Big crowd for 2025 Salford Degree Show launch

More than 1,500 people came through the doors to take a look at work from 14 of the University’s programmes based at the Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, including over 250 lucky ticket holders that got a ticket for the Fashion Show catwalk on the sixth floor.

That is an increase of 300 who attended 2024’s launch – a reminder of the vested interest in the work of our students but also a sign that the show continues to be a must-see event in the University’s academic calendar.

The show was officially opened by Vice-Chancellor Nic Beech, who addressed the crowd on the night.

He said: “At the University of Salford, our mission is to innovate to enrich lives. Innovation that makes a difference here and now, in the way that people live and work, in our communities here in Greater Manchester and around the world and I think you will see no better examples of it than that you will see here tonight.

"This is really exciting work that provokes our thinking, raises questions for us but also gives us hope and lifts our spirit.

“It’s a wonderful combination of recognising some of the struggles that are around us and also recognising the brilliant creativity, that leads to super results.”

Work from over 300 students is on display across three floors of the building for the next week with over 7,000 people expected to visit.

Across the night, students from the 14 featured programmes stood by their work, ready to engage with members of industry and other guests that were there to take a look at their final projects.

Charley Wohner, 20, a BA Costume Design student, recreated the life of French social reformer and writer Olympe de Gouges through a series of historical Pandora dolls. 

Pandora dolls are a form of fashion advertising that were popular during the 18th and 19th century in France as they were sent across Europe by tailors to show lower-scaled versions of what attire they could make for their paying clients. Charley was inspired by the work of de Gouges, who is considered among the world's first feminists. 

She praised the course staff for their support over the last three years, saying: “This course has such encouraging staff and access to amazing technology that I feel like I wouldn’t have been able to do this project anywhere else because of all the resources we have.”

Charley is seeking to build a career in museum curation following graduation this summer but is also keen to explore lecturing opportunities after having such ‘a positive experience’ during her time at Salford.

Fellow BA Costume Design student Genevieve Prosser had her final project modelled by Grace McCarthy, who was standing on a plinth. The work was inspired by a Flemish folklore character from Dull Gret, a painting from Pieter Bruegel the Elder, in which the character is wearing a suit of armour to run through hell.

The costume was designed for a theatre production, an industry that Genevieve is keen to enter after graduation.

She said: “I just enjoy the thrill of the theatre and the quick changes for those who are working behind the scenes. I just want to get out there and get those experiences. I feel that this course has really aided my learning and prepared me to get started in the industry.”

BA Graphic Design student Huw Mellor created a brand for his own Enduro motorbike team called Frisky Throttle, consisting of the logo, name and bike graphics which he then applied across his own KTM SIX DAYS bike.

He said: “I decided to go for something that had an actual passion for because I knew that I would then really put the time and effort into it. Motorbikes are my favourite hobby, so I thought if I brought them into my studies, I would be able to give it my all.”

Huw said that he initially struggled to immerse himself in his studies, but that in his second year at Salford, something ‘clicked’ and he felt able to take his work ‘to a completely new level.’

The 21-year-old is now looking to take his skills into the sports sector following graduation.

Fellow BA Graphic Design student Emmeline Taylor, 25, gave herself the challenge of designing a brand for a medication that ‘would enhance your personality traits.’

The concept, called Neuropex, would see customers take five pills that would each enhance a different trait.

On the project, she said: “The challenge for the brief was to try and market something that was highly unethical and horrible, like something you’d see in [the Netflix series] Black Mirror. My challenge was to make it look indispensable, that you’d feel like you had to have it, but if you actually looked into it, you would realise that it was unethical and disgusting.”

Chester Robert Jones, 20, was drawing the crowds to his striking BA Photography exhibit, titled Riders, which features gig economy cyclists photographed in the heart of Manchester city centre surrounded by the takeaways and restaurants that fund their livelihood.

He said: “I’m a cyclist and I found myself becoming interested in them, their standing in society and the issues they face which aren’t widely known. You know, they always seem to be working, don’t get fixed wages, get paid by order and are entitled to no holiday or six pay. I felt compelled to tell their story.”

Chester started work on the project last summer and worked hard to build the trust of the workers before they agreed for him to take their photos and is planning to make a documentary film to capture more of their stories in the future.

On his experience at Salford, Chester said: “The staff are great here. They’ve been the best bit, all of them. Everyone’s just been really nice and helped me get the most out of the course.”

BA Fashion Image Making & Styling student Libby Sykes presented her final project in a personalised photobook that encapsulates her own ‘emotional struggles.’

She said: “Each shoot shows a different aspect of me, and what I think keeps me in touch my emotions, and the different aspects of my life.”

BA Games Design & Production students Matthew Sweeney and Miriyam Ackah presented a game which was played by visitors on the night.

The game is titled Core-ruption and is a story-based, sci-fi puzzle platform where the player is a military scientist that has been called to examine the planet’s core after it was invaded by aliens.

Miriam said: “We’d actually still like to increase the scale of the game as [this version] excludes some things that we couldn’t include for time reasons and deadlines. Going forwards, we’d love to try and make a separate game, or even a sequel as it's been very well received so far!”

General viewing for the show begins from today (Friday 23 May) until Saturday 31 May. The exhibitions will be open from 10am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. It will be closed on Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May. 

Photos below courtesy of Sam Michael Wood.