We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s UAL Alumni Design Competition…
Beli Heredero - BA (Hons) Graphic Design 2018, Central Saint Martins
Miriam Brüggen - PG Diploma Design for Visual Communication, 2017, London College of Communication
Roman Lokati - FdA Surface Design 2006, London College of Communication
UAL Alumni Design Competition Winners
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Beli Hederero Image for Notebook
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Roman Lokati's Teatowel design
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Miriam Bruggen's tote bag design
Beli Heredero
We LOVED Beli Heredero's image of intertwined arms, as it made us think about the collaboration and diversity we celebrate here at UAL. We spoke to Beli about her time at CSM and what inspired the winning design...
Beli studied BA Graphic Design at CSM, graduating in 2018
Seeing how experimental and relaxed (in terms of structure) the curriculum was at CSM, really surprised me (in a good way). Back home in Spain there really weren't many places that didn't follow a strict structure with very defined parameters for what's considered "art"and "design". I wanted something that encouraged the blurring of those lines and CSM was that for me.
There were highs and lows during my time on the course... Juggling projects, personal life and work at the same time definitely wasn't easy but it sure taught me A LOT about perseverance. The highs, luckily, were constant too. You know that feeling when you absolutely love what you do and wouldn't change it for anything? I got to have that every day!
Since CSM I've been working as a full time designer and freelance illustrator, but mainly I have been trying to find my spot in the field, and figure out what it is I want to say and what my interests are. After four hectic years of University it's very refreshing to take some time to work on myself and just have some fun!
For my winning design, I tried to reflect the ease and excitement I felt being surrounded by crazy talented people collaborating and helping each other. It was amazing to see how different everyone was and how everyone had something great to bring to the table. My drawing is meant to be playful, positive and a bit cheeky.
I was so excited when I found out that I had won, I couldn't help but "cheers" myself with my cup of tea. I'm just very glad I'm able to leave a bit of me back at my College, and that I got to work for UAL once more!
I'm trying not to plan too far ahead (tried that once, went the exact opposite way). I'm just taking my sweet time absorbing everything I learn like a sponge and taking small but constant steps to become a killer designer/illustrator.
Follow Beli on Instagram or check out her online portfolio.
Roman Lokati
Roman's design highlights how supportive the UAL student and alumni community can be and we really loved his use of colours and texture...
Roman studied FdA Surface Design at LCC
I had studied at the Cadiz School of Art before coming to London and wanted to continue my Art studies. I heard that the LCC had an excellent reputation, particularly for design and printing and I wanted to have the opportunity to learn further techniques after having some previous experience working at a print studio in Rota Cadiz.
I enjoyed all aspects of my studies at the LCC and learnt a great deal about designing projects and printing techniques for different mediums. I found the teachers to be extremely knowledgeable and the experience helped me to find new ways of expression in my artwork.
After graduating, I worked at South Bank Mosaics for a few years on various public projects while also exhibiting at solo exhibitions in London and Europe. I am continuing to develop my work using the new technologies that are now available and am currently working at Tate Britain.
I have been interested in the themes of migration, diversity and the purpose of people travelling, which has developed from my last project entitled: ‘Lost in the City’ for the Migration Museum in London.This inspired my design for the Alumni Competition.
I was really honoured to find out my design had been selected - I had so many good memories of my time at the LCC and as a former student for my work to be acknowledged by the committee made me really proud!
Coming up, I will be part of ‘Inside Job’ Biennale 2019 at Tate Modern in August as the curators have selected three of my sculptures to be included in the exhibition.
Follow Roman on Instagram
Miriam Brüggen
We were really drawn to Miriam's design which represents the complex, inter-woven network which is UAL. Here, Miriam tells us more about her inspiration for the design...
Miriam Brüggen studied PG Dip Design for Visual Communication at LCC.
I completed a BA in Business Administration and worked for several years in the telecoms industry, yet, I always wanted to follow my passion for design and change career. Therefore, I was looking for an international course that supports interdisciplinary professional thinking and provides design fundamentals to equip me with the skills needed to start as a designer – and I found it at LCC!
My highs and lows on the course always came in a pack and I even loved the lows of my time at LCC – like those moments where you had no idea how to start or tackle an assignment. When I had one of those blocks, I just visited one of the many workshops and often found inspiration by working with my hands, off screen, away from any digital noise. I still do that whenever possible.
After the course, I worked for a couple of months for a design studio in London before moving back to Berlin. Since then I have been working for a studio that focuses on spatial communication and holistic brand experience. Even though I specialised in print and book design during my studies, I am now working with user interface and motion design projects - which has been a great learning journey ever since.
I usually focus my designs on what I am passionate about; colours, shapes and patterns. Using simple colours and a repetitive shape, the design I entered for the alumni design competition illustrates a complex interwoven network. It is also a reflection on the network that I developed during my studies at LCC as well as the projects I did and the emotions I had, which are still very much interlinked memories until today.
Finding out I had won was a great feeling, particularly since I still feel part of the community – even more so now! It is amazing to be part of it, I can still remember the first time I visited the University and the day of my graduation when Verity Slade’s design (previous winner of UAL Alumni Design Competition) was on the alumni tote bag and I just thought - I have to have one!
I enjoy my work as a designer and hope to be able to explore even more areas of design – I developed a passion for analogue design and handcraft which I really would like to pursue next – something that started in the PGDIP.