USP College Creative Students Take on Southend City Council’s Halloween Parade Float Design Challenge
- Posted 25 Oct 2024
Creative Industries students at USP College have embraced the Halloween spirit by designing and constructing a custom float for Southend City Council’s annual Halloween Parade, scheduled to take place on Saturday 26 October. Working in a team as part of a live brief, students from the College’s Seevic Campus have completed the project in just six weeks—engaging in a collaborative process of brainstorming, pitching, and hands-on construction.
The project was initiated by Southend Council and launched as a competition among first-year Graphic Design students, who were tasked with creating an illuminated, family-friendly, and spooky float that captured the essence of Halloween. After reviewing several imaginative submissions, the Southend City Council’s culture and tourism team selected a winning design by first-year student Shannon, whose eerie yet playful concept struck the perfect Halloween note.
Teachers Tara Bowman and Dave Taylor provided guidance and support as students worked through various stages, from concept development to bringing their ideas to life. This live brief offered an invaluable experience for students, who not only practiced creative problem-solving but also gained real-world skills in pitching and collaborating with clients.
As part of the Student CPD Day on Thursday 24 October, the students completed the sizeable project and ensured the float was in working order for the parade. The students will be navigating the streets of Southend as part of the Halloween Parade, showcasing their incredible creation.
“I’m so proud of these students, especially as they only started the course in September. This was a huge design challenge, and they all rose to it brilliantly. I’m glad I wasn’t the one choosing the winner because all the designs were fantastic. I can’t wait for everyone to see the final result!”
