CCI Graduate Showcase 2025

The Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries is delighted to present its annual summer celebration — the Graduate Show 2025.

Our Graduate Show showcases the creativity and innovation of our final-year students across a wide range of disciplines, making it one of the largest degree shows in the UK. Explore work spanning architecture, fashion, film, animation, photography, computer games and more — all from the next generation of creative talent.

Jump to:

Fashion Design
Illustration
Animation
Photography
Computer Games
Graphic Design
Film Production
Performing Arts

BA (Hons) Fashion Design

3 students wearing floral fashion garments outside in a flowery area

Olivia Ball

Floral inspired work by Olivia Ball

Maisie Ingram

THE SPACE BETWEEN by Maisie Ingram

‘no-sew’ graduate collection. This collection prioritises mono material textile techniques that are used with the function of constructing garments. Instead of being sewn, fabric is joined with an innovative spin on traditional weaving and buttons. Textile is lasered onto the surface of leather, ensuring that the fabrics recyclability isn’t lost. These pieces are designed with deconstruction and the global issue of textile waste in mind. Made almost entirely out of donated mulberry leather.

Eleanor Hoad

Images of my Eleanor's graduate collection, inspired by the aesthetics of ballet and the injury ridden reality of the sport, using all naturally dyed fabrics and a variety of textile techniques.

A closer look

A selection of work from our BA (Hons) Fashion Design students.

BA (Hons) Animation

BA (Hons) Animation showreel

Showreel from graduating students on the BA (Hons) Animation course at the ��ϳԹ�

For a full transcript please click further into the video.

BA (Hons) Illustration

A selection of pieces from students on BA (Hons) Illustration. Click on the images to find out about the Artist.

Illustration Showreel 2025

Illustration Showreel 2025 created for the Graduate Show - showcasing work from Final Year Illustration students.

Click into the video for further details

BA (Hons) Photography

black and white photo of a pier by the beach

Amy Webb

The Place They Chose

This project explores space, place, and memory through the concept of psychogeography which examines how environments affect human behaviour. Photography is the tool used to capture this influence revealing both positive and negative effects. The project draws on humanistic geographer Yi-Fu Tuan, who defines space as abstract and impersonal and place as meaningful and secure, evoking the feeling of topophilia. Topophilia is the emotional connection between people and place. To visualise this concept, various individuals were interviewed, describing personal memories that have guided the imagery for the project. Many of the participants recalled childhood experiences, often associated with feelings of warmth, security, and nostalgia, highlighting the deep connections we have to our environment and how experiences can shape the landscape.

a photo of a woman wearing a white woolly jumper and white stockings

Bella Raphaela

Fabric of Being

Fabric of Being

This is a project which visually explores the concept of fabrics in femininity.

Ellen Herring

Directed by her

This project explores the performative rituals of femininity shaped by societal beauty standards. Set in domestic, cinematic spaces like dressing rooms, the series captures transformation, routine, and identity through soft lighting, pastel tones, and storytelling inspired by Hannah Starkey, Jeff Wall, Juno Calypso and Sofia Coppola. The imagery evokes film stills, carefully staged yet grounded in authenticity, with models following their natural beauty routines. Influenced by Judith Butler’s theory of gender as performance, the work reflects on how femininity is constructed and enacted through repeated gestures. Each frame invites viewers to consider the quiet tension between self-expression and societal expectation.

Lauren Lawler

Between Two Shores

This project depicts a journey of exploration and discovery. Born from a curiosity for my heritage and my family’s experience in Jamaica, this project celebrates and commemorates both history and fantasy. My family archive was a vital source of information and inspiration that allowed me to delve into a history I was not a part of but has influenced me greatly.
Layering my family photos from Jamaica with photos I have taken in England recontextualizes them and gives them new meaning. My reinterpretation of these inherited images constructs fictional landscapes that blur the lines between past and present. By rephotographing a photograph I am able to draw that scene into the present and demonstrate its connection with my current and future experiences.

