Art Students Discover Industry Insights

Two of our talented Art students recently completed an inspiring three-day work experience placement at Cool Blue, a dynamic communications and brand agency based in Newcastle. Earlier this spring, Sonny Roe and Lexie O'Brien spent three days immersed in the world of professional design, gaining invaluable insights into how creative ideas come to life in a real agency environment.

During their placement, both students tackled challenging briefs that pushed their creative boundaries. Sonny focused on reimagining Lego's packaging design to appeal to a broader range of audiences, while Lexie worked on recreating a poster and advertisement for Adidas trainers. The experience culminated in professional presentations delivered in Cool Blue's boardroom, where the students pitched their concepts and responded to questions from designers and the company’s Executive Director, Victoria McCartney.

"Seeing how a real company runs in the industry has helped me stick to the course a little more because I've seen that there's a huge variety of jobs out there," said Sonny, reflecting on how the experience has reinforced his commitment to pursuing design. For Lexie, the placement opened her eyes to new possibilities: "I found what they do really interesting, being able to see what art can do in the real world. The experience has made me rethink what I can do after college and what companies I can go to if I want to take that path."

The students also received hands-on support to develop their concepts further. Ryan Brkovic-Davis, Lead Creative at Cool Blue, worked directly with Sonny to transform his sketched concept into a professional digital drawing, providing insight into industry-standard design processes.

Course tutor Leah Frater described the wide range of benefits the placements have realised for Lexie and Sonny: "This whole process has been such an insightful experience for the students. From working with Victoria on the students' CVs to the work experience placements, it has provided our students with a wealth of knowledge in industry and what they can expect when they go into a career in design. The work experience project with Cool Blue represented an ideal bridge between academic learning and professional practice, demonstrating the value of industry partnerships in preparing students for successful creative careers. The project also perfectly captures our commitment to support our students into highly rewarding careers and futures."

Leah noted: "Cool Blue provided an exceptional experience for our students and we are truly grateful for this."

Both Sonny and Lexie return to their studies with renewed enthusiasm and a clearer vision of their future career paths, equipped with real-world experience that will serve them well as they continue their creative journey.