Industry Experts Inspire Students at Create Expo

Date - April 2022

Create Expo brings leading professionals from film, games, music, design and digital arts to West Nottinghamshire College.

A Day of Inspiration at Create Expo

Students and visitors at West Nottinghamshire College were treated to an exciting and inspiring event during this year’s Create Expo, where leading professionals from digital games, 3D design, music, film and graphic design shared their experiences and success stories.

Now in its fifth year, the Expo brought together industry specialists who offered insights into their careers, creative processes and the journey behind their achievements.

Event organiser and design/media specialist Tony Hall shared the purpose of the expo:

“One of the main outcomes of the Expo is seeing the speakers inspire our guests, showing them what they can go on to achieve… With the right determination and skills, anything is possible.”

A Line-Up of Industry Leaders

Jade How – Fashion & Creative Direction

The first speaker, Jade How, head of fashion at Lockwood Publishing, discussed her journey from Nottingham Trent University to working on creative direction for the mobile platform Avakin Life. Jade highlighted how her background in apparel design led to a career that blends creativity with project management.

Steve Bjork – Creative Director and Entrepreneur

Creative director Steve Bjork, founder of Eggbox, shared his unique path into the industry — from beginnings as a screen printer to working on TV commercials, CGI, animation, motion graphics and music production. His story demonstrated how varied experiences can lead to a successful creative career.

Pav Gekko – Award-Winning Composer

Composer and music producer Pav Gekko captivated the audience with a discussion about audio direction, music composition and the process behind sound design. Pav showcased examples of his recent work, including BAFTA-winning titles such as Dawn of the Dragons 2 and Tintin Match.

Mark Harrison – Film Industry Sound Specialist

Sound designer Mark Harrison highlighted his work on major film franchises, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Mark’s impressive credits also span Star Trek, Assassin’s Creed, Thor: Ragnarok, and Mission Impossible: Fallout. His talk gave students a rare insight into world-class audio production.

Fred Gambino – Illustrator & Concept Artist

Renowned illustrator and concept artist Fred Gambino shared his journey across traditional media and digital art, from book illustration to working in the film and games industry. Known for projects including Guardians of the Galaxy, Fred spoke about creativity, workflow and the evolving world of concept art.

Former Student Returns With Praise for the Expo

Former student Ashley Bradbury, now working in multimedia production at Nottingham-based Remit Training, returned to the college to attend the event.Ashley commented:

“Expo has given me inspiration.”

His words echo the event’s mission — to light a spark in the next generation of creative professionals.

A Celebration of Creativity and Future Pathways

Create Expo continues to be a cornerstone event for both students and the local community, connecting education with industry and demonstrating the vast opportunities available in creative careers. With each speaker offering unique insights, attendees left feeling energised and motivated to pursue their own creative ambitions.

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