Vision 2020

BSc
Digital
(Hons)
Journalism
SHOWCASE

3
Welcome
05
Virtual Showcase
06
Alexandra Wilson
08
Fran Tirpak
16
Mo Dukali
24
Georgia Hartley
34
Kate Hathaway
42
Jack Sykes
50
Nina Large
60
Farah Jamal
68
Nicole Durkin
76

5
Welcome to Vision 2020, a publication showcasing the work of
Leeds Beckett University BSc (Hons) Digital Journalism students,
class of 2020.
As the title suggests, we have collectively contributed our individual
visions to this publication. Some brought photography, others video,
writing, web and graphic design, social media skills or a combination
of them all, but everyone brought their dedication. Whilst the
magazine showcases one project from each of us it also celebrates
and reflects on our hard work and commitment over the last three
years. We are proud of our achievements and are excited to share our
work.
Accompanying this publication is a virtual exhibition, showcasing
each of our chosen independent projects. It represents a final
goodbye and thank you to the staff, course and school. We started
together as creative individuals willing to learn and are ending this
journey together as creative professionals. We hope that you enjoy
and support our publication and showcase, and will join us in the
celebration of our achievements as we look forward to what creative
endeavours the future will bring for us.
Special thanks to Anthony Walker, Lizzie Coombes, Peter Defty,
Jenny Schofield, Hugo Smith, Alison Munn, the Helpdesk team and to
everyone else who has contributed to this publication and our work.
Fran and Farah (publication team)

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VIRTUAL
SHOWCASE
For the first time, the BSc (Hons) Digital Journalism Showcase will be
held online. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic we have repurposed our
exhibition for the virtual world. We have welcomed this transition process
as it has been a learning experience that will prove beneficial for us all in
the future.
The main goal for us was to create an exhibition that offers as close to a
real life experience as possible. Before the pandemic hit, we had
planned a showcase that involved all of the courses within the Creative
Technologies. This year, Creative Technologies became part of Leeds
School of Arts, so we have created a virtual showcase that will take its
place alongside other virtual events in the school’s final year student
festival.
Presenting our event online has numerous benefits. We are now able
to attract a global audience of industry professionals as well as friends
and family, from anywhere in the world. This has become our USP for the
digital showcase as the virtual exhibition will run for a year and allow far
more exposure for our work.
Enjoy the show. You can find it by following the QR code below.
opening night
10/6/20
FROM 6PM!
Jack and Nina (venue team)

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A L
E X
HEE AVIATORS
C R
CHEE R
Hailing from Leeds, Alexandra Wilson produces rich content for multimedia
platforms. Her specialism has its roots in the music scene where,
when she was just twelve, she was already interviewing and gathering
video content from live music performances and festivals for online
publications.
Whilst studying for her BSc (Hons) Digital Journalism degree, she found
herself enjoying videography and photography, and went on to do her
Creative Media Practice placement at a fitness club. Her design and
content-gathering skills were put to the test in a professional environment,
producing a fully-functioning, media-rich website for the client.
During her time at university, she has become involved with Beckett sports,
both as a sports union member and media creator. Her involvement in
events, game days and vlogging solidified her passion for sports media. In
2018, Alexandra became Secretary for social media for the cheerleading
society, where she managed social media and developed her camera
skills.
Alexandra refined her skills in the marketing sector in her summer internship
at Park Leisure, where she became more experienced in data analytics,
advertising and social media management.
Aviators Cheer shows Alexandra’s considerable videography,
photography, design and editing all focused on documenting a sporting
community showcased on a multi-function website.
alexandrawilson3.wixsite.com/site
@_ajwmedia
alexandra-jayne-wilson

11
“Aviation is proof that given the
will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible”
Aviators Cheer

12 13
“We are national
champions and are
undefeated. It’s given me
lots of confidence as well
as personal skills such as
communication and
teamwork. Outside of
training, Cheer has given
me all my friends. I have
the best time at Cheer.”
Emily Leszniwskyj
Aviators Carnegie Black

