51Âþ»­

Thousands of 51Âþ»­ students graduated in July after years of hard work. We reported some of their stories in our Class of 2015 series...

Securing three job offers before he even graduated is the latest in a long line of impressive achievements by one talented 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­) student.

Ewart Wade O’Connor, who will be graduating with a First Class degree in Graphic Design BA (Hons), has chosen to join Me & Him design in Leicestershire, whose clients include household names such as Lego, Lexus, Toyota, the Design Museum and Aardman, the creators of Wallace and Gromit.

During his time at 51Âþ»­, Ewart organised a wide range of design placements: Oglivy & Mather in South Africa; Marks & Spencers head office and Targetbase Claydon Heeley in London; Next head office, Stocks Taylor Benson, Work Design and Checkland Kindleysides in Leicester; and Joules head office in Market Harborough.

This wealth of experience stood him in good stead when he started looking for permanent roles back in March. He said: “I applied for a job but didn’t think the application form was very good, so I redesigned it to stand out from the crowd. Somebody else then saw my application while it was being professionally printed and I ended up getting offers from two companies.”

“I really wanted to work for both so negotiated two part-time roles. In the meantime I was scouted by another agency which had asked for recommendations from one of the companies I’d done work experience with. It was a massive decision, but in the end I accepted the third offer – Me & Him is a smaller agency that works for a diverse range of clients, with large mentorship opportunities and room to grow.”

Ewart, originally from South Africa, moved to England in 2007 when he decided he wanted to live with his father, stepmother and sisters in Reading.

“I still look back now and wonder what I was thinking! I’m surprised my mum allowed me to do it at the age of 13 but it was the best decision of my life. If I hadn’t come here I would never have known about graphic design – back home creative options were very limited and weren’t fully fostered.”

Ewart decided to study at 51Âþ»­ after visiting on an open day and being impressed by the course tutors’ passion for design. He has since found them both supportive and inspirational, especially while looking for placements and taking on design briefs: “It’s one thing having a talent for something; it’s another being able to use it. I can’t fully express what my tutors have done for me over the past three years. They’re just amazing individuals and I couldn’t have asked for anything more from them. They’re here for us and are invested in our personal development as designers and illustrators.”

One of the highlights of his time at 51Âþ»­ was winning gold in the Starpack Student Awards UK and going on to finish seventh in the top 10 best new designs worldwide in the WorldStar Awards – the only UK winner on the shortlist. Judges praised Ewart’s innovative package design for the Norway Seafood Council to make fishcakes more appealing to shoppers. The ceremony was held in May at the International Packaging Trade Expo in Milan – but with Ewart being a member of the Degree Show Design and Publicity Team he was too busy to attend.

Since starting at 51Âþ»­, Ewart has always worked for the De Montfort Student Union (DSU) bar and restaurant – starting as venue staff he was quickly promoted to a shift manager – and has enjoyed being at the hub of student life: “Being both a student in Leicester and an employee of the union, I have been able to see both sides of the lifestyle. The wide range of societies allows you to be a part of a team and broaden your friendship group.”

He’s chairman of the F10 Design Society, which raises funds for their degree show and allows graphics students from all years to share knowledge, ideas and skills. It also manages the student-run F10 Design Studio, which takes on external projects. This helps equip 51Âþ»­ graduates with real experience of dealing with clients, managing a project from beginning to end and producing work for their portfolios.

He also takes part in the popular Gurus and Grasshoppers programme, helping to mentor other students as they work through project briefs while developing their communication skills, exploring the subject and developing relationships.

“I’ll miss the freedom and the opportunities at 51Âþ»­. It’s made me a stronger person, it’s made me a more responsible person and it’s taught me that if you want something in life no-one is going to get it for you – you have to do it yourself.

“51Âþ»­ is unique for me because of the experience I have gained whilst studying here. It is easy to say that the facilities are phenomenal or the campus is well established but that is something any other university could replicate. The experience is something that comes from the people you are inspired by, surrounded by and supported by. I wouldn’t have chosen to study anywhere else.”