They say the world owes us nothing; it was here first. These bright students, under the guidance of their course leader Donna Bevan, have proved, however, that it’s possible to give back to the world and make a big difference through hard work, a spark of creativity, and dedication.
WENDY MURULI
WENDY MURULIThroughout her degree, Muruli focused on the visual communications of narratives from the world around her. She integrated these ideas into brands and campaigns, predominantly through photography and graphic design, and so her Final Major Project took the form of an exhibition for the National Portrait Gallery titled Descendants of Africa. It explored the lives of individuals within the African Diaspora and intended to divulge the true meaning of black identity; how one acquires it, how it is recognised in others, and how we can unknowingly or willingly mould and re-shape our identity.
‘This project was triggered by my own internal struggle to position myself as a black person with a European upbringing. When the question of my identity and social positioning would arise, I did not know how to respond,’ Muruli says. Through the completion of her work, she consumed a vast number of books narrating the arrival of the African Diaspora across Europe and the States, where he discovered that the displacement of one’s identity following the erosion of their ancestral narrative ultimately formed a huge part of their identity, that knowledge of where one comes from can determine and motivate the direction of their life. Muruli focused primarily on Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and Catana Tully’s autobiography Split at the Roots: a Memoir of Love and Lost Identity to form the structure and content of her exhibition.
‘The final images show the black identity as I have seen it all my life – filled with a rich diversity and steeped in culture and history. The accompanying texts are not submissive to the photographs – they are equal and critical in the shaping of each piece of work, a representation of the unity within such a widely distributed demographic,’ Muruli says, hoping that her photographs present a realism that is tangible to any member of the African Diaspora regardless of how much or how little they know of their ancestral roots.
ELEANOR ANDERSON
ELEANOR ANDERSONHaving professional experience in both online and print media publications, like ELLE Magazine and BBC Radio, Anderson has a passion for various sectors of journalism. For her Final Major Project, Anderson created a portfolio of work alongside a series of stunning images which displayed her personal reflection on environmental concerns. The idea came from Eleanor’s individual interest in sustainable and ethical fashion, along with her fascination for nature. The project, she had decided, was to focus more towards the latter. Bee the Change concentrates on environmental concerns, focusing particularly on plastic pollution, plantations and why pollinators like the honeybee are so important – a subject which is particularly current and which continues to spark debates within the media.
Without bees, many plants we rely on for food would face extinction. Through a visual platform, Bee the Change also highlights the underlying issues on how man-made materials and pesticides impact pollination. Anderson’s images include layers of textured materials like plastic bags, cling film, netting, and honeycomb, acting as a ‘warning symbol’ to the public. Through a creative approach, this personal project aimed to show a realistic sense on environmental issues, and to educate and inspire an audience with similar intentions to look after our planet.
EMILY BONE
EMILY BONEBone has had a passion for writing from a young age. Her flare for making an impact in the fashion world along with her determination let her secure internships with magazines like Look, Woman & Home, and Harrods Publishing, as well as work experience at Capital FM and Graduate Fashion Week. On the side, Bone was writing for Denur, Entrepreneur & Investor, and West Quay.
Her Final Major Project was an exploration into the need for adaptive clothing for those with a variety of disabilities to be brought into the mainstream fashion industry. ‘The issue on disability has always been rather taboo in the media and especially within fashion, and it has only become more evident within the last few years. With the current society more open to acceptance on environmental, ethical and societal issues, in particular mental health and disabilities, the project seemed the perfect time to create a discussion on the lack of adaptable clothing and introduce a solution,’ Bone says. She conducted research into the psychological and physical impacts from the lack of disabled clothing currently available in high street stores, especially on young women with disabilities and not being able to identify oneself in the current fashion climate.
Bone created a fully actionable PR campaign for online retailer Missguided, promoting a hypothetical collection adapted to the needs of those with both visible and invisible chronic illnesses. This would not only be affordable, but would maintain a fashionable aesthetic while seams would be modified for easier dressing. Bone explored every possible obstacle within a campaign, from market research and finding a niche to considering accessible store plans and finding brand ambassadors among influencers with similar disabilities.
