Spotlight on UAL Extended Diploma in Illustration & Animation final year student Max Woodall and his work on a live brief with Cleveland Police. His work entitled Sam Attack warns viewers about the dangers and complexities of navigating the digital world.

This live brief was a course wide project that allowed students to choose to work on a live brief with a real client. Students were able to choose from Cleveland Police, HeadStart and Genesis Thirteen. The aims of the project where to develop industry knowledge, new skills, professional behaviours and personal progression routes. All outcomes were to include promotional material that used key strategic messages of their chosen client whilst remaining visually dynamic, playful, and accessible to an identified audience.

Cleveland Police presented student’s with a unique opportunity to blend their “artistic talents with a critical societal mission” tasking them with a project to “create an illustrated comic strip that introduces a superhero character who inspires young people to steer away from computer misuse crime.”

Max created two final outcomes an animation and accompanying comic. Speaking of his work Max explains “the concept behind the Sam Attack animation is for young audiences or adults a like to have a greater understanding and perspective on the dangerous digital world. It’s to educate people on what to avoid and how to stay safe online. It was inspired by an animation series named “Scott Pilgrim”. I wanted to capture the cartoony, fun vibe while watching. The skills I used were different brush techniques on the photoshop software, as well as the AnimDessin tool on the same software.”

Speaking of the brief with Cleveland Police he said “The Cleveland Police brief was very wide and critical, I had many opportunities in my hands and a good direction in what I wanted to present and produce. The meetings were very casual which fit my liking, there was less stress with presenting my pitch and I got the idea through very confidently. I was really pleased and happy with my final outcome of the Comic and Animation.”

Kevin Carter from Cleveland Police commented “Max should feel really proud of the amazing work he has done. His animation brought a lot of smiles to the office! Steering young people away from computer misuse offences and keeping people safe online is a core part of our role in the Cybercrime Unit at Cleveland Police. Max clearly got the brief and his hard work comes through strongly in the finished piece. This is our second year working with students at the Northern School of Art and it has become my favourite time of year. I have been consistently blown away by the talent on show and have no doubt that amazing things are in the futures of so many of the young people we have worked with so far.”

Speaking of his time studying his diploma Max said it’s been a “great experience learning skills in technical thinking, problem solving, time management and on how I present my work and myself. My lecturers are very helpful, encouraging and are guiding me well through my course. It has given me great opportunities to progress and be well prepared for my professional future. I’ve always wanted to be involved in this industry since I was a very young child.”

If you are interested in studying illustration and animation at college-level look no further. We offer a dynamic diploma that allows students to develop the skills and opportunities needed to carve out a career in their industry. Find out more about the course here.