Graduating in graphic design excellence

Graduating in graphic design excellence

Thirty five talented graphic designers graduate this week from the internationally acclaimed Whanganui School of Design.

The graduands will be capped at a graduation ceremony at the Royal Wanganui Opera House on Friday 4 July. An exhibition of their work is open now at the new Whanganui UCOL campus, Matapihi ki te Ao, in Rutland Street.

Whanganui UCOL Principal Sue Frecklington says graduation ceremonies for the School of Design are of special significance. “Since the 1980s the Whanganui School of Design has been at the forefront of graphic design in New Zealand: It has an international reputation for creative ingenuity and award winning experimental work in new media and graphic design.

“Our latest graduands maintain that tradition for excellence and originality. They have come from all around New Zealand and, in many cases from overseas, to study at a leading graphic design school, here in Wanganui. It is an important moment for the city as well as for them.

“As they make their mark in the world, they become ambassadors for both the school and the city. Others may decide to settle here, adding to the city’s reputation for fresh creativity.

“This week the community has an opportunity to view works by our graduands, on show at our new campus. We hope as many people as possible will take up that opportunity,” she says.

Of the 35 graduating on Friday, 22 have completed the Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design degree, five with Honours. Six have completed the Postgraduate Diploma and two graduate as Masters of Computer Graphic Design. The degrees are jointly conferred by the Wanganui School of Design and the University of Waikato. Sue Frecklington says a significant number of those who have completed the Bachelor degree intend to go on to further study at the Whanganui School of Design.

Following Friday’s ceremony, there will be an informal procession of Whanganui School of Design staff, graduates and their supporters to the Atrium on the new campus.

The exhibition of work by the graduands, titled Merge, is open to the public in the Atrium from 10am to 4 pm until Friday.

The Whanganui School of Design ceremony will be held in the Royal Wanganui Opera House at 10.00am. The guest speaker is Julia Pedley who will become the new Principal of Whanganui UCOL, at the beginning of next year. She succeeds Sue Frecklington who has led Whanganui UCOL through a period of change, including the shift to the new tertiary education campus.

ENDS

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