Create Expo Inspires Students With Industry Success Stories

Date - 20th April 2022

Experts from games design, music, fashion and visual effects share their career journeys with West Notts College students.

A Day of Creativity, Insight and Inspiration

West Nottinghamshire College once again welcomed an impressive lineup of industry professionals for its fifth Create Expo, giving students the chance to hear firsthand how leading creatives built successful careers across the digital games, 3D design, music and graphic design sectors.

Held on campus, the event allowed visitors and students to explore different creative pathways, listen to professional talks, and gain inspiration from specialists working in highly competitive industries.

Experts From Across the Creative World

This year’s speakers represented a variety of careers and disciplines:

Jade How – Fashion Lead at Lockwood Publishing

Jade, who creates clothing and accessories for a live online game, spoke about the excitement of working in digital fashion and real-time content creation.

“It’s great to be part of the content train in this exciting world,” she said.

Steve Bjork – Creative Director, Eggbox

A designer and studio owner, Steve shared how he built his business and the importance of creative freedom in producing stand-out work.

Pav Gekko – Award-Winning Composer & Music Producer

Pav discussed his career composing for screen, as well as the technical craft behind professional audio production.

Fred Gambino – Illustrator & Concept Artist

Fred, known for his work across publishing, gaming and film, spoke about the artistic process behind developing concept art for major projects.

Mark Harrison – Visual Effects Veteran

Mark’s impressive career includes work on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Thor: Ragnarok, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Star Trek, Assassin’s Creed, and more. His talk offered students a deep dive into the world of VFX for film and television.

Former Student Shares His Journey

Among the attendees was Ashley Bradbury, a former West Notts student now working in multimedia production at Nottingham-based Remit Training. He returned to share how the Expo had shaped his own creative path.

“My overall experience at the Expo has given me inspiration – looking at how you can bring new skills into the workforce.”

Ashley, who specialises in 3D design, added:

“It’s been good to have chats with the guest speakers about their work. It’s great to hear about their long and varied careers.”

He also reflected on returning to campus:

“I’ve enjoyed coming back into college and seeing my former study and workspace still thriving and putting on such a worthwhile show.”

Empowering the Next Generation of Creatives

The Create Expo continues to be a highlight of the college’s creative calendar, giving students access to real-world advice, industry networks and professional inspiration. With every session, the event helps young creatives imagine what is possible and discover new directions for their future careers.

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