a group of 3 people one of which is holding a guitar

Sophie Wilks

Where we're Free

There is no limit to queer expression – it thrives in boldness, as well as subtlety. Through this series of portraits, I aimed to capture queer individuals in spaces they feel the most freedom and security to fully express themselves. I asked each individual about their safe spaces and received a large range of responses such as nature, drag shows, friends, as well as hobbies, including music and art, highlighting the authenticity of each person. I sought to capture this variety in my photobook by including a wide range of individuals and groups to create a series of photographs that evoke a sense of comfort and solace in other LGBTQ+ viewers, hopefully showing them that they can find a sense of freedom and acceptance anywhere, especially in this time of political controversy.

a scenic grassy area with browning grass and trees

Ellie Smith

Pursuit

Nature and mental health are known to have a deep-rooted connection. Studies show the mental health benefits of developing this relationship. It is widely known that most people feel an overwhelming sense of insignificance in the presence of nature’s vastness. For me, the opposite is true. My struggles aren’t perceived as less substantial in the stretch of a mountainscape, but have the freedom to be expressed and felt wholly. Crashing waterfalls, rolling hills, peaks, and cliff edges become a reminder that I have purpose and significance. My presence is known, and I am seen.

Adam West

Imprint of the Outdoors

Adam West is interested in exploring and capturing landscapes through photography. He investigates how landscapes can show changes and developments in the countryside due to cultural and social interactions.

“Imprints of the Outdoors” examines the effects of public exploration of the countryside and identifies the methods used to create long-lasting impressions within the landscape. Examples include how the public has formed new pathways and shortcuts, impromptu bridges made using available resources, and dens built using natural materials that become permanent structures and fixtures of the landscape.

This collection of photographs shows how the public reconnects with nature and influences the surroundings. Over time, the structures age and wear, and the next generation creates new structures to form a continuous cycle.

Jai Jansari

Exploring the Cinematic

For this series, I chose to focus my work on the theme of control. With the predecessor of this series, I struggled with limited resources and couldn’t fully execute the ideas inspired by the artists I admired, which made me feel disconnected and unimpressed of the final outcome. I realised that lacking control over key aspects of production impacted the quality and intent of my work. For this project, I aimed to reclaim that control and ensure my vision was fully realised. Using Cinema4D allowed me to do that which gave me access to tools and possibilities that weren’t previously available, enabling me to construct, refine, and present my work exactly as I imagined. This project is a reflection of that regained creative direction.

photograph of woman reading book on the beach whilst facing the sea

Abisha Tharmalingam

By His Grace

This is a series that consists of portraiture inspired by real Christian testimonies. Each image captures moments of vulnerability, transformation, and spiritual encounter, using expression, atmosphere, and presence to reflect the depth of each story. Shot in natural light with a muted palette, the portraits hold a sense of stillness and intimacy, allowing each subject’s presence to quietly speak. The project is rooted in the artist’s own walk with Jesus and a desire to visually communicate the quiet power of God’s love and grace. Through this work, space is created for reflection—inviting viewers to consider the unseen journeys that shape us. By His Grace is both personal and collective, offering a glimpse into lives changed through faith.

photo of a bedroom wall with some religious paintings and other trinkets

Paul Coman

A Road Down Memory Lane

"This project documents the interiors of homes in a rural Romanian village, capturing the quiet beauty and emotional weight carried within these domestic spaces. Each photograph reflects a way of life shaped by tradition, modesty, and faith. Religious icons, handmade textiles, and everyday objects serve as visual traces of memory and identity, revealing how people adapt and endure in the face of social and economic change.
By focusing on the intimate details of home life, the work highlights a cultural atmosphere that is both deeply rooted and slowly fading. It is not just a study of space, but of the presence of the lives that continue quietly, surrounded by the past, and holding on to meaning in subtle, powerful ways"

photo of a bed with a photo of jesus behind it on the wall

Nicola De Sa

Prosper and Decay

In ‘Prosper and Decay’ I have photographed the houses of my maternal and paternal grandparents in Madeira, Portugal. I have explored themes of memory, absence, and the emotional landscape of family homes. I reflect on the contrast between two spaces shaped by migration, history, and personal connection. Central to the work is the contrast in wealth and the impact of migrating for economic opportunity. My maternal grandparents built their home after returning from South Africa, where they achieved financial stability. In contrast, my paternal grandmother never left Madeira for work, moving part-time to England only after retirement. Her home remains a reflection of the environment she and my father were raised in, while also offering a glimpse into my maternal grandparents’ life before they emigrated.

