Nationwide Degree Show: The Association of Illustrators Curation

The Nationwide Degree Show is a collection of work from art & design students, who's final year shows have been cancelled due to COVID19. What started as an initiative by Fresh Meet to plaster billboards across the UK with student work, has now resulted in an online collection of over 1000 submissions from over 100 universities and 17 creative disciplines. The Curation Series is a programme of student work selected by industry leaders, creative pioneers and trendsetters. Below you will find a selection of student work curated by Georgia Luckman, Professional Advisor at the Association of Illustrators.

The Association of Illustrators is the professional body for illustration in the UK. Established in 1973, the AOI champions illustrators and the illustration industry with education, promotion and campaigning to achieve a thriving industry for us all. As a advisor to illustrators, and graduate illustrator herself, Georgia Luckman has cast her eye over the submissions to the Nationwide Degree Show to highlight the best of illustration on behalf of the Association of Illustrators. 

#1 - Mary Flora Hart

The first selected piece in this curation is a painting by graduate Illustrator Mary Flora Hart.
Georgia writes; "Admiring the bright detail in this ‘Urban Eden’. The outdoor green city fusion brings life to otherwise clinical and plain underground carriages, can imagine a great Transport for London Out of Home Advertising Campaign paired with this."

Mary Flora Hart, BA Illustration, Arts University Bournemouth.
Mary says "This image is my personal favourite from a collection named Urban Eden. A short series that explores modern scenes with a small psychedelic overgrown twist. Each image is over 4 meters long to ensure it captures all the details, and made with the purpose of being printed as billboards and office murals, to encourage green initiatives."

#2 - Corinna Mark

The second piece selected in this curation is a collage by graduate Illustrator Corinna Mark.
Georgia writes; "The composition really draws you into this collage. It feels uplifting with a positive comment on ‘freedom post lockdown’. We would love to buy as a giclee print!"

Corinna Mark, Norwich University of the Arts.
Corinna explains, "As a designer who loves to explore outside for inspiration, this collage captures the feeling of freedom and wanting to be free post lockdown."

#3 - Isabella Richardson

The next piece selected in this curation is a digital painting by graduate Illustrator Isabella Richardson.
Georgia writes; "It’s all about the simplicity. Like that this artist has used nesting dolls to symbolise imposter syndrome - with compact less-confident versions of the doll within."

Isabella Richardson, BA Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.
Izzy writes "This is an editorial illustration in response to an article in the British Psychological Society Research Digest about the prevalence of Imposter Syndrome amongst BAME female university students who are undertaking STEM degree courses. I used the nesting doll as a metaphor to represent the feeling of having to conceal one's feelings of inadequacy and insecurity."

#4 - Fabio Scaglione

The next piece selected in this curation is a still from a film by graduate animator Fabio Scaglione.
Georgia writes; "Two poignant messages of global emergencies; from health crisis to environmental crisis. Highlighted this because it is a really striking illustration."

Fabio Scaglione, Computer Arts, Edinburgh College.
Fabio says, "The short film explores the complex tangle of feelings that humanity is experiencing in the global emergency. On one side, the feeling that all our certainties are collapsing and the necessity to self-isolate and adopt social distancing. On the other side, the reflection upon our impact on the environment, full of waste like plastic, which is slowly breaking into our own biology. In the end, the possibility to express ideas through creativity, imagination and arts, in order to reconsider our life in relation to our connection to the planet."

#5 - Kat Cassidy

The fifth piece selected in this curation is a powerful image by graduate illustrator Kat Cassidy.
Georgia writes; "Interested to see the impact this would have on a billboard; it could be a key image in the continuous campaign to challenge menstrual stigma."

Kat Cassidy, Edinburgh College of Art, the University of Edinburgh.
"A lot of my final years' work has been made in response to menstrual stigma.This is a digital print made in response to the British Governments decision to scrap the tampon tax, a great step towards ending period poverty. We go to such length to hide our periods that I would love to see this piece on a billboard to fight against the cultural awkwardness and shame surrounding this perfectly normal and natural function!"

#6 - Donatienne Borione

The next piece selected in this curation is another powerful image by graduate illustrator Donatienne Borione.
Georgia writes; "A bold, colourful and striking celebration of sexuality. What more can we say!"

Donatienne Borione, BA Illustration, Plymouth College of Art.
Donatienne writes "I made this personal piece to celebrate love in all its forms, in parallel with the IAmLabel exhibition in Plymouth, UK. The bold colours I used reflect the pride and joy I find in my sexuality."

#7 - Sarah Krajovska

The penultimate selection for the AOI curation is this cheerful painting by Sarah Krajovska.
Georgia writes "A light-hearted piece sometimes just hits the spot. In a world full of serious it’s really important to find things that make us laugh/crease."

Sarah Krajovska, Graphic Design, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh. 
Sarah explains "When life gives you lemons'. Acrylic on canvas. This piece is inspired by the COVID-19 circumstances, in response to which I am attempting to spread some light-hearted optimism. SMILING AND LAUGHING decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies! Stay creased :)"

#8 - Jodie Howard

And lastly, the eighth choice is this somber piece by Jodie Howard.
Georgia writes "The mood and tone drawn into this illustration, combined with the warmth of the shop windows are incredibly inviting. It reminds us of the role and importance of small high-street businesses and how we wish to return safely to normal."

Jodie Howard, BA Illustration, Anglia Ruskin University. 
Jodie writes "This is one layout from a book I designed, which explores figures and light sources at night in the city of Cambridge. In times like these, I feel as though this image resonates most with the types of familiar scenes we are all currently experiencing if and when we are to go outside."

You can find more talent from all of our submissions to the Nationwide Degree Show or through the Fresh Meet profile.
You can also visit the artists of this curation in the project credits below.

Report