Nixon Design in status drive forUniversity College Falmouth

UCF merged with Devon-based Dartington College of Arts in April 2008. It now aims to achieve specialist arts university status by 2012 or 2013 by growing in size, subject base and research.

Nixon Design saw off fellow shortlisted consultancies Gendall, based in Falmouth, and Bluestone360, based in Plymouth, to win the contract following a pitch in May. Gendall had previously held the contract for design and production of UCF’s undergraduate prospectus.

Nixon Design has now been charged with producing an interim communications campaign for UCF, including the design and production of the 2011 and 2012 undergraduate prospectuses, as well as an overall production approach that will work across all printed media and online, ahead of the university status UCF is hoping to obtain.

Toby Ash, director at Nixon Design, says, ‘We want to build on the message that is already there, bringing the entrepreneurial nature of the institution to the fore, as well as showing the tangible results that students and graduates get from studying there.’

Jeremy Whitaker, director of marketing and student recruitment for UCF, says, ‘The chosen solution is innovative – building on our heritage and strengthening communication of our core attributes of academic reputation and location in a stunning natural environment, in a tone of voice that resonates with the current and future needs and aspirations of our applicants and stakeholders.’

Nixon Design will be working on exhibition design, internal communications and digital design. The first major piece of work to roll out, Ash says, will be the 2011 prospectus, which will be published next year.