Stafford College graphic design students crowned ‘World Changers’ in Pearson awards

The BTEC Graphic Design Year 2 students were tasked with creating visually informative adverts and their hard work and professionalism really has paid off, bagging them ‘The Creatives Award’ in the Pearson World Changer awards.

Students worked together to create a series of fun, bold pieces, containing impactful images and slogans targeted towards making the audience think about the consequences of consuming sugary products. The adverts were displayed on a series of billboards across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, as part of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust public awareness campaign on oral health.

Commenting on the award win and the World Changer Creatives Award, Mike Kelly, Group Head of Creative Studies at NSCG, said, “Oral hygiene and tooth decay is a big problem in the UK and is a particular issue in Stoke-on-Trent. Statistics show that the city has a rate of hospital admissions related to tooth decay 4 times higher than the UK national average. Knowing that advertisers target young people to sell sugar-saturated products, despite knowing full well the impact of tooth decay, our students were keen to hear about the problem from the Royal Stoke Hospital’s Consultant Orthodonist, Karen Juggins. Karen, who led the ‘Keep Stoke Smiling' initiative was a dream client to work with, visiting the college to discuss ideas and giving professional insights, helping to shape the student’s ideas.

“The sense of fulfilment and pride the project has provided has been life-changing and confidence-building. It has raised a smile in lots of ways for our students and staff, and hopefully made a difference to the young people who saw the ads on billboards, flyers and online. Winning this World Changers awards is the icing (sugar free) on the cake for our student team and their inspirational lecturer, David Holcroft.”

Internationally-renowned photographer and filmmaker Nick Danziger, had the difficult task of judging the Work Changer Creatives awards and praised NSCG Stafford College on their project. Nick said, “Students at NSCG Stafford College focused on an important and lesser-known topic and came together as a group to produce a series of engaging and creative contemporary messages aimed at their local community in order to raise awareness and help spark change. Well done and great team work!”

As a category winner, the each student will receive a certificate and a joint trophy for display at college. The students will also feature in Pearson's World Changer Winners Showcase where details about their passion and work will be published and celebrated far and wide!

For more information about studying a creative course at Newcastle or Stafford College, click here, email info@nscg.ac.uk or call 01782 254254 (Newcastle College) or 01785 223800 (Stafford College)