Following an intensive four weeks of research at London’s top companies, special lectures and workshops by leading industry experts, and learning about London’s rich architectural heritage, Global Campus students presented their final project.
The group arrived in London on the 16th March, comprising of 28 students across five faculties. They were immediately introduced to their research project, which required them to redesign Wings café into a creative networking hub/club for young entrepreneurs, with office and meeting room facilities. For the minor project, the groups had to present a 2 - 5 minutes short film titled ‘My London’, which showcased their experiences and view of London. They also had to set up and maintain a daily blog detailing activities relating to their projects.
Students researched at many places around London, including all cafes in Piccadilly and Leicester Square. They also went to the newly opened Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where they explored the creative design of the Aquatic Centre; which was designed the Pritzker Prize winning Zaha Hadid, attended an architectural exhibition that focused on sustainable urban designs, and toured the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum for inspiration in the use of props and lighting to bring and room ambience to life.
The first team to present was Royale, which was supervised by graphic designer, lecturer and architectural historian; Chris Hughes. Their presentation was inspired by Burps & Giggles Café, a modernist, cost effective café located in Ipoh, Malaysia. Group Royale proposed following the Café‘s minimalist approach; utilising reclaimed furniture. The Group also proposed a display of Limkokwing students’ art designs, following Burps and Giggles’ display of contemporary local artwork in its unrendered brick walls, which gives the place an artistic, eclectic feel. The group also proposed adding a stage that would be used for fashion shows, music, live comedy, and other forms of entertainment by both Limkokwing students and other artists. The group offered judges samples of Arabic coffee and Indian tee, which would be a unique signature of the café. For their video presentation, the group titled their film ‘Dance to the Music’; a dance routine by the students, which was performed at many famous landmarks around London.
The second group; A-BIM was led by architect and University lecturer Illugi Eysteinsson. They proposed an incorporation of photography and music studios, and broadcast facilities where online videos experts will be invited to give tuition in broadcast, recording and photographic techniques. Their video presentation was titled ‘Transportation’ and showcased the team’s travels around London.
London Masters was the final group to present, supervised by head of Dreamstudio Architecture, Tom Manwell. The team’s concept was ‘Architecture Fashion’, proposing the café be renamed to ‘Wings Fashion Café, and the use of irregular shapes in designing the interior, which will feature curved ceiling, column and furniture. Their inspiration came from Zaha Hadid’s designs, especially the Roca Gallery, which the entire Global Campus group had researched at. They proposed the addition of a large curved table that doubled up as a sitting area for customers and a runway during fashion shows. The group’s video presentation was called ‘London in My Eyes’, and showed the group conducting research on the streets of London, including interviews with potential customers of the café.
The judging panel comprised Chief Strategy Officer of Awards for Training and Higher Education (ATHE); Joshua Jones, fine artist and architect Jake Morton, and Associate Member of the UK’s Higher Education Authority and Member of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing; Paul Gilliam. The three project supervisors and Limkokwing London Academic Co-ordinator and Senior Lecturer Mehrdad Borna also joined the panel.
After a thorough deliberation, the judges gave the Best Blog Award to team Royale, who had been meticulously in their blog upkeep. Team Royale also received the Best Short Film Award for their fun and professionally edited video, and the Most Sustainable Project Award for the use of reclaimed furniture. Team A-BIM received the Most Innovative Project Award for concept originality, while the London Masters got the Most Dynamic Project Award.
London Masters were selected the overall winner of Global Campus April 2015 because of their major project, which the judges deemed very creative for its utilisation of physical design ingenuity and the use of fashion as a main theme.
All participating students received a Global Campus Certificate; a qualification that shows the student’s participation and completion of this highly important initiative, proving the student as an invaluable asserts to any company they join upon completion of their studies, as they will already possess international workplace knowledge and skills. Students also received an ATHE certificate from Joshua Jones, which is UK recognised, and a valuable addition to the students’ resume.