Students draw on creative talent to create pub designs

A pub company worked with creative Teesside University students to suggest a new look for premises close to their campus.

Second year BA (Hons) Interior Design and BA (Hons) Interior Architecture students were given a brief by pub company Stonegate to suggest new designs for the exterior of the nearby Southfield premises.

Ned Buck, of Stonegate, said: 'We were keen to work with Teesside University on this project to obtain a student perspective on external areas in our pubs. We were delighted to provide support and information for this project aimed at second year design students.

'One of our outlets is located on the edge of the University campus, so provided a unique opportunity for students to work on a real world problem without the need to travel far.'

He added: 'The students analysed problems posed in the brief very well and provided a range of interesting solutions. We were impressed with the quality of the ideas and presentations for what was a short duration project by students at the beginning of their second year. All of the students should be pleased with what they have produced and we wish them great success in the future.'

Mrinalini Elliott was chosen as the main winner of the design project, with Jamie Bishop as the runner up.

Mrinalini, 20, who is originally from Delhi, India, said: 'I enjoyed the project and found the real-life client involvement particularly helpful, as it provided vital first-hand experience of what to expect in the future when working with clients. This project has helped me to ensure I’m sensible in how I design a space and to be selective in how I present my final works. It has been a great learning experience.'

Jamie, 19, of, Middlesbrough, said: 'I enjoyed the opportunity to work on a live project as it enabled me to improve my drawing and 3D modelling skills and to also see the pub design from the perspective of the customer and the landlord.'

Leanda French, Programme Leader for the Spatial Design area in the University’s School of Arts & Media, added: 'As the students are now in their second year it’s the first time they have worked to an outside brief from client and it’s also the first time they’ve worked on a brief relating to a commercial hospitality area.

'The students are familiar with the premises, due to its proximity to the campus and worked in groups to carry out detailed analysis of the pub’s competitors. The students then worked individually to offer something fresh and new.

'They looked at trends, along with award winners in the hospitality field before coming up with their own original concepts.'

She added: 'We’re always aiming to give students experience of working with real clients during the second year of the degree course and provide them with a flavour of what it will be like for them working in the real world.'

Around 40 students spent around 10-weeks working on the brief. The Stonegate Pub Company is the largest privately held managed pub operator in the UK with revenues approaching half a billion pounds and employing over 10,000 people. The company has 540 pubs which are split into the following segments; Classic Inns, Local Pubs, Great Traditional Pubs, Slug and Lettuce & Missoula, Scream, Yates, Bars & Venues.

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