The graphic design students on the University of Worcester's Graphic Information Design module received their new 'live' brief yesterday via Lyndon Bracewell (left in image) representing Worcestershire Ramblers and the Worcestershire Rail Trails Project. Design tutor Andy Stevenson (right in image and also working on the Rail Trails project which is promoted by the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership) also helped put across aspects of the brief to best allow students to understand the client's 'asks'.
This trimmed-down design brief asks the students to develop 'working concept' artwork for a supporting brochure that will act as an overview to the ongoing Rail Trails project and which would otherwise have gone out for commercial tender.The brochure will need to utilise many aspects of effective information graphics including simplified maps, diagrams and pictograms - all of which the students will be learning about as they progress on the module.
From the university's perspective, this new link up also provides a great example of research-driven teaching while tying in with an ongoing knowledge transfer project that the University is also helping with.