Graphic Design graduate uses creativity to help cancer survivors
Fri, 07 Oct 2016 11:47:00 BST
Daniel Kelly, a 2015 graduate of Graphic Design BA(Hons), fended off 400 fellow designers to win a prestigious design competition that will see his works displayed over £250,000 worth of key advertising spaces throughout the UK, whilst bagging himself a neat £1000.
Campaign, a leading business media brand, in collaboration with the breast-cancer charity Future Dreams announced a creative call to action, asking entrants to create a 48 or 96-sheet outdoor advertising campaign.
The designs had to reflect and represent the ethos of Future Dreams – highlighting its commitment to survivorship, positivity, support and life after cancer.
Dan’s winning entry is certainly clever and impactful, a big achievement for such a simple idea. It will be displayed on over 60 digital billboards throughout the UK’s major cities, including; Leeds, Bradford, Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester.
“Sylvie Henry (Founder of Future Dreams) believes that your cancer diagnosis doesn't erase who you are,” says Dan.
“The idea was a visual representation of their personal approach and fight to eliminate cancer from women’s lives, which Future Dreams has been doing since 2008 with one-to-one emotional and physical support.
“It’s an amazing feeling to get some great feedback from some of the UK’s top creatives in the industry. I can’t wait to see my design rolled out in September on digital billboards around the UK.”
Dan is currently based in London. Following his graduation in July 2015 he undertook a number of placements – including time at FHM and Vogue – before getting offered a temporary position at Sony Playstation.
He then began a placement in the design department of King Henry – part of the advertising agency adam&eveDDB – where he was ultimately offered a full-time job.
“My time at the University of Huddersfield helped me develop my creative and design ideas for when I graduated and started looking for design jobs,” says Dan.
“Having the opportunity to do a year-long placement - working for an in-house design team in Amsterdam - allowed me to gain industry experience, making the transition easier when I graduated and moved down to London.
For the current crop of Graphic Design BA(Hons) at the University of Huddersfield, Dan says: “Be hardworking and willing to take any design opportunity that comes your way - you never know where it might lead.
“If you want something bad enough, you can make it happen through determination and drive.”
Of his future plans, the award winning Dan adds he will look to get as much experience as possible within advertising as well as keeping an eye out for the next opportunity to progress.
“I want to carry on gaining as much experience as I can within advertising and make sure I keep moving forward in the right direction.
“My aspirations are to get a job in New York within the next five years. I want to gain as much experience as I can in London, then hopefully make the transition abroad. Set one goal at a time and have a plan to work towards. However, you can never predict what the future might hold.”
The billboards hosting the ads located nearest to the University of Huddersfield are Meadow Road - Leeds, Hurley House – Dewsbury, and Westgate – Bradford.
