Postgraduate Perspective: Experiencing the London College of Communication Final Showcase
- Written byWinifred Ahupa
- Published date 02 December 2024
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Written by Winifred Ahupa, MA Global Collaborative Design Practice course at Camberwell College of Arts and Post-Grad Community Ambassador.
The end of term at UAL signals more than just deadlines; it marks the culmination of intense journeys for postgraduate students across the six colleges. Each campus buzzes with the energy of exhibitions celebrating months of creativity, reflection, and research.
As I stepped into the bustling foyer of the London College of Communication, the air buzzed with excitement. The chatter of proud students explaining their work filled the space, echoing the culmination of months of creativity, collaboration, and discovery.
Drawn to the Typo Café, I found myself immersed in the MA Design Management exhibition. Amritha Sreekumar greeted me warmly, passionately explaining the showcase themes: holding complexity, activating change, building generational futures, and more. “We’ve learnt to see obstacles as opportunities,” she shared, reflecting on their collective growth as design managers. Her own project, Economics with Love, tackled reframing economics for young Londoners, blending her visual storytelling skills with sustainable principles.
I was drawn to Maho Irie and her project Omamori, which focused on earthquake preparedness for international visitors. To engage people, she cleverly incorporated origami into her flyer design, making the information interactive and memorable. “Growing up in Japan taught me the importance of blending cultural insights with practical solutions,” Maho shared, her enthusiasm evident.
The addition of origami not only enriched the project but also ensured the flyers were cherished rather than discarded, especially when participants created their own. Nearby, Salina Wu’s Pawell explored how to care for senior cats, inspired by her journey from advertising strategist to pet advocate.
The lower gallery housed the MA Graphic Media Design showcase, where I was captivated by Evie May McNulty’s Original Sin. Her reimagining of Eve as a complex, empowered figure challenged traditional narratives. Across the room, Bethany Faulkner’s It Transcended Its Architecture unravelled the stories of South London’s Aylesbury Estate residents, humanising a community often misrepresented.
At the MA Service Design exhibition, I encountered Aydan Dincer Kosger, who enthusiastically described Big Boss, Bigger Heart, a service using empathy to tackle high staff turnover in hospitality. “It’s about seeing people, not just roles,” she said.
Next, Anuya Desai introduced NHS EduSearch, a digital tool empowering nurses to upskill despite their demanding schedules.
Saving the MA Design for Art Direction showcase for last, I was mesmerised by Sahil Chaudhary’s avant-garde project, Lore of Bulaki Chaudhary. Through intricate costumes and storytelling, Sahil reimagined family folklore, bridging generations with artistry and reverence. “This is my way of connecting past and present,” he explained.
Each project I encountered reflected not just creativity but purpose—bold ideas tackling real-world challenges. As I left the showcase, I felt inspired by how these students redefined the power of design, leaving a legacy far beyond their academic journey.
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