A GRAPHICS student from Middlesbrough is helping to make the third Darlington Arts Festival a success after winning the opportunity to design the event brochure.

Second-year Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD) student Matthew Robson, 20, from Grangetown took part in a live brief to design the brochure, along with his fellow classmates.

The brief was set by the Darlington Arts Festival Committee for the students to create a brochure which was both functional and attractive in its coverage of five weeks’ worth of festival events.

Not only did the students have to create a brochure which was easy to read and understand, but they also had to pitch their designs to the committee, much like they would in the world of work.

Matthew’s design proved the most popular, with his concept of the brochure cover represented as a banner to advertise the festival.

He said: “After my work was chosen I was extremely happy and couldn't wait to receive the professionally printed versions and to know that my work was going to be seen by everyone that attends the festival.

“One of the main things I enjoy about the course and the college are the opportunities such as the briefs, and this is the second chance I have had to be judged for on work for a real client.”

Darlington for Culture (DfC) is co-ordinating the Festival and John Dean, Chair for DfC, added: “Matthew’s cover was most striking and when we road tested the concept, it had a big impact, with its clean design and easy to read style.”

3,000 of the brochures have now been printed and circulated around the Darlington and wider Teesside region, as the third Darlington Arts Festival gets underway next week.