Student’s designs take pride of place in campaign promoting NoLo alcoholic drinks

A campaign to boost the promotion of no and low (NoLo) alcohol beverages is featuring the work of one of York St John University’s graphic design students. 
 
Designs by Sam Armstrong, a third year Graphic Design BA (Hons) student at York St John, will be used prominently during the York Beer & Cider Festival this week as part of an initiative to make such drinks more widely available across the city. 
 
Sam has designed point-of-sale (POS) materials such as beer mats, pump stickers, posters, decals, and a guide for publicans, with the aim of advertising and encouraging the sale of NoLo alcohol products within the York pub environment. 
 
The work is part of an initiative by the University of York, who will then evaluate the effectiveness of the POS materials through questionnaires with pub landlords.  
 
Sam created his designs as part of a summer homework brief for his course, with an emphasis on matching a pub aesthetic with something that would appeal to non-alcohol drinkers. 
 
Sam’s work won out of 26 submissions, and was chosen by a panel including local publicans and academics from the University of York. 
 
“I was really surprised and honoured to have my designs picked,” said Sam. 
 
“As part of this project I’ve gained valuable freelance experience, as well as references from the council and the local community. These opportunities have been key in establishing myself as a designer and opening doors to new projects, with the potential for the work to scale across other towns and cities. 
 
“I really appreciate the opportunities that my Graphic Design course has offered me, as it has provided me with direct, practical experience that is integral for building a career in this field.  
 
“I feel more confident moving into my third year and preparing for professional work beyond York St John.” 
 
John Temperton, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for Graphic Design at York St John University, said that Sam’s work was deemed the strongest submission, of a standard high enough to be successfully printed and published throughout York. 
 
"Sam’s achievement is a fantastic example of how our Graphic Design course connects students with real-world opportunities,” said John.  
 
“We are incredibly proud to see them putting theory into practice and making an impact in the industry before even graduating." 
 
"At York St John University, we believe students learn best by doing. Sam’s success highlights how our programme gives students the confidence and experience to thrive in professional environments." 
 
In addition to Sam’s work being used extensively in the NoLo campaign, Sam has also been busy redesigning internal communications materials for York St John University.  
 
Sam’s new email template banner designs will be unveiled in October, and will be included in all communications sent out to staff and students on both the York and London campuses. 
 
Joanne Welding, Senior Communications Officer at York St John, described Sam's designs as a “really cohesive set of images”, with each retaining its own identity, relevant to the respective audience and communications requirements. 
 
“Sam’s digital assets really visually define and acknowledge our two university campuses,” said Joanne. 
 
“They also feel like an update to our current designs, with a fresher look, but also familiarity, which will be extremely helpful for our staff and students.” 
 
The York Beer & Cider Festival runs from Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 September. Full details can be found on the festival’s website. 
 
Learn more about York St John University's Graphic Design BA (Hons) course, and how to apply through clearing.