College students collaborate with local tattoo studio on live industry project
Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) Contemporary Art and Illustration students have completed a work experience project in partnership with local tattoo studio Outsider Art.
The project challenged students to design a range of branded merchandise, including t-shirts and tote bags, inspired by contemporary tattoo art.
As part of the brief, students researched current tattoo styles and trends before developing their own original designs. Throughout the project, Kaylee Osborne and Marc Osborne from Outsider Art visited the College to review students' initial concepts, offering professional feedback and guidance to help refine their ideas.
Following this industry critique, students finalised their artwork and prepared their designs for production.
Selected designs were then professionally printed onto t-shirts and tote bags using a traditional screen-printing process, giving students first-hand experience of taking a creative concept through to a finished product.
The collaboration is part of an ongoing partnership between BSDC and Outsider Art, which has provided students with a range of enriching industry experiences.
Earlier in the year, Kaylee and Marc also delivered a live tattoo demonstration, allowing students to observe the tattooing process up close, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the creative and technical skills involved in professional tattooing.
Rowena Barrett, course leader for Art, Design and Craft at Burton and South Derbyshire College, said: "Partnerships like the one we have with Outsider Art are incredibly valuable.
“It's thanks to businesses like Outsider Art that our students can access meaningful, real-world work experience, helping them develop their creative practice while building the skills and confidence they'll need for future careers in the creative industries."
Marc Osborne from Outsider Art added: "We're happy to support the College and give students opportunities to experience live industry projects.
“It's great to see their creativity develop and to be part of helping the next generation of artists gain practical experience."
