West Notts College
24 February, 2025
News

Students’ designs helping district to embrace sustainability

Plans for Bolsover District Council’s new Green Skills Hub for Shirebrook residents have been given a design boost thanks to students at West Nottinghamshire College.

Therasa Garrod (left) and Richard Winter (right)

The council’s tourism and place lead Therasa Garrod and climate change officer Richard Winter met with students on the Advanced Creative Media Practice (Digital Arts and Games Design) programme to see progress on some marketing designs following their brief to them at the end of 2024.

Before Christmas Therasa and Richard set the group a challenge of producing a set of branding designs which could be used for marketing the Green Skills Hub which is being funded through the UK Government Regeneration Fund and will help local colleges and employers to develop a green skills pathway from training to employment.

The hub, which will be situated on Portland Drive in Shirebrook, will accommodate demonstrator zones of existing residential/commercial buildings, training rooms to deliver accredited training for the installation of green technologies and a workspace for training on additional green technologies, such as electric vehicles, solar panels and heat pumps.

Therasa and Richard spoke to each student about their concept work
Therasa and Richard spoke to each student about their concept work Credit: Rebecca Howarth

Therasa and Richard were delighted to see the work of more than 25 media design students who had created a range of logos inspired by nature, sustainability and energy, using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator packages.

Digital arts and games design teacher Brian Wilson said: “It’s been great to have Therasa and Richard come in to see the work in progress. Students have been working on this project for about 10 weeks and it’s really helpful for them to get an input into how they’re getting along.

“They’ve already had some remote feedback, but to actually meet the clients that they're working for is an important experience.

Dylan Jefferey-Wood with some of his designs
Dylan Jefferey-Wood with some of his designs Credit: Rebecca Howarth

“They were given key information about the project and they've had to come up with all the ideas from scratch, from the initial formal sketches to the actual digital designs. They even chose the name – The Green Skills Hub.

“Following on from today’s feedback we will be putting designs onto some products to show the team at Bolsover District Council.”

Many of the logos embraced nature in the designs
Many of the logos embraced nature in the designs Credit: Rebecca Howarth
Danny Challand shared the process of how he came up with his logo ideas
Danny Challand shared the process of how he came up with his logo ideas Credit: Rebecca Howarth
More than 20 students' designs were showcased during Therasa and Richard's visit
More than 20 students' designs were showcased during Therasa and Richard's visit Credit: Rebecca Howarth
Ava Jermy with her green-themed work
Ava Jermy with her green-themed work Credit: Rebecca Howarth
Students considered the different logos and designs which could be incorporated into the new hub
Students considered the different logos and designs which could be incorporated into the new hub Credit: Rebecca Howarth
Students took note of Therasa and Richard's feedback to help complete their projects
Students took note of Therasa and Richard's feedback to help complete their projects Credit: Rebecca Howarth