Student's winning feedback designs will have 'meaningful impact' at UHI Inverness

A TALENTED young designer has won a digital tablet as a prize for devising a branding concept that will be introduced at UHI Inverness to help improve the visibility and understanding of feedback between lecturers and their students.

Emily Clark (20) from Dingwall left UHI Inverness before the summer break after completing a BA in Visual Communications and Design, but her winning idea has meant her course work will have a lasting impact on future students.

Emily and her fellow students on the Social Design Strategies module were set a brief last term to develop a visual feedback brand and communication process.

They presented their projects to a panel that included Vice Principal Lindsay Snodgrass and Tertiary Education Leader, Sharon MacFarlane. Emily was selected as the winner and she returned to the campus recently to be congratulated by Sharon and Lindsay who presented her with a Wacom tablet, a digital canvas used by designers and artists.

Emily said: “I was kind of speechless when I found out I won, and I’m really honoured and excited that my work is going to be used within UHI Inverness to help future students understand feedback on their work from lecturers and improve their student experience. It proves that graphics can be a useful tool within education and communication.

“My solution was to make feedback more approachable and visible for students. I designed a logo, icons and a range of posters based on a chat bubble to encourage communication.”

Effective feedback motivates and encourages students to progress, engage and succeed. The project brief asked the students to explore visual ways to give feedback a higher profile by creating an identity with a distinctive logo. The designs had to fit with the UHI Inverness brand and be adapted for use on the virtual learning environment, stickers, stamps, feedback documents, social media, flags and signage.

Emily conducted research and set up a focus group to find out from students how they would prefer to receive comments on their work from lecturers. Her logo features a speech bubble containing the word feedback, and she also designed a set of reaction icons to allow students to quickly respond to lecturers. Her branding is supported by a poster range, a guide booklet and a feedback template for lecturers.

It is not the first time her talents have been recognised. Last year Counselling Highland asked HND Visual Communication students to design a new logo and corporate identity for the charity and Emily’s work was selected.

Emily, who joined UHI Inverness straight from sixth year, said: “Studying at UHI Inverness has been a lovely experience. I’ve learnt a lot and made some amazing friends. I’m still working in the part-time job I had before, but I’ve started to do some design work and I want to build on that, working in either graphic design or illustration.”

Lindsay Snodgrass said: “I was involved with this project as a panel member and will be supporting it going forward, ensuring that Emily’s designs are implemented to improve the learning experience of all our students. Emily’s concept encourages open dialogue and interaction and I hope it will have a meaningful impact on the value of feedback in supporting student success. I wish Emily all the best for the future, and I’m sure she will continue to impress and innovate as she embarks on her career in design.”

Sharon MacFarlane said: “We intend to roll out Emily’s logo and icons across the organisation amongst students and staff to promote feedback on submitted work. This is real evidence of working in partnership with our students and supporting them with live projects.”