Libby Minns: Graphic Communications degree student wins a national award

Libby Minns

Libby Minns, 20, from the Sudbury area is doing a degree in graphic communication at University Studies at West Suffolk College. Now in her second year, the talented designer and artist has just received a national award for a project that she created based on the Enigma code. The subject was featured heavily in the film called the Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing. Here Libby explains what the recent success means and her inspiration behind the project.

I did graphic design at school and then went straight to West Suffolk College at 16 to continue on a full time graphics course. I got a distinction – and then progressed on to a degree.

I’ve always liked art and the digital world so this graphics brings these two passions together.

In terms of my love for this subject, I guess I had a bit of an epiphany moment at school where I did a packaging campaign for a perfume - and that was the moment that I knew that this was for me.

During my time at college and university, I’ve visited exhibitions and went to Brick Lane in London to look at some art.

I also did a four-week placement at Cubiq Design in Newmarket. I loved my time at Cubiq Design getting an insider’s view of life in the real world - and the experience has strengthened my desire to work in this industry even more.

In terms of my degree, I decided to stay local as I love living in this area – it is my home.

I study two days a week and it’s a really great course. You get so much support. You are one big community. The tuition we get on my course is one to one, very personal and thorough - and the university building has a really nice, relaxed vibe that is conducive to learning.

Most recently I won an award from the International Society of Typographic Design (ISTD) for a 28-page exploration of the Enigma Code called ‘Decipher’.

I originally started out looking at doing designs based around slang words and moved on through this to the word ‘decoding’. I then thought about World War II. Both my great grandparents were in this conflict and when this project first came up – it was around the time of Remembrance Sunday – so everything just fell into place – it all seemed to connect.

It was a national competition called the Annual Student Assessment Scheme 2024 in the project linguistic hybridity category.

The judges said that ‘I’d shown a finesse that was refreshing to see’ and my tutor described the award as being ‘a real accomplishment’.

I spent a great deal of time on the project and it was a great boost and a big surprise to win as I’ve not always been the most confident person. I didn’t expect it - so I felt quite proud of myself.

For my prize, I get a certificate and membership of the ISTD - and it’s great to get recognition like this. The graphic design industry is fiercely competitive so recognition like this can only help me in the future.

I’ve got one more year after this at university and then I want to get a job in the industry working for an agency or as a freelancer.

I like the idea of branding and packaging - it would be really motivating and cool to see my designs in the real world.