Design exhibition celebrates individuality

Staff and students from the visual communication and art and design courses at Borders College recently held their end of year exhibition, showcasing the creative work of the students and highlighting the differences between graphic design and expressive/fine art.

Borders College Art and Design students at the exhibition.

Officially opened by College Vice Principal Heather Anderson, the exhibition’s private view welcomed around 100 visitors, consisting of proud friends and family of the student exhibitors, members of the local design industry, and some past students who had come to support their peers. Heather described the work on display as ‘excellent and thought-provoking’.

Art and Design lecturer, Siobhan O’Hehir, comments:

“It’s traditional for art students to have an end of year show, and as this is usually the students’ first opportunity to show their work it is great preparation for those who plan to progress to university.

“We try to set up the exhibition at the most professional level possible with the time and resources we have.”

Students’ work from throughout the year is considered and curated by lecturing staff in collaboration with the students themselves, and visitor feedback is welcomed. The work is all highly individual – year 1 HND Visual Communication student Rhuaridh Kinghorn, who will progress to year 2 of his HND after the summer, said:

“We’ve all worked on the same projects throughout the year, but we have our own styles.”

NC Art and Design student Rachael Gemmell (aged 19, from Peebles), who began studying Art and Design at Borders College in 2016, added:

“Last academic year was my first year out of high school so I was still finding out what interested me. This year I’m more grounded and I’ve figured out what I want to do. I feel that my work this year is stronger than last year.”

Rachael will progress to HNC Art and Design at Borders College, after which she plans to further her education in Contemporary Art Practice.

Visitors to the exhibition could expect to see everything from self-portraits to client projects, including the use of photography and digital imagery, as well as more traditional mediums such as pencil, paint and print. The eclectic mix of displays ranged from the surreal to the satirical with social media’s influence prominent, as well as the natural elements providing a source of inspiration.

If you are interested in Art and Design or Graphic Design (Visual Communication), click hereto find out more about the various full-time courses starting in August 2018.