UWE Showcase
Building a digital platform for graduating creatives
We worked closely with the University of West England in 2020 to develop a dynamic online platform, ‘Showcase’. A website for graduating students to share their work through lockdown, when they were unable to host a traditional IRL degree show.
How it’s going – The IRL ‘End of year show’ is back, and is branded using the same name and identity at the digital platform. The website has become an invaluable digital space for emerging creatives and the two platforms work in tandem with one another. The ‘Showcase’ identity and website have become pivotal to promoting new talent while supporting professional practice, enterprise and employability, helping hundreds of graduates to join the creative workforce for the future.
Led by UWE Alumni, Creative Director James understands the needs, struggles, and significance of nurturing and showcasing young creatives. We delivered a Website and Identity for ‘Showcase’ – a home for graduating students to display their work, attract employers and entice future talent to study at University of West England.
Using a monochrome palette, we took a ‘white-cube’ approach to building the platform, purposefully designed to be light, user-friendly, and, most importantly, to let the students’ work take centre stage.
The online Showcase continues to act as an extension of the degree shows, using the brand for the city-wide event. The website now features screenings, collaborations, events and stories – as well as a full design overhaul and identity to lift the site from a digital exhibition into a cultural hub for students, lecturers and employers for years to come.
“When COVID forced the cancellation of the annual UWE Bristol Degree Show, we were urgently faced with how to showcase the exceptional work of hundreds of our creative graduates. Rhombus’ excellent design-led approach to development turned around incredibly complex project in weeks rather than months: an elegantly simple interface that put the focus on new talent. Responsive and adaptable to our challenges, Rhombus fundamentally understands the importance of promoting and supporting young creatives. And we are especially happy to be working with alumni-led studio.”
