Kingston University students create Unilever campus art installation through Future Skills brief

Striking artwork created by two Kingston University students as part of a Future Skills experience with Unilever has been installed within the company’s new UK headquarters.

BA (Hons) Photography student Alexander Talver and BA (Hons) Fine Art student Antonio Bourouphael, who study at the University’s Kingston School of Art, took part in a design competition – responding to a live brief set by Unilever to celebrate Kingston’s history, culture, architecture, and geography through art.

The artworks, installed on walls across the ground floor reception area of Sunlight House, are now on show to Unilever employees, campus visitors and the wider public. The opportunity to respond to the live brief came about through the students’ participation in Apply, the final phase of the University’s Future Skills programme, which third-year undergraduates undertake as a core, assessed part of their degrees, alongside their subject specific learning. 

Through the dedicated module, final year students can choose from a range of tailored activities to refine their development of nine graduate attributes – from creative problem solving to empathy and resilience – most valued by employers. The Unilever brief was one of a number of industry opportunities students could choose to take part in to strengthen the skills they most want to focus on. They had to respond to Unilever’s brief, present their concepts to company leaders at their offices, with the winning students then creating their artworks which were installed at the end of May.

Winning pitches: from photography to wooden sculptures

Alexander’s design involved capturing images of some 250 trees throughout Kingston with a medium format analogue film camera. Handprinted in the Kingston School of Art dark room, he assembled them to create a reconstituted forest, highlighting overlooked nature within the town. The third-year undergraduate student, who grew up in Estonia, outlined the inspirations behind his work, and how photography had helped him make sense of moving to a big city like London. "Thinking about my feelings as an outsider, I was greatly inspired by Eugénie Shinkle and her 1998 artwork Ideal City (Somebody Else’s Landscape), which uses JMW Turner’s paintings depicting English countryside, alongside the labour-intensive task of stitching together contact prints of 35mm colour film.

“Shinkle used photography to assuage feelings of alienation after moving to London from Canada – it was her way of digesting the world around her, and I resonated with that a lot.”

Antonio’s piece is a sculptural celebration of landmarks and architecture across Kingston, including the historic market place, Bentall Centre and river. Made from reclaimed balsa wood and painted in multi-coloured wood stains, the University student’s work captures both the atmosphere of the area and Unilever’s aesthetic. The opportunity to respond to an industry brief as part of his Future Skills development had been a hugely valuable experience, having to consider the client, space and audience his work was being created for, Antonio said.

“Through my ongoing experience with Future Skills, I've learned how important communication, research, and adaptability are within creative projects. Working on this brief encouraged me to develop my ideas in a more considered way and think about how to balance my own artistic style with the identity of a major brand like Unilever. It also helped me build confidence in presenting my ideas and working to a deadline.”

The Unilever design competition was also open to students from nearby Kingston College, with a third winning artwork created by students studying a BTEC Level 3/4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

The road to delivery

The project took seven months to complete. Students worked closely with course tutors and mentors, gaining hands-on experience in large-scale public art production, design planning, and installation techniques.

Ali Orr, Student Development and Graduate Success Director at Kingston University, said the Unilever brief was an example of how students were being supported to develop core human-centric skills that will prepare them for the world of work.

He said: “This collaboration has provided an invaluable opportunity for our students to work directly with a key employer within the borough, gaining vital industry experience, confidence and exposure,” he said. “We’re delighted to see their creativity come to life in such a meaningful way. Projects like this help bridge the gap between education and industry, while showcasing the exceptional talent of our community.”

Alice Taylor, Head of HR at Unilever UK and Ireland, said the project reflected the global consumer goods company’s commitment to community engagement and supporting young creative talent. “The new campus has created an exciting opportunity to bring together employees in a bright and brilliant new space, as well as being a destination for key partners outside Unilever. The standard of artwork entered into the competition was exceptional, and we're proud to display three unique pieces which celebrate different aspects of Kingston for all our employees and visitors to enjoy.”

The artwork commission was supported by Overbury, the site’s fit out contractor, through its social value legacy programme which provided art supplies and helped enable the student-led installation, and global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will, which delivered the site’s interior design.

• Read more about how Future Skills is preparing students for career success