB”. The pages combine black and white photography of people in a studio with a bold orange graphic circle and a tinted orange portrait. — Above
University of the Creative Arts Epsom, Graphic Design: Man Overboard

An open book displays a layout of various images and graphic elements on white pages. The spreads include a photo of Big Ben, a red textured image with the word “ILHA”, and several small abstract shapes. — Above
University of the Creative Arts Epsom, Graphic Design: Man Overboard

A dark blue graphic featuring scattered white and orange letters, shapes and dashed lines. Text on the left reads “Student Work”, “About” and “Find Us”. — Above
University of the Creative Arts Epsom, Graphic Design: Man Overboard

We received our invite to the UCA Espom Graphic Design show via email with the promise of a catalogue soon to follow in the post and lucky for us the students in the Man Overboard show did not let us down.

They’ve created a beautiful, little book that uses both abstract and graphic images of water for the overall aesthetic with flecks of orange to signify the lifesaving devices that save us when we’re lost at sea. As well as some great examples of the work, we love the way the students have also included text about their course philosophy and images to demonstrate their working process and practices.

Open until 22 June 2014
www.manoverboardshow.co.uk

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

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Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

A look at this year's most exciting degree show invites and identities

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