Awards success for University graduates and students in worldwide competition

University of Gloucestershire graduates and current students have won awards in a worldwide design competition that celebrates inspiring projects with positive social or environmental impact.

The Creative Conscience Global Awards aim to encourage, recognise and reward graduates and students across the world for developing socially valuable projects and campaigns that look to improve the lives of people and communities.

Lucy Donagh, who graduated from the University with a degree in Advertising, won a Creative Conscience Gold award in the Advertising category for a project about female sexuality, while 2022 Advertising graduands Nicola Coombs and Harriett Smith won a Silver award in the same category for a campaign promoting support for refugees.

Nicola and Harriet said: “Often refugees are thought to be uneducated and poor, but we want to prove this is not the case. Our campaign highlights that the majority of refugees already have successful careers when they arrive in the UK.”

Alice Werrell and Hannah Freeman, both Advertising graduates, were Highly Commended in the Advertising category for their work in educating people about the symptoms of skin cancer and in encouraging them to seek early diagnosis.

Lucy Rose and Elizabeth Eastwood, both Advertising graduates, were Highly Commended in the Advertising category for a campaign highlighting the obstacles facing women in the journalism industry.

Another Advertising graduate, Abbie Perring, won a Silver Award in the Motions Graphics category for her project Key4Life, looking to help young people change their lives amid a rise in teenage knife crime.

Mary Kingcott, also an Advertising graduate, won Bronze in the Digital and Technology category for a series of laptop stickers that “encourage real-life conversation and action in fighting for justice against political, social and ethical issues”.

Ethan Lee, (main image) a 2022 Product Design graduand, was Highly Commended in the Product and Structural Design category for creating the world’s first high-end artisan lampshades from used cigarettes.

“My inspiration came from discovering that cigarette filters are the most thrown away plastic in the world, with 4.5 trillion being irresponsibly disposed of each year,” he said.

“Studies suggest that one cigarette filter can contaminate up to 500 litres of water through the release of toxic chemicals, so I made it my mission to develop a product using this toxic waste.

“Other sustainable lampshades on the market are typically made from paper, cardboard and wood which, although recyclable, they don’t reduce the amount of plastic entering the environment.

“I really hope the lampshade will help to change the way that people view waste. The next steps consist of gaining funding to establish the most efficient and sustainable system to produce the lampshades, create a product line to suit different customer requirements, and to obtain a full legal stamp.”

Harriet Lewis, pictured above, (Graphic Design) was shortlisted for her project ‘On Your Feet’, based on cognitive behavioural therapy, that aims to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and stress.

Peter Elliott, currently studying for a BA (Hons) degree in Illustration, was Highly Commended in the Illustration category for a piece depicting the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leading his people during the conflict with Russia.