A Plymouth University student is making her mark on the city’s newest secondary school after winning a competition to design its logo.
Melissa Noble, who studies BA (Hons) Graphic Communication with Typography, was one of the second-year students challenged to come up with a new brand identity for Scott Medical and Healthcare College.
The new school – which will be a University partner institution specialising in medical, social and healthcare education for 13–19 year-olds – is set to open in September 2017.
And following a number of impressive entries for the competition, Melissa’s was chosen for its simplicity and eye-catching design.
The headteacher of Scott College, Martyn Cox, said:
“Melissa’s design stood out immediately for the simplicity of the concept. We will also be able to use it in a range of different styles and scales, from a school badge to a full-size poster. It’s been a great project to be involved in – we were all very impressed with the standard of the work the students created for the competition.
"The University is one of the partners in our studio school so there is a fitting synergy that one of the first and boldest statements about our new school has been created by Melissa, with feedback from a group of Stoke Damerel students, some of whom will go on to join Scott College when it opens.”
The initial group of six logo designs was narrowed down to three, which were then judged by a number of focus groups and students at Stoke Damerel. Melissa was named the winner, and fellow student Dan Patterson the runner-up.
Melissa said:
“Working on the project has been an absolute privilege. When it was pitched to my degree class, I knew instantly that I wanted to be involved. I grew up in Plymouth so the opportunity to give something back to the community and be involved in a school brand that will be around for many generations to come is amazing. The idea of a live brief thrilled me and the end result has turned out better than I ever thought."
Melissa described the logo concept as centred around a combination of an echo and a fingerprint.
She added:
“A fingerprint suggests individuality, a trait celebrated by a speciality school like Scott College, and the echo symbolises outreach to the community. It is amazing to see how the logo has evolved from my initial sketches to a real-life application.”
The logo is already appearing on all branding, communications and signage for the school – which will welcome its first students in September 2017.
Peter Jones, Lecturer in graphic communication with typography, said:
“Melissa’s achievement really is excellent. This good work adds to her impressive and ever-growing portfolio, which already includes work for Met Office and the Association of Publishing Education. It is not only great for Melissa and the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication with Typography course but also for the wider University and the local community.”
As well as the University’s Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD) and its Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, Plymouth NHS Hospitals Trust is also a partner in Scott College.
Parents and students keen to register their interest in the new school can go to www.scottcollege.co.uk and sign up for updates on the application process and the school’s progress.
Applications are now open for places in Year 9 and Year 12 and an open event is taking place at Stoke Damerel Community College, the studio school’s sponsor, on 8 October.