Mimaki distributor for the UK, Hybrid Services Ltd, took the taks of redecorating their 2000sq foot showroom to South Cheshire College.
The 2nd year students briefed and set to work, mentoring came from Hybrid’s design and marketing agency, UV Creative. Following an ‘Apprentice’ style pitch environment, the strongest concept was selected to take the project forward and the students were invited into the showroom for two hands-on days, working directly with Hybrid’s sales and technical teams to bring the designs to life. The end result was the production of banners, signage, promotional items, wallpaper and many more products, all exhibiting a common, collective theme that allowed the new No 3 Gateway showroom brand to be born.
Groups of students were able to use the full array of Mimaki technology, experiencing the company’s latest outdoor durable, latex, SUV, textile and LED UV printers. Some of the students were even given vehicle wrapping experience – applying their livery to one of Hybrid’s vehicles – ensuring they gained real-world application skills as well as extensive use of the printing and cutting hardware.
“I am really happy that I had the opportunity to work alongside a real client,” says Ben Smith – one of the students involved. “It has definitely made me more focused and it is reflected in the amazing results. I believe it’s the best work I have created throughout the whole two years of the course.”
National Sales Manager – Sign & Graphics at Hybrid, John de la Roche outlines the motivation behind the project, “The blank canvas of our showroom came with the added benefit of enabling Hybrid to forge links with the college and provide valuable experience to its graphic design students,” he said. “We’re proud to be doing our bit in helping preserve the future of print by introducing them to the world of wide-format printers – and giving them unprecedented access to the very latest technology from Mimaki. In return, the students at South Cheshire College fulfilled their brief wonderfully and have given a fantastic and inspiring look to Hybrid’s demonstration suite which will allow visitors to immediately grasp what Mimaki printers are all about,” he concludes.
Laura Sumner – Assistant Director of The Arts & Media at South Cheshire College comments. “Hybrid has opened up a world of opportunities for our graphic design students as well as allowing them to create bespoke design solutions for the company. They have had the opportunity to design, develop concepts and pitch their ideas in a professional domain. This has distilled a greater confidence within our learners; more then we could ever achieve alone.”
The new showroom was officially opened by the Principal and Chief Executive of South Cheshire College, Jasbir Dhesi on 17th June 2014 at a special event that allowed the students, their parents and college staff to see the results first hand. It is envisaged that the project will continue into the next academic year with a new intake of graphic design students gaining the opportunity to work closely alongside Hybrid and Mimaki under a similar brief.