15

16 17
signs of
F R A N
ES S
NDER NES TE S
N
Francesca Tirpak is a photographer, writer, journalist and designer from
San Diego, California. They are currently studying BSc (Hons) Digital
Journalism at Leeds Beckett University, having recently returned from a
gap year in New York City where they interned at Terrorbird Media, Girlie
Action, and ATO Records. There, they undertook a variety of roles and
responsibilities within the music industry including marketing, publicity, and
artist management. Fran has also worked with ListenSD, one of the largest
music media magazines operating out of San Diego, since 2015, in both
contributor and administrative positions.
Since moving to England from Southern California, Fran’s interests have
grown from mainly music journalism, including shooting concerts and
review articles, to more in-depth profile features and portrait photography.
Additionally, they’re delving further into videography and design, with a
solid focus still on DIY scenes in art and music.
Signs of Tenderness is an in-depth investigation of themes surrounding
chosen family in the LGBTQ+ community during the rise of the fourth wave
of feminism, with a focus on intersectionality and the unique manifestation
of relationship characteristics within this community. This project is
manifested in a mixed-media photobook, including short interviews from
the subjects photographed during travels and meetings with contributors in
the USA and the UK.
@poeticalamity francescatirpak.com poeticalamity

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24 25
under the
MO
S URF AC E
Mo Dukali is a photographer whose passion for fashion and music culture
has led to him specialising in studio portraiture and fashion photography.
Additionally, Mo has taken an interest in developing his abilities to edit his
images using industry-standard techniques such as frequency separation
as well as other complex Photoshop processes.
His journey into the photography industry began by collaborating with
makeup artists to produce a range of creative studio portraits for the
editorial, fashion, SFX makeup and beauty sectors. Furthermore, Mo has
collaborated with fashion models and music artists to produce portfolios
and promotional artwork.
By his third year of University, he was confident enough in his skillset to
quit his retail job and venture into the world of freelance photography.
Photographic commissions to date include food and interior projects for
local restaurants, social events for university societies, and portraits for
fitness supplement retailers. Mo has also been commissioned several
times to shoot behind-the-scenes images for Klash Productions, known for
producing big-budget, cinematic music videos for the likes of Ed Sheeran
and Stormzy.
Under The Surface explores the impact of ethnicity and background on
individual identity. He has done this by collaborating with a makeup artist
to create a series of aesthetically striking studio portraits that highlight the
models’ backgrounds. The images are accompanied by a statement given
by the model about their individual experience of growing up with their
respective ethnicities.
@modukaliphoto
modukali95

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KENZIE
This collection of studio portraits was taken
to explore ethnicity and identity. These days
humans are able to move around the world
like never before and as a result cultures
have become entwined with each other. It is
no longer rational for humans to be labelled
as simply belonging to one group or
another. Each individual has a different story
and experience with regards their culture and
identity that makes us who we are today.
The final vision for each of these photographs
was a collaborative effort between
photographer and model and the final
photographs aim to celebrate cultural
diversity and coexistence.
“Coming from both Iranian and Caribbean backgrounds has been an interesting
experience as these are two very different cultures. Being such a light complexion
due to my Middle Eastern roots has sometimes had me branded a ‘wannabe’ or
resulted in me being told that I’m ‘trying to be black’ by some ignorant people.
However, this doesn’t bother me as I’m proud of my roots and will dress how I
want. I enjoy being of mixed ethnicity as I feel like I can fit in anywhere. I’m not
trying to be anyone. I’m simply myself.”

OLIVIA
SOFIA
“Having both Indian and Caribbean roots has been great as it means I have had the
pleasure of growing up with fabulous cuisines from both sides of my family! I’ve always
been very proud of my roots and really enjoy taking part in cultural holidays such as
carnival as I fully support the principal of ‘one love’. I like to wear my hair in braids for
tradition but also because they symbolise strength by taming my otherwise wild hair.”
“I found moving from Portugal to the UK quite challenging at first, but something I’ve
appreciated about moving was the realisation of just how vast the world is. I’ve got to
experience so much being around many different kinds of people and I’ve found that
really interesting. Having to face moving to a place with a very different culture has
caused a lot of personal growth. I’ll never forget my Portuguese roots, but the UK is my
home now as well.”

