Students are invited to participate and engage in a number of arts, cultural and linguistic activities across campus.

For 2021, the School of Design and Creative Arts welcomed a new development in the continuing international relationship, and in response to the global pandemic, has launched an online exhibition as a way of celebrating the cultural connection between the two institutions.

Students were asked to produce a postcard design in response to a key theme and for this year the theme was ‘Connections’.

Generating diverse perspectives and broad interpretations of the theme students have followed their personal curiosity and interests using related words to explore and extend their thinking.

Speaking of the chosen theme, Programme Director of Art & Design Foundation Studies Julie Wallace commented: “When we selected our theme for the year ahead, we could not have predicted the significance of our chosen word and the relevance and resonance it would hold for us all this year. In this challenging time, it has very much been about valuing and celebrating the connections between us.

“I am delighted to be able to present the range and quality of work produced by our students. Thank you all for your contributions to this year’s exhibition.”

The responses are exhibited in a virtual gallery and are the conclusions of the Loughborough and Joshibi students’ investigation and exploration of the postcard theme. They also continue to support their chosen charity, Rainbows, and hope that in the absence of physical postcard sales donations can be made to their chosen charity.

Andrew Selby, Senior Lecturer in Illustration and Animation added: “We are proud to showcase student responses to the project theme in a virtual gallery that has been curated as closely as possible to the physical experience of hosting our exhibition.

“We have works, translations and interpretations – in fact, the only thing missing is the warm smiles of the Joshibi students and staff themselves. We know that they will return in the coming years when life takes on a new normality.”

The virtual postcard exhibition can be viewed here. Those who would like to make a donation can do so by visiting the cohorts’ JustGiving page.