undergraduate campaign
the university of sheffield
New recruits often feel overwhelmed by generic claims from impersonal sources. With Sheffield named Student University of the Year, we wanted to uncover what truly makes it exceptional for its new undergraduate campaign. Was it being in the UK’s greenest city or having the top Students' Union for several years running? In fact, it wasn’t just one thing that made the student experience one of a kind.
delivery
Sheffield’s greatness is the sum of its parts, and to bring this idea to life, we created a bold visual look inspired by a Rubik’s cube. With each side and facet representing a different experience, this metaphor highlights how the student journey isn’t defined by a single moment but by a dynamic mix of diverse and exciting experiences.
To shape the messaging, we spoke to real students through a series of vox pops, capturing their best experiences to inform the campaign. Alongside this, we built a messaging house that championed Sheffield’s biggest accolades—being named Student University of the Year, having the UK’s best Students' Union, and ranking as a top 10 university city. These achievements, combined with real student insights, helped create an authentic and compelling narrative.
Alongside the CGI visuals, we developed engaging social content, including playful fake out-of-home digital ads showing students interacting with a life-sized version of the concept.
Working closely with Sheffield’s in-house creative team, we rolled out this idea across key materials like the prospectus, UCAS, and Open Day assets. To expand on the visual look, we also introduced a 'conversational' graphic toolkit—using geometric shapes inspired by the cube design to reflect the many voices and stories that make Sheffield unique.
services
+ Campaign Concept
+ Campaign Messaging
+ Audience Insight
+ Prospectus
+ UCAS and Open Day concepts
+ Photography
+ Graphic toolkit
+ Brand Guidelines
+ CGI
+ FOOH film
