Kin + Carta Connect Cutting Edge Design

Digital Advertising & Design
With Kin + Carta Connect

Year: 2nd Years
Subject: Digital Advertising & Website Build

Cutting edge design and real life projects were in order for UCEN Manchester students who linked with leading digital agency Kin + Carta Connect as part of their studies.

Second year Fda Graphic Design and Advertising students worked with the national agency to build a website and create a digital advertising campaign for a client. They learned to use Sketch, the latest design industry toolkit, and pitched their work to the company director. In addition, they were taught by alumni Lisa Dale, who now works at the agency, and freelance designer Ian Renfrew.

The project was created in conjunction with tutor Alex Komlosy and Kin + Carta Connect, and was designed to give the students real world industry practice, cutting edge skills, and work for their portfolio.

Alex said: “The digital industry is constantly changing so you have to stay connected with what is cutting edge. The focus of this course is real life briefs, industry experience and the latest technology, which is great for the students. Live projects are the way forward and the software and practice used is new to me too.

“The students did so well working with Kin + Carta Connect. Two of our students even asked if the agency staff would be their mentors, which they agreed to.

“The project is superb for their portfolio and also for when they look at securing placements. There can’t be many graduates who can put Sketch on their CV as it has only recently become industry standard.”

Paul Normington, Senior Creative Director at Kin + Carta Connect, said: “We’ve had a long standing relationship with Alex Komlosy and also hold relationships elsewhere in the college from a technical development skills perspective.

“We’ve also recruited a number of UCEN Manchester alumni over the past decade, including Lisa who is currently a creative at Kin + Carta Connect. From her personal experience as a student, we knew that engaging with students at this stage in their development really helps open their eyes to the possibilities and give guidance on what they can achieve professionally.

“The students were full of confidence, you could tell they believed in their ideas and their work once developed.

It’s promising to see such great energy. We feel proud to be working with them and helping them to develop.

He added:  “As a business we are keen to help develop local talent. The creative/digital industries have suffered in recent years from a skills gap, and we feel if we can help nurture the next wave of creatives into the industry, while develop working relationships with this talent, the whole creative industry will benefit.”

Link to UCEN news article >