Northumbria Open Days
Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.
Interested in studying at Northumbria? With 31,500 students, Northumbria is one of the largest universities in the country, offering courses on either a full-time, part-time or distance learning basis.
Studying at NorthumbriaStudents from all over the world choose Northumbria University for many reasons; our academic excellence, and that they will benefit from a fantastic student experience.
Northumbria for International StudentsThe world is changing faster than ever before. The future is there to be won by organisations who find ways to turn today's possibilities into tomorrows competitive edge. In a connected world, collaboration can be the key to success.
More on our Business ServicesNorthumbria is a research-rich, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic quality. We conduct ground-breaking research that is responsive to the science & technology, health & well being, economic and social and arts & cultural needs for the communities
Discover more about our ResearchNorthumbria University is renowned for the calibre of its business-ready graduates. Our alumni network has over 227,000 graduates based in 176 countries worldwide in a range of sectors, our alumni are making a real impact on the world.
Our AlumniNorthumbria University have great pleasure in announcing the continuation of The Vaughan Oliver Graphic Design Scholarships for September 2024
A ten year initiative to support talented students from a widening participation background in the North East of England. An initiative that reflects Vaughan Oliver’s own journey into the design world and his personal agenda to support and inspire a new generation of graphic designers that need financial help to achieve their artistic dreams. The generosity of 4AD is in recognition of Vaughan Oliver’s contribution to their company and the esteem in which he is held.
The Vaughan Oliver Graphic Design Scholarships will award two highly gifted BA (Hons) Graphic Design students with a £2,500 cash award during the first year of their Undergraduate degree only. The money can be used to enhance the overall university learning experience. For each year of the initiative, two new Undergraduate students will be selected.
If you are ready to start your university journey with Northumbria, create your best future and meet the criteria below, apply for your course now and you will automatically be considered for a Vaughan Oliver Graphic Design Scholarship.
Vaughan Oliver, 1957 – 2019
Vaughan Oliver was born in Sedgefield, County Durham and raised in nearby Newton Aycliffe. A recognised graphic designer visionary, Vaughan was one of the most influential practitioners of his generation and enjoyed a global reputation.
After studying under his mentor Terry Dowling at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic (now Northumbria University) in the late 1970’s, Oliver worked in London for packaging design studios Benchmark and then Michael Peters and Partners before making his name at 4AD, a now world renowned independent record label founded by a visionary Ivo Watts-Russell in 1980. This fortuitous association gave Vaughan an enviable platform to pursue his personal design journey which continues with the label today with the label’s brand identity that Vaughan designed in 1980 remaining unchanged 40 years on. Oliver created a stunning portfolio of work for 4AD bands including Cocteau Twins, Pixies, The Breeders, Lush, Modern English, This Mortal Coil, Scott Walker, to name just a few - “As 4AD’s in-house designer, he created artwork that helped define them as purveyors of dark and complex alt-rock music; with their clashing fonts and boldly allusive but mysterious symbolism, his sleeves became some of the most revered in modern pop,” The Guardian.
His time at 4AD attracted devoted admirers and inspired not only graphic designers but fashion designers, film directors, photographers and art directors. As the labels in-house art director and lead designer Oliver pushed the boundaries of his practice collaborating with an impressive repertoire of photographers, illustrators, artists and fellow designers to achieve his artistic goal, many of whom he had studied with. Terry Dowling, reflecting on Vaughan’s unique approach to design, commented “As a student, Vaughan was a brilliant rebel. Original, strong minded, gifted – he always surprised and often shocked with his art work. He had an exceptional ‘eye’”.
Revered for his work for the music industry, Oliver’s unique approach to design attracted clients from a broader field including Ballet Preljocaj, Raygun Publishing, V&A Publishing, Penguin, Picador, Serpent’s Tail and Atlantic Books, TV commercials for Microsoft and Sony, work for fashion and beauty brands Alberto Aspesi, John Galliano, L’Oreal Proffesionel and Central Saint Martin’s School of Fashion. He also collaborated with the V&A Museum, Young Vic London, Tyneside Cinema, Artist in Residence, Los Angeles and for film director David Lynch.
A natural educator, Vaughan taught extensively in the last 10 years of his life inspiring a new generation of designers, illustrators and photographers. He was an elected member of the prestigious AGI.
A highly successful retrospective of Oliver’s work in Nantes, France in 1992 led to further exhibitions in Paris, Tokyo, Osaka, Los Angeles, Boston MA, London and Athens. His work is retained in their 20th Century Gallery at The Victorian And Albert Museum.
Vaughan Oliver: visceral pleasures, a design monograph by Rick Poynor for Booth-Clibborn was published in November, 2000.
“Vaughan explored new approaches to the practice of graphic design, producing inventive, often intense images, that have made a lasting contribution to the graphic image” Rick Poynor.
Unit Editions ‘Vaughan Oliver: Archive’ was published in 2018.
To be eligible for a Vaughan Oliver Graphic Design Scholarship you must:
Last updated: 02/03/2023
Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.
Information about all of our tuition fees, funding and scholarships.
Get an insight into life at Northumbria at the click of a button! Come and explore our videos and 360 panoramas to immerse yourself in our campuses and get a feel for what it is like studying here using our interactive virtual tour.
University of the Year, Northumbria University, is launching a series of events designed to…
The life and work of a North East woman, described as ‘the first English feminist’, was officially…
To mark International Women's Day, we’ve partnered with Media Planet UK for their Empowering…
As part of the 21st Century Workforce Development Initiative pilot, sponsored by the Royal…
Experts from Northumbria University have published a report outlining the need for a sector-led…
People whose partners died while serving in the Armed Forces say they feel overlooked and let…
Professor Raymond Arthur, from Northumbria Law School, has been awarded a Fellowship of the…
A team of researchers have received funding from Parkinson’s UK to create a device which tackles…
Northumbria University, CCE1 Building
-
Northumbria University
-
Virtual - Teams
-
Back to top