Today we’re celebrating one of our BA (Hons) Graphic Design students, Ryan who has recently gone to work at Walt Disney World in Florida after studying at UCW!
Ryan started on a level 2 course at Weston College before progressing to level 3 and working his way up to a degree level course. He showed outstanding skill when his logo design for Knife Angel’s visit for Weston-super-Mare was selected. Knife Angel is a 27-foot-tall statue made from over 100,000 knives which have been confiscated by police forces across the country. As part of this visit, North Somerset Council invited students to design the logo for the project, and after considering the many entries, Ryan’s design was selected to represent the Knife Angel visit. He was delighted about his design being selected, saying: “I was in absolute awe, this was the first time for me that my work was to be used in a public setting and to have it be something that is really important to the community and the country as a whole was amazing. I think I was in shock for days.”
The Knife Angel project was an incredible community initiative which Ryan was honoured to be a part of: “I was incredibly proud of the impact as I was able to see not only my work but the public involvement not only across Weston but all of North Somerset was brilliant and heart-warming and if it was able to deter anyone from getting involved in knife crime then that’s countless lives saved.”
The Knife Angel logo employer project forms part of the Art, Film, Game and Graphic Design Careers Excellence Hub. At University Centre Weston our approach goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. Through industry speakers, workshops, employer projects, and more, we equip our learners with the real-world experiences and insights that set them apart in the competitive job market. It’s not just about getting a job; it’s about standing out from the crowd when they embark on their job searches.
While at UCW, Ryan helped his classmates by offering them coaching in areas that he was familiar with. Ryan generously shared his expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud, laser cutting, 3D printing, and Blender—tools that can be daunting for beginners. Under his guidance, the quality of student work noticeably improved, and many of those he supported expressed excitement about applying the techniques he taught them in future projects. His encouragement gave them both the confidence and curiosity to push their creative boundaries.
After finishing his final project for university, Ryan took the opportunity to work at Walt Disney World! This is an incredible adventure, with Ryan moving to Florida for three months and working at Disney Springs at the flagship World of Disney store. His main role is merchandising, helping tens of thousands of guests from around the world and giving them magic moments to make their holiday even more special. Ryan said: “I have settled in quite nicely. I’ve met some amazing people who I’ve seen on a daily basis and I’m still meeting people every day which is amazing!”
If you want to follow in Ryan’s footsteps, click here to find our BA (Hons) Graphic Design course! Find all of our Art, Film, Game and Graphic Design courses here!
If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available in the Weston College Group here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College Group has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College Group is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.
