Student designs create brand new look for broadcaster

A popular local radio station has gained an exciting new brand identity thanks to the enterprising work of Inverness College UHI’s visual communication students.

 

The second year HND students completed the 18-week design competition for North Highland Radio - which this year celebrates its second birthday - as part of their curriculum. The course is designed to expose students to the real world of work, tasking them with live projects and assignments.

 

Based in Alness, but broadcasting online for a (worldwide) pan-Highland audience, the station selected Sam Burgess’ ((23) from Dalneigh) design as the winning entry at a special birthday networking event on Thursday evening (28 January) at Inverness College UHI.

 

Sam’s design concept features the famous Loch Ness monster and the North Highland Radio team will continue to work with Sam on her design to make it the perfect fit for the station.

 

Sam said: “This project has been a great opportunity to work for a real client, and the experience I have gained will help me considerably in the future.

 

“I chose Nessie for the logo design as he is very much associated with The Highlands. I chose a more modern colour rather than the green naturally associated with Nessie to make him more unique to the radio station.

 

“Everyone's designs were amazing and I feel privileged and excited to have my designs chosen. I look forward to developing them further with North Highland Radio.”

 

Speaking of the partnership, Cecilia Grigor from Planit Scotland – a board member at North Highland Radio - added: “Having recently been awarded charitable status, and with our second birthday approaching, the board felt the time was right for the station to reconsider its branding.

“We approached Inverness College UHI to find out if the students could help us as part of their coursework. It has been a learning journey for both North Highland Radio and the students - we provided the brief and worked directly with the students as their client, allowing them to show their creativity and vision at all times.

 

“The Students have been an absolute pleasure to work with and I look forward to seeing them in the future and finding out how they have progressed into the next stage of business.

I really do urge anyone who is looking for a collaboration venture in the Highlands to contact Inverness College UHI as it is just bursting with talent.”

 

Katie Pamment, lecturer for the class said, "By working with the team on the North Highland Radio re-branding project, students have learned to meet industry specific challenges while developing their own individual creative 'voice'. This approach enhances the learning experience and effectively helps equip students with relevant core skills and knowledge, as well as providing them with experience of the demands and challenges of the contemporary creative industries.

 

“Simulated live industry briefs also help build confidence, encouraging students to forge links and further their own industry experience. I am particularly looking forward to seeing how the students' designs develop over the project, and would like to thank North Highland Radio for the opportunity."

 

Inverness College UHI offers a broad range of art and design related courses, from National Certificate to Honours Degree level. For more information please visit www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk or contact 01463 27 3000.