The Covid-19 lockdown didn’t stop three Graphic Design students from exploring their craft, as they joined an Adobe Creative Jam co-sponsored with Airbnb.
Second year student Tom Williams, who recently completed a work placement at BoohooMAN, recruited classmates Connor Brennan and Nik Xypakis to a weekend of long days, late nights and tight deadlines.
The trio joined Airbnb, Adobe, and college students across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, in a ‘designathon’ to identify solutions that matter.
The task was to design and prototype an App using Adobe XD; a brand-new application that Graphic Design students at Hope learn about in their first year. The ‘designathon’ attracted over 450 teams, most of which were based in the USA and Canada.
Connor explained how the project brought experience of the pressures of working in a global market. He said: “It was a bit of a shock to get ‘midday’ briefings in the early evening. That meant we had to work into the small hours to hit the deadlines. The teams in the USA and Canada, had their afternoons and evenings to get things done.”
Speaking about another challenge, Nik said: “We had to organise our team and delegate tasks. Deciding who was best suited to different roles. It was a real eye-opener working to such tight deadlines.”
Despite not making it into the top ten, the trio said they would definitely take part in another Creative Jam session.
Connor said: “We made something to be proud of. I’d put it in my portfolio. I’ve shown the App to friends, and they’re impressed.”
Through the BA Graphic Design’s Programme Leader Mark Wood, Hope students benefit from campus visits by creative software giant Adobe, where they are given insights into trends and the latest software.
You can take a look at Tom, Nik, and Connor’s work here.
Picture: (left to right) Tom Williams, Nik Xypakis, and Connor Brennan