University News Last updated 16 June 2011
One of the main character designers on the Harry Potter movies is putting his name to an extravagant awards ceremony – taking place in Birmingham next week - and set to give the Oscar’s a run for its money.
Dave McKean – who worked on the third Harry Potter smash-hit, the Prisoner of Azkaban - is Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker at the ‘Dave Awards’ being given to graduates from Birmingham City University’s Department of Visual Communication.
The English cult comic artist and illustrator is generously supporting Birmingham City University in this third annual awards ceremony. ‘The Daves’ celebrate the success and confidence the graduates have developed during their time at university, whilst also celebrating their final year exhibition which showcased the high-level professional skills they are now ready to offer to creative industries worldwide.
The event is the pinnacle of the students’ final year work.
The ‘Daves’ are associated with work placements, sponsored by industry professionals in the fields of branding, photography, illustration, animation and moving image. Other sponsors include Brian Griffin, Second Home Productions, Association of Illustrators (AOI) and the BBC, to name but a few.
Joanna Birch, Head of Corporate Relations for the University said, “The content in this year’s Graduate Showcase programme highlights the University’s emphasis on developing highly creative graduates who are grounded in current industry practice. From typography and illustration to graphics, photography to film and animation, the range of graduate talent shows that Birmingham City University can provide the necessary backbone to supply not only the creative sector but also wider industry long into the future.”
The School of Visual Communication at Birmingham City University is a world leader in visual communication education and research, with partners in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, china and India. Cutting-edge facilities include digital and analogue photographic facilities, an editing suite, animation suite and Hollywood standard MILO unit, the same technology used by the makers of Wallace and Gromit. Students have won a range of prestigious national and international competitions.
Birmingham City University is running a major awareness campaign in the Midlands to demonstrate how it is upgrading the future of individuals and companies. Find out more at www.bcu.ac.uk
The event is taking place at The Glee Club, Birmingham, on Tuesday 21 June, starting at 7pm. Press are invited to attend. Please contact Sarah Archer on 0121 331 5695.