[ad_1]
Short animation and sustainable design earned two talented graduates of De Montfort Leicester (DMU) the public vote in an international competition.
Shaun Alagoa at his graduation ceremony in November
Creative concepts by an animation graduate Shaun Alagoa and graduate in interior design Varaniyaa Umamaheswaran has proven popular in the Global Design Graduates Fair 2021 in collaboration with Gucci and hosted by Arts Thread, the online launch pad for emerging artists and designers.
Open to students of various disciplines, the annual competition is an opportunity to share creative work with peers from around the world and to be judged by industry leaders and the public.
Travel by car, Shaun’s short animation about a group of friends embarking on a thrilling adventure, won him the audience’s vote in the Digital / Visual Communication / Film category.
A photo from Shaun’s animation, Road Trip
The 23-year-old Nigerian said: “Winning was unexpected, but I’m really proud. Doing most of my work from my student accommodation during the pandemic, there were times I just wanted it done and I didn’t have a good feeling about it. But this award made me really happy.
Primarily an illustrator and 2D artist, Shaun challenged himself with Road Trip, learning to use new software to incorporate 3D elements into his animation.
“I really wanted to challenge myself, so I created 2D characters in a 3D environment. In the end, my animation won the audience vote, but I think it helped me know how to organize my ideas and show my process. I think people liked to see that side of things as well, â€he said.
Adding her success to her resume paid off during a recent job interview with film production company Stronghold NYC, which saw Shaun land a role as a concept artist in a major film at to come.
A photo from Shaun’s animation, Road Trip
He said: “This is a really exciting opportunity and I can’t wait to see my name in the credits.”
Shaun has also successfully applied to ScreenSkills Animation Trainee Finder, a paid job placement program he hopes to start next year. “I’m really looking forward to it because I will also have access to mentoring, training and scholarships,†he said.
“My tutor wrote me a letter of recommendation for the program and I am really grateful for the support. Even after I graduated, DMU continued to send emails about relevant job opportunities and it reassured me to know that I can still access the college career service now.
Varaniyaa won the public vote in the Product / Architecture / Interiors category for its sustainable department store design called Re-Earth, which provides consciously manufactured products and a range of facilities such as repair, recycling, educational resources and workshops.
Re-Earth: staircase leading to the first floor
She designed a transparent and creative space, incorporating storeys of glass cylinder stores, interactive modules, studios and a holographic exhibit, allowing visitors to engage and learn about the benefits of slow fashion. .
“I didn’t expect to win against so many other great applications, but I am really happy and this is something that will boost my CV and that I can talk about in the interviews,†said the Sri Lankan Tamil of 23 years.
“With fast fashion becoming more of a problem for us globally, I wanted to raise awareness. Re-Earth is a place where people can learn more about where their clothes come from and how to make them last longer.
Re-Earth: repair shop
Since graduating, Varaniyaa has worked at Diamonds Factory, a London-based luxury jewelry company. Originally recruited for her Norwegian language skills – she was born in Norway – Varaniyaa also puts her degree to good use.
She said: “I am responsible for managing our entire Norwegian department, and as the business is also expanding into other Scandinavian countries, I also do a lot of translation.
“I am also involved in their interior design projects for three upcoming UK showrooms, and was able to help design our new office space in London. “
Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2021
[ad_2]