In addition to photography-focused guest lectures, we have also welcomed graduates from across the creative industries to share their experience and expertise.
Lorna Laikin
Lorna is a contemporary artist based in Staffordshire. She graduated BA Fine art with First class honors in 2023
She is also an outreach officer and National Saturday Club Tutor with Higher Horizons.
Hopefully Made
Hope and Becky studied Surface Pattern and Textile Design at Staffordshire University working across a range of projects from designing for textiles, stationery, wallpapers and more. Since graduating they have started their own bricks and mortar business based in Shrewsbury offering art workshops to the public and working on commissions and collaborations with other businesses and more.
Owen Saddington
Owen Saddington studied Film Production at Staffordshire University where he worked on a range of projects and did a lot of voluntary work around the area too. Since graduating, Owen has been freelancing and has also got a job working for Alchemy Films, working with clients such as Activision, Natwest, Sport England, Macmillan, Hitachi and more.
Zoe Shaw
Zoe is a graduate form the BA Hons 3D Design Ceramics course and is now a Design and Development Technician at Burleigh.
Charli Jacobs
Charli did a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, graduating in 2023. She went on to take an MA in Creative Writing through the Negotiated Study route.
She was accepted onto the VCCP paid summer internship which then led to freelance work during and after her degree.
Charli is now a Senior PR Account Executive at Lesniak Swann.
Philippa Bourne
Is a designer of homewares, fragrance, lighting and furniture, currently working for NEXT homewares design team. Previously a designer for Marks and Spencer Homeware Team and Habitat and Sainsbury’s UK. A graduate of Staffordshire University BA Hones 3D Designer Maker.
James Shakespeare
James graduated from the University of Staffordshire in 2019 with a first class Honours in Industrial Design (transport) BA Hons.
Although never actually designing a yacht at University, James entered the Young Superyacht of the Year competition hosted at the Southampton International Boat Show. James won the competition leading to a placement at Princess Yachts. This transitioned into a full roll as a product design engineer role. Designing and modelling the interiors of Yachts and also proving them out through an engineering process. The beauty of this role is to see the design all the way through the process from sketch to finished product. Now a fully established designer at Princess Yachts, James has worked on a flotilla of luxury yachts and has enjoyed every minute of this rich and fulfilling career.
Diana Kibanhou Obondji
Diana Graduated in July 2023 after completed her BA Hons Fashion at University of Staffordshire. In her Final Year Diana had the privilege of exhibiting her work on the catwalk at Graduate Fashion Week she was also shortlisted for and won the Culture & Heritage Award sponsored by Burberry for her final major project.
Diana has gone on to embrace industry working for Burberry in the softs accessories team. Her work has been featured at London Fashion Week, L’Officiel and Vogue Runway to name a few.
Katy Alcock
Katy Alcock is an illustrator and small business owner based in the UK. After studying Surface Pattern Design at Staffordshire University, she worked as an in-house designer for brands including Candlelight and Ling Design, creating products for major retailers like Primark. What began as a creative side project — sharing her artwork online — grew into Simply Katy, her own art brand known for its cosy, storytelling-inspired illustrations. Katy now runs her business full time, creating art prints, stationery, and products that bring joy to people’s homes all over the world.