TRACEY
RAMADAN
“I am very proud of the progression my home country of China has made in terms of
women’s rights. Thirty years ago, women would not be allowed to show their shoulders and
dresses would have to be below the knee. The dress I’m wearing represents that
progression as it has a traditional Chinese pattern, but I can still feel sexy.”
“Migrating to the UK during the 80s was an interesting experience. I didn’t experience
racism as such as the UK was overall quite welcoming to immigrants by the 80s. However,
many people were quite surprised by the size of my afro hair which was the fashion at the
time. My culture is very important to me as it is based around having respect for others,
especially my elders. I enjoyed embracing western culture as well, which also has many
positive aspects about it. This way I got the best of both worlds.”

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GE
OR
GI
A
XENON
Georgia Hartley is a photographer and journalist who has developed
an interest in portraiture, automotive, and event photography. She
enjoys editing images as much as taking the actual photograph. In her
photographs, Georgia focuses on colour and tries to revolve her images
around that theme.
During her time at Leeds Beckett, Georgia has taken part in many
professional experiences, such as photographing for the ARIAS and Deer
Shed 9 in 2018, and helped to produce many social media campaigns
outside of the university. She has also had her work printed in local
newspapers and used for university marketing purposes.
This interest in social media campaigns has helped her develop a further
love for social media marketing. After university, Georgia would like to
gain more skills in digital/social media marketing to be able to pursue a
successful marketing career. Georgia would like to continue to pursue her
interest in automotive photography.
Xenon is a series of portraits created using studio flash with coloured gels
to illuminate her subjects. This work shows Georgia’s preferred style of
portraiture. The concept behind this was to further explore the style, but to
focus more on the strength and intensity of the colours.
@georgiahartleyx
GeorgiaHartley

42 43
let’s talk about
KAT E
S EX
E D
Kate Hathaway is a freelance photographer from the North East of
England specialising in events and live music photography, and is the
Digital Content Coordinator at Leeds Beckett Students’ Union.
As an avid music fan, Kate has shot all kinds of live music events, from
small indie gigs to multi-thousand capacity venue concerts and festivals.
Her work has been published both online and in print for many music
publications. Over her time studying at Leeds Beckett, she has had the
opportunity to expand this experience; such as attending the 2017 Radio
Academy Awards as a front of house and backstage photographer, and
has joined the Deer Shed Festival media team as a returning team member
for each year’s event, from 2018 - present. In addition to photographing
live music, Kate also enjoys writing about important, often branded
‘taboo’ subjects, and has a passion for graphic design, web design, and
illustration. These combined passions have helped inspire her final year
project.
Let’s Talk About Sex Ed takes the form of an illustrated website, all about
the importance of sex and relationships education in modern day school
curriculums. The website is a fun yet informative hub of resources ranging
from quizzes, interviews and illustrations to help inform people why this
curriculum is a vital source of education, helping to convey what today’s
young people want to learn about and why.
@katehathawayphoto
katehathaway.co.uk
KateHathawayPhoto
katehathawayphoto

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50 51
JACK
ILDL IKE
NDEN CH CIE TE S
Jack Sykes is a travel and street photographer from Leeds, West Yorkshire.
He documents the life and culture of the places he visits worldwide by
observing and learning from the locals, his goal being to highlight the
importance of experiencing life outside of one’s comfort zone. He believes
that to truly understand the traditions and culture of a community, one must
immerse oneself within it.
Childlike Tendencies was shot whilst studying on a semester abroad in
Stuttgart, Germany. The series focuses on the importance of reconnecting
with the natural world, and revisiting our childlike state as a way to
reimagine how we conduct our lives in the digital age. He believes it is
important to make a conscious decision to step away from the Internet, to
allow ourselves an opportunity to cleanse our minds, and to combat the
negative pressures that today’s society puts on an individual.
@jacksykesphotography
jackksykes

