Nottingham Trent University, School of Art and Design

History

In 1836, the Government Select Committee on Art and Manufactures produced a report highlighting concerns about the standard of design in the industry. Higher standards abroad forced manufacturers to buy or copy foreign designs. Later in 1836, the Board of Trade established the ‘Government School of Design’ in London, where, in 1837, it opened at Somerset House.

In order to encourage Practical Art in other populous areas of the UK, a ‘Government School of Design’ was then established in each of several provincial towns, where manufacturing industries were already in existence. Inevitably, the original title was adjusted to include the name of the town where it was located – whilst locally, being simply referred to as, the ‘School of Design’.

Somerset House in London in 1837, later the Royal College of Art, from 1896

Manchester, in 1838

York, in 1842

Nottingham, in 1843

Sheffield, in 1843 (September)

Birmingham, in 1843 (September)

Coventry, in 1843

Glasgow, in 1845

Norwich, in 1845

Historical Locations

The ‘School of Design’ opened on the 1 April 1843, at the People's Hall in Beck Lane (now Heathcote Street), moving to Plumptre House in Stoney Street in 1852, and to Commerce Square, off High Pavement, in 1858. In 1863, a site was purchased in Waverley Street for the construction of a building specifically for the school.

Building work started on 23 May 1863 but the foundation stone wasn't laid until 22 October that year when Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle was available for the ceremony. The school was opened by Henry Pelham-Clinton, 6th Duke of Newcastle on 19 June 1865. The architect was Frederick Bakewell. In front of the building is a statue of the artist Richard Parkes Bonington, produced by Watson Fothergill.

Current status

Location

Nottingham Trent University's City site is based close to Nottingham city centre.

The School of Art and Design is based at the university's City site, about half a mile from the city centre.

Art and design facilities

All of NTU's art and design courses are based at three buildings on the university's City site.

Bonington building — a labyrinthine three-story building.

Opened in 1969 by the Duchess of Kent, and upgraded in 2005.

Included in the design, at the heart of the building, is a high-ceilinged exhibition space, known as 'Bonington Gallery'. It is one of the oldest art galleries in Nottingham.

Bonington was officially re-opened in May 2006 by Sir Paul Smith.

Modern art and design studios, workshops, ceramics and glass kilns

Photographic studios

Fashion studios, electronic garment and knitwear technology

Digital textile printing, digital loom and embroidery equipment

Laser cutting technology

Computer suites, CAD systems, image and sound editing studios

Exhibition galleries

Art and design shop

Café and social spaces

Waverley building — a restored, listed building with design heritage.

The Waverley building houses the Nottingham School of Art and Design since 1865.

Courses

Courses are offered at undergraduate levels (BA Hons in numerous disciplines) and also MAs in a wide range of subjects.

There is an MA by 'Registered Project or thesis', offered as a flexible postgraduate course, allowing students to tailor their course specifically around their areas of individual interest. There are a variety of Part-time, Art and Design MA courses beginning in 2026 and 2027.

Industrial links

In the field of art and design, NTU has links with a wide range of companies, professional bodies and institutions on an international level, including Apple, Arcadia Group, Boots (company), Broadway, Fashion Institute of Technology, Association of Illustrators, Marks & Spencer, Sony, and Sophie Steller.

International students

The university has international liaison staff, course tutors and trained counsellors to give international students advice and practical help, and also offers a detailed orientation programme the week before term begins.

University representatives regularly travel to international education fairs to give advice and information to overseas applicants.

International exchanges

NTU has links across Europe, the United States, Japan, Korea, China, Australia, India, Africa, and the Far East, both through individual contacts and exchange programmes.

Many of NTU's undergraduate courses offer the opportunity to spend time studying at a university overseas. Students can do this in Europe through the Erasmus Programme, previously known as the Socrates programme from 1994 until 1999, and then Socrates II from 2000 until 2006. For countries worldwide, there is the university's study abroad scheme.

The NFFC Badge

In early 1973, R. Lyon, the deputy director of Trent Polytechnic, and W. Payne, the Associate Head of the Graphics Department of the College of Art, were approached by the Nottingham Forest Football Club, for advice regarding the design of a new badge. The Nottingham Evening Post Sports Editor was then consulted, resulting in a competition being organised, which was announced in March 1973. There were 855 entries, some from other countries. (587 in the adult section and 268 in the junior section.)

The winning design was by Trent Polytechnic graphic designer and lecturer, David Lewis. To maintain anonymity, Lewis entered his design using his mother's maiden name. The reason being, that one of the five judges was W. Payne, his head of department at Trent Polytechnic.

After winning the competition, Lewis adapted his entry to produce the final design.

His explanation, describing the new badge, is reproduced below, as printed on page eleven in the Forest Programme of Saturday 8 September 1973:

' The main visual elements in the final design: Equal thickness of heavy line treatment gives a ″completeness″ (fairly weighty appearance is much more likely to identify with supporters than a spindly one). The straight and relatively short tree trunk gives strength and prevents the tree top and the water becoming too separate. The tree achieves a unique quality through its shape — the triangular shape adds stability. The small ″E″ in ″Forest″ helps give a personal identity to the name — it becomes something more unique than just the word.

David Lewis — Designer/Lecturer in Graphic Design, Trent Polytechnic. '

Notable alumni

Rayner Hoff – Public sculptor who rose to prominence in Australia.

Dame Laura Knight – First female artist to be made a Dame of the British Empire

Stuart Trevor – Scottish-born fashion designer who founded the retail group AllSaints.

John Bowley – British architect and engineer.

Graham Ibbeson – British artist and sculptor, known for the realistic figurative sculptures he has created for public commissions in the United Kingdom.

Lawrence Bright – British architect.

Hedley John Price – English architect based in Nottingham.

John Frederick Dodd – British architect based in Derbyshire.

Gilbert Smith Doughty – British architect based in Nottingham and Matlock.

Noel Denholm Davis – English artist, who worked chiefly as a portrait painter.

Charles Doman – British sculptor based in Nottingham.

Arthur Lowe – British painter and member of the Nottingham Society of Artists.

Joseph Else – British sculptor based in Nottingham and associate member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.

Sheila Robinson – British artist and illustrator, one of the Great Bardfield Artists and member of staff at the Royal College of Art.