Graphic design student showcases international photography festival app at degree exhibition

A graphic design student who helped create an interactive mobile app for FORMAT15 International Photography Festival will be showcasing his creations to the public this weekend.

Nathan Hall, who is studying a Masters in Graphic Design at the University of Derby, was given the opportunity to create the visuals for a mixed-reality game, called FORMAT Detect, while undertaking an internship at Quad.

The game encouraged visitors to the festival to take part in online and offline missions to recover a ‘stolen’ photograph from ‘The Collector’ while guiding them through FORMAT’s venues and artworks.

Now, Nathan’s work will be among hundreds of projects by final-year College of Arts and College of Engineering and Technology students to be showcased at The Big Show Public Exhibition at the University of Derby from Saturday (May 30) until Saturday, June 13.

Nathan, 22, said: “On the first day of my placement at Quad I was invited to an idea-sharing day for FORMAT Festival.  

“I came up with a list of ideas for the visuals and interface of the game as well as concepts for props in-house and received great feedback. I ended up seeing the app through its whole development.

“The FORMAT Festival was a great experience to be involved with and I’m really excited to showcase all of my hard work behind the scenes of the app to the public.”

John Whall, digital participation curator at Quad, said: “Nathan provided a fresh take on our ideas and really made our project come to life, through both design and idea input.

“It was great to see him grow in confidence and embrace the many challenges we presented. Nathan was brought on board to provide graphic design support for our FORMAT Detect mixed-reality game and his abilities shone through.

“This led to graphic work towards ‘The Other 100’ by the Global Institute for Tomorrow’s (Hong Kong) FORMAT exhibition at the Silk Mill, as well as branding for our participation and education areas.”

Tracy Tomlinson, programme leader for Master of Design in Visual Communication at the University of Derby, said: “Nathan has shown a high-level of professionalism in combining an external, funded placement at Quad developing interactive exhibition apps with his Masters major project.

“He has represented the programme, College and University very well and has instigated new projects from this opportunity, which he will continue beyond graduation.

“This year we have 19 graduates showcasing major independent practice projects in animation, graphic design and illustration. Through the intensive programme, each student explores their practice with the aim that they will contribute to subject knowledge in their field and they leave us as Masters of their specialist fields."

The Big Show Public Exhibition will be spread across Britannia Mill and Markeaton Street sites and is free to view. No booking is required for this event.