Stephen = Designer, This is Us

Working with Craig Oldham on the This is Us visual identity has been an opportunity for Stephen to inspire others to follow their dreams – gaining quality portfolio pieces and an amazing mentor and contact in the design industry in the process!

12th January 2021
“This project has allowed me to use my learned skills as a Graphic Design student, from my many years of practice and apply them to a cause I feel strongly about making the experience all the sweeter for me.”

This has been a once in a lifetime experience for me working on the rebrand with Beki, Craig and the rest of the design team and steering group. I felt this was an excellent opportunity for me to give back to the Unite Foundation and This is Us for two reasons. Firstly, I am in my final year of study and, secondly, want to inspire others in a similar position and encourage people to follow their dreams even through the difficult time going through estrangement or leaving the care system.

What the Unite Foundation has created through its scholarship has been game-changing. There is generally a lack of support for students that “don’t fit the norm” with their home set up but through the UF scholarship you can rest assured knowing that you will have a place to call home during your time at University and this will take the financial burden and emotional stress from your studies. There is a lack of education in this area in which the Foundation and “This Is Us” hopes to raise awareness of and ultimately extend the scope of support and understanding available so that more and more students can have access to University to follow their chosen career path.

This project has allowed me to use my learned skills as a Graphic Design student, from my many years of practice and apply them to a cause I feel strongly about making the experience all the sweeter for me.

I have gained some quality portfolio pieces to cherish and an amazing industry contact who has proven to be a great mentor throughout the design process. Overall, I am just thrilled to have been able to have left my mark on the Foundation before I graduate through participation in the design team and being involved in the launch of the new brand. This also marked the release of my podcast episode for This Is Us in which I discuss my own experience as an estranged student and a graphic design student with Paige as well as the launch of a new online forum in which allows Unite Foundation scholars to connect and chat nationwide.

Stephen