Whether you want to design games, learn animation for film, or discover new ways to produce
video and audio content, our courses will teach you how to use the latest digital technology to
engage with audiences.
In recent years, Broadcast Media students directed and broadcast the England Handball finals
live stream on the BBC Red Button, while Digital Journalism students completed a shoot at The
Audio & Radio Industry Awards. We are also members of Game Republic and every year we
take students to the Student Showcase Competition, with many winning awards from industry
judges.
Our creative technologies courses offer you the chance to forge a career at the cutting edge
of the creative industries. From traditional daily newspapers to game development companies,
Leeds is a hive of creativity and employment opportunities are expected to grow more here than
in any other city in the UK between now and 2025.
BSc (Hons) DIGITAL
JOURNALISM
BSc (Hons) BROADCAST MEDIA
TECHNOLOGIES
BSc (Hons) CREATIVE MEDIA
TECHNOLOGY
BA (Hons) GAMES ART
This practical course is aimed at creative and
dynamic individuals with a passion for modern
digital technology. You will focus on the creative
application of technology and you will use
industry-standard software packages in our
professional studios.
You will learn how to produce effective designs,
websites, apps, short films and animations while
working as part of a production team. You will
build a substantial portfolio of work and you
will have the chance to develop relationships
with future employers at our showcase event,
where you will display your final-year project.
Positioned at the intersection of art and
technology, this course will provide a practical
and creative exploration in the production of
art for games. You will engage prior to arrival
through a series of stimulating summer projects,
designed to prepare you for first year at the
university.
In year one, you will apply the fundamentals
of design theory to game art media and
critical visual research strategies, supported
through your development of practical 2D/3D
visualisation and compositional skills.
In the age of mobile technology, anyone can
use their phone to take pictures and video
and send their stories across the globe as
soon as they happen, but it is the quality of
the material that matters. You will develop
the skills and confidence to spot a story and
think about the different ways it could be told,
whether using photography, sound or the
written word.
Developments in technology have led to
exciting new approaches in the creation of
broadcast video and audio content. Whether
you want to produce content for TV, radio
or the web, this course will develop your
understanding of these new technological
developments and approaches so that
you become an expert producer with the
confidence to work across all platforms.
BSc (Hons) GAMES DESIGN
This course will equip you with the specialist
skills and knowledge to enter the games, digital
and creative entertainment industries. You will
focus on three main areas: programming and
software engineering; art, concept and asset
production; and game design studies, practice
and theory.
You will take products from an initial idea
through the design, visualisation and technical
implementation stages. Placement opportunities,
networking events and guest lectures from
industry experts will enhance your awareness of
the career opportunities open to you.

60 61
NINA
IMPORTAN
T
PLA
CES
Nina Large is a photographer and journalist from the North East of
England. Whilst she has an interest in documentary work, over the years
Nina has come to specialise in music and portrait photography, mainly
covering gigs for bands in the North East.
Though using digital technology when working with clients, Nina prefers to
use analogue technology, specifically Polaroid, when working on personal
projects.
During her time at Leeds Beckett University, as well as working as a
photographer at the ARIAS and Deer Shed Festival in 2018, she has been
commissioned to photograph private events and has had work published in
articles in the local press and online publications.
After graduating, Nina would like to further explore her passion for
storytelling and pursue a career as a freelance photographer.
Important Places showcases places around Sunderland City Centre that
are personally important to the people featured. She considers that the
portraits show that the simplest of places are integral to people’s lives, and
the beauty they see in these ‘Important Places’ shows the strong emotional
connections her subjects can have to places in their hometown.
ninaelisabethlarge.wixsite.com/portfolio
@ninaelisabethphotography
ninaelisabethphotography

“The summer house in my garden is an
important place for me, as is the garden in
general. It’s where I go to smoke, to read, to think.
My mother has always been proud of her garden
and it’s the first place I think of when I think of
home, especially since I moved abroad. My own
little place of reflection.”

