Who will be LSAD's postgraduate student of year?

Liverpool School of Art & Design’s top MA student will be chosen at an event on Wednesday 9 November with judging by the Director of Liverpool Biennial, Samantha Lackey.

Outstanding students in Fine Art, Fashion, Exhibition Studies, Art in Science and Graphic Design are up for the award which will be announced at the John Lennon Public Exhibition Space from 6-8pm.

The winning project will be chosen by Dr Lackey from a shortlist of five contenders:

• Stephanie Carr (MA Art in Science) (See top image)
• Helen Leary (MA Exhibition Studies)
• David Vassou (MA Fashion: Innovation & Realisation)
• Mary Hennessy Jones (MA Fine Art)
• Vera Scrace (MA Graphic Design & Illustration) 

The five are among 25 postgraduate students set to exhibit their final research projects on the LSAD Degree Show website from Monday 7 November. 

And Postgraduate Coordinator Professor John Byrne says there is amazing work right across the cohort as students seek to address real-world issues while pushing the boundaries of artistic practice.

“Our MA Programmes in Art and Design encourage students to set their personal goals within a real-world context of publication, exhibition, collaboration and transdisciplinary inquiry,” he said.

“We aim to give our students the skills to make things happen whilst positively contributing to the creative growth of their surroundings and contexts.”

For example, MA Fashion: Innovation & Realisation student Libby Patel’s passion for gender equality in fashion, inspired STREETHER and helped them secure a job as a junior buyer with Pam Pam London, the only female sneaker/trainer store in the UK.

Niamh Cusack, who graduated BA(Hons) Fashion at LJMU before going on to study MA Art in Science, said: “This MA was a life changing experience that gave me confidence in my own practice and enabled me to discover what I am passionate about. As a result, I have gone on to undertake an interdisciplinary PhD at Manchester Metropolitan University investigating the viability of smart garments to connect Manchester city’s citizens to their city dwellings”. 

Georgia Hill’s MA Graphic Design & Illustration research project IT DID HAPPEN is a digital magazine focused on raising awareness of Dissociative Identity Disorder. Aiming to promote effective support and diagnosis, it uses the power and functionality of Instagram creatively and offers a space for survivors and supporters to come together and be a part of a community.  

Leanne Glass (MA Art in Science) began her project (un)Folded to explore how geometry helps us understand viruses. Using origami, Leanne constructs geometric shapes found within a virus structure and then unfolds them, to create prints based on the crease patterns of the paper. By doing so an audience can see both the internal and external views of a virus simultaneously and visualise some of the mathematical concepts used in anti-viral research such as ‘Hamilton paths'. 

David Vassou (MA Fashion: Innovation & Realisation) explores the inequalities in the fashion industry for workers in supply chain, as well as escalating logistical issues contributing to the global climate crisis. David says a new fashion business model could solve the environmental, social and ethical issues in the industry. His project creates a digital marketplace in which fashion businesses can pre-sell 3D rendered clothing directly to the consumer, minimising product development and eliminating over production. 

The launch and prizegiving event will take place in the John Lennon Art & Design’s Public Exhibition Space from 6-8pm on Wednesday 9 November.

A selection of work from the MA Fine Art and MA Art in Science class of 2022 was previously shown in ‘Pluriverse’ – a three week exhibition at the John Lennon Art & Design Building that ran from 19 August to 8 September 2022.