BA (Hons) Graphic Design student Holly O’Connor has created a series of banners to help create a welcoming environment at Whitecote Primary School.
The school has recently introduced a new reward system, the ASPIRE award, and wanted a way to share this message with their school community. A brief was put out to students at Leeds Arts University to create six banners to represent the school’s aims of Aim High; Safe & Healthy; Pupil Voice; Independence; Respect & Care and Enthusiasm.
With aspirations to become a primary school teacher, Holly was keen work on the brief, which allowed her to bring her graphic design and illustration skills into a school setting. The School Council, school staff and representatives from the University selected her proposal from 17 submissions. Her designs have been printed onto large banners, which are now hanging from the glass roof in the school entrance.
Holly enjoyed working on the brief, telling us:
“It was rewarding to create artwork and a piece of design which meant a lot to the school. It gave me the opportunity to represent their personality, and the visions and values of their ASPIRE award.”
The school were impressed with the quality of all the submissions, but felt Holly’s design would create a bright and welcoming entrance that would share their vision with the school community and visitors.
Frances Batty, Headteacher at Whitecote Primary School said:
“We wanted to refresh the appearance of the school entrance and promote our behaviour expectations with something that reflected our ethos and values. We thought that banners would be a great idea as they would both catch the eye and relay our message.
We wanted to work with students at Leeds Arts University as we think it is important to encourage the workforce of the future, giving them opportunities to develop their career and portfolio by working to a professional brief. We were not disappointed, the students rose to the challenge, giving the School Council an extremely difficult job of choosing the winning design.
We now have a bright, welcoming entrance with our vision at the heart of it, a vision that we can share with the community and visitors.”
Image: Banner designs by Holly O’Connor, BA (Hons) Graphic Design