64 65
“Sunderland doesn’t really have
many places to go so when you
find somewhere you really like
it kinda becomes a part of you
and your life. This is one of those
places for me. It’s really chill
here; they’re always playing
Charlie Chaplin on the TV, and
the music sheets for wallpaper is
cool. I just like being here. There’s
nothing particularly important
about it, it’s just special to me.”

“I found Pop Recs when I was 16, and it instantly became my
favourite place. It was chill and artistic and musical, and acted as an
escape for all the shit I was dealing with at the time. When I was in the
worst places mentally that I’ve ever been, and struggling with my family
issues, Pop Recs almost became my home. I’ve made some of my most
important friendships here, and as much
as I’m no longer in touch with those I
worked with, I’m eternally thankful for
how Pop Recs, and it’s people, have
shaped me into a more confident and
caring woman. I
can never thank
them enough.”

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F A
RAH
H.
O.
P.
B.
Farah Jamal is a editorial designer based in West Yorkshire with interests in
fashion and the written word. Books have always been a passion of hers,
thanks to her grandparents taking her to the local library after school each
day.
Her interests include how current digital technology can enhance the
perception and understanding of the written word. Focusing mainly on
magazine design, Farah has developed a substantial interest in style guides
and eye-catching layouts.
As well as a recently completed commission to redesign a journal aimed at
helping new students adjust to university life, other projects include creating
editorial content and layout for fashion and photographic technology
features.
Homes of Pages Bound focuses on the impact of e-commerce on
independent bookshops. Her love of books instigated the idea for this
project: to create a magazine with the purpose of supporting independent
bookshops and highlighting the importance of their continued existence.
@farahjamaluk

Barry Townsend-Cardew owns and runs Daisy Lane
Books, having inherited the shop from his parents.
He lives upstairs and owns over 2,000 books
himself. There are no physical records of any of
the books stocked, with all books catalogued in the
owners head.

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Originally, Barry’s parents were
planning on turning the bookshop
into a post office, but due to many
post offices being robbed in the
late 80s, they decided to keep it
as a bookshop. May 2020 marks
the shops 30th year, with 16,000
to 20,000 books currently in
stock, with the most being 25,000.
It started with just a box full of
books, with genres ranging from
the most common to the rarest.

Gerry the ginger cat is a regular
visitor to the shop.

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NI
COLE
REPLICATI ON
Nicole Durkin is a photographer and journalist who has had an interest in
photography from a young age. Her favourite genres of photography are
portraiture and landscape. Most recently, her work has incorporated the
use of reflective surfaces, such as mirrors and windows.
Studying BSc (Hons) Digital Journalism at Leeds Beckett is something
Nicole has wanted to do since she was age fourteen. Through years ten
to thirteen, Nicole studied photography and really enjoyed learning new
things, but she has constantly striven to improve her abilities in the subject.
Replication examines reflective elements within a landscape, a subject
which she has not been able to explore as of yet. The first of the two
locations featured is a park with a lake that she has frequented since
childhood; the second is a breezy beach that is home to a stunning sunset,
two of Nicole’s favourite things. Both places bring back sentimental
memories, with each photo telling its own story.
@nicoledurkinphoto

‘Beaches have always been one of my favourite places to
go. The ocean breeze and the fresh air hitting your face and
blowing through your hair. Something that I always love to
do is watch the sunset while at the beach. Just like this photo
shows, I love the way the blue skies reflect onto the ocean
and the golden sun glows on top of the mountains.’
‘This photo is taken on top of a bridge where I used to stand with my
grandad and look out onto the lake. Not only does this photo have a
memory behind it for me, but I feel like it captures the project title well.
The word replication means to copy something; the water copies the
sky and the trees surrounding the lake.’

‘This photo shows a small lake which my dad likes to call the
‘hidden lake’ as not many people know where this lies. At the
bottom centre of the photo, you can see the start of the lake and
that is where my childhood dog used to jump in from and go for
a swim. For the photo itself, I love the composition: the
replication of the narrowing trees and the colours of nature.’