Robin Shaw

Hello Sunshine

“Hello Sunshine” is an autobiographical series exploring my queer identity in relation to the English landscape. Over the course of the year, I visited Mouldon Hill in my hometown, Swindon, photographing myself becoming one with the landscape. In playful poses I rebuild a connection to a place I felt indifferent towards, questioning why queer people like myself have been separated from the places we call home. How the English landscape has been dominated by upper class, white, heteronormative groups, where I have always assumed I didn’t have a place. Becoming one, I find a new adoration of this land, the very place I started questioning my gender identity.

Alex Wendes - Collodion Dreams

"This project is the exploration and learning of portraiture (in this case, fellow students),a process, a large format camera and the modern tintype process. Further still, it is about the confrontation of my own social anxiety, learning to slow down as I take the photo, and not panic. The photograph has very much been a form of therapy. The tintypes are a wet darkroom process, of an emulsion on blackened aluminium, giving a positive image. The plates are very photographically slow, with exposure times of several seconds in natural light.

I have made many mistakes with the process and expect to make many more, and even then, I still often like the mistakes, and they are learning opportunities.

I am lucky, in that fellow students have given me the time and patience, to slow down and take my time, to think how I wish to portray them. "

BA/BSc(Hons) Computer Games

Computer Games Technology, Art, Design, and Production Showreel 2025

A showreel of our Computer Games students work across all disciplines.

BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Matthew Pearce

How's Ye Touch

Visual Culture Project. This project aimed to explore the visual culture of football and its rich history. This is done through the use of tactile elements and sensory design. The final artefact was a football constructed of 12 panels, each having a different texture corresponding to a element of football.

Together the panels build a narrative which explores the development of football from its historic roots through to the modern game of today.

This project pushed me outside my comfort zone. It required a lot of precision, especially when dealing with delicate materials. It took a lot of care when making sure each panel was the correct size and were properly applied to the ball.

Matthew Pearce

How's Ye Touch

Matthew Pearce

OO - ISTD Submission.

A Typographic book based around Bamboo submitted as part of the ISTD brief Not Just Fluerons. Bamboo is a remarkable plant known for its strength and versatility. It has been used in cultures all over the world for centuries. Bamboo is more than just a plant; it is used in traditional architecture, art and cuisine. It is a symbol of resilience and sustainability.

The design of the publication is inspired by the vertical nature of Bamboo. This is done through the slim page dimensions and concertina bind of the book which spreads out to over 6 meters long. This combined with the recycled paper stock creates an atmosphere around the book which resonates strongly with Bamboos characteristics.

Matthew Pearce

OO - ISTD Submission.

Alexandra Izzard

Not Just Fleurons

The work I have submitted is part of my ISTD submission for their brief 'Not Just Fleurons'. My work surrounds three different herbs and their uses in medieval times for cures and other uses. The books are slightly bigger than A6, so are rather small to handle.

Alexandra Izzard

Not Just Fleurons

Alexandra Izzard

Not Just Fleurons

Liam Coote

My work (specifically my major project) was heavily inspired by the Marvel Comics, consisting of 3 large-scale A2 posters that focused on 3 different characters from the brand and their themes. These posters were then encased in acrylic, to look like the comics had been graded and "slabbed" (a way of preserving comics). The posters use a variety of mediums, including laser-cutting, screen-printing and 3D printing

Keila Swain

"The Pollen Pursuit' is a response to an ISTD live brief, using editorial design to teach about the waggle dance as a form of communication for honey bees.

I designed and created a leaflet that unfolds to follow the journey of the honey bee, sharing how they communicate the location of pollen sources. For the visual style and typography, I drew inspiration from vintage honey labels and bee keeping books, blending nostalgic elements with a modern, refreshed aesthetic. The delicate illustrations capture the fragility of the bees and portray them in a beautiful way. I also took this opportunity to highlight the issue of declining bee populations, incorporating data visualisations to raise awareness of the challenges bees face. "