FUTURE FWD support scholarship opportunity to advance equality and inclusion in graphic design

Graphic design undergraduate students at Northumbria University are set to receive a scholarship boost from four design studios based in the UK and US. 

Zak Group, Pentagram, Some Days and Fraser Muggeridge have announced their support to create a three-year FUTURE FWD scholarship which will enable undergraduate students from under-represented backgrounds to access graphic design education at Northumbria University.

The move is part of the University’s commitment to widening participation and promoting fair access to higher education.

The FUTURE FWD Scholarship was created to advance equality and inclusion in graphic design education. Respected leaders in their sector, design studios Zak Group, Pentagram, Some Days and Fraser Muggeridge boast international profiles and clients. 

The scholarship, worth £10,000 per annum, provides maintenance support for a student from a Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority background accepted for the BA Graphic Design degree at Northumbria University. It also includes access to mentorship throughout the course and a paid internship opportunity with one of the studios.

Luke Powell, Partner at Pentagram said: “FUTURE FWD is happy to be collaborating with Northumbria University to grant a £30,000 scholarship to a student from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background studying graphic design. We firmly believe that the design industry needs to become more inclusive and diverse and this begins with making design education more accessible to students from underrepresented communities.”

Associate Professor Jamie Steane from Northumbria’s School of Design said: “At Northumbria we are committed to providing fair access to enriching and empowering higher educational experience for students from all backgrounds. The support from Zak Group, Pentagram, Some Days and Fraser Muggeridge will provide an incredible stepping stone into higher education for talented designers and open doors to industry, helping them to build a strong platform for success in their future careers and life ambitions.”

Since 2021, FUTURE FWD has awarded three scholarships to students studying graphic design.

Further information about FUTURE FWD can be found on the website.

The new FUTURE FWD scholarship at Northumbria continues the progress of the University’s successful Higher Education Without Barriers campaign. With support from alumni, businesses, and charitable partners, Higher Education Without Barriers provides a range of financial initiatives, mental health and wellbeing services, and community-based projects, to make participation and progression in higher education more achievable for talented students, regardless of their circumstances.

Thanks to generous donations of money and time the campaign has led to the creation of 200 new scholarships and supported more than 2,000 Northumbria students since it launched in January 2022.