Fortalice

At the start of this academic year, Paula Pollitt from Fortalice came to the graphics team and asked if students would be interested in helping the award-winning Bolton based Women’s Refuge improve their design communications.

We were more than happy to get involved as we see one of the strengths of our programme is our ability to give a creative voice to organisations that, otherwise, could not afford the services of graphic designers. Paula initially briefed our second-year students on the Fortalice Healthy Relationships programme.

The programme is delivered to year five and six children in a class and is aimed at opening discussions with them about what constitutes a healthy relationship both at home and in wider society in a fun and engaging way.

The students then spent several weeks preparing initial ideas and researching into wider issues around domestic violence and family relationships, presenting these findings to Paula midway through their Design Practice Module. The students then finalised their designs and presented them to Paula just before Christmas.

The winning design by John Francis to the form of an exercise book full of puzzles and games. Anthony Roocroft, the module leader showed the design to senior management at the university and the university is now sponsoring the production of 1,000 copies of the booklet.

Paula Pollitt said, ‘I was totally blown away by the standard of work and the breadth of ideas was amazing. We simply couldn’t have done this without the support of the university'.

Carol Allison

Programme Leader

Graphic Design