Ex-design student and member of the college’s alumni, Jason Holland, brought an employment enhancing masterclass to learners at West Nottinghamshire College last week.

Jason, who studied the First Diploma in Art and Design from 1989 to 1990 followed by the two-year HND Graphic Design, visited HND Interactive Media students to advise them about making the best of their portfolios when applying for jobs.

His session, entitled ‘Turning your design portfolio into a job’, was delivered to over 40 interactive media students and was the same seminar he has recently presented at the D&AD awards – a national event which celebrated the finest creative work in the world and is part of the New Blood Festival, a programme that introduces recent graduates and current students to the creative industry.

Jason said: “It’s been a pleasure to meet this year’s media students and tell them about my journey from art and design into digital design and even though it was a long time ago that I was a student here, the things I learnt then are still applicable to me today.

“I hope they enjoyed my session on how to get their portfolios prepared and getting the practical elements ready now, in order to show to potential employers.

“I advised them to not only make their portfolios attractive, but to also highlight what practical benefits you could bring to an organisation when pitching to an employer.”