Students from the University of Chester have been honing their skills with a full service digital agency in the city centre. 

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Graphic Design students DM Kavindu Thamalka Bandara Dissanayake and Judd Martin have undertaken work placements with Coax Creative as part of their ‘Preparation for the Creative Industry’ module. 

As their second year comes to a close, the students were tasked with seeking work placements to contribute to their final grade and gain experience in the world of work. 

DM Kavindu Thamalka Bandara Dissanayake and Judd Martin learnt about the day-to-day of a creative agency and understanding client briefs, while also developing skills in new design tools. They also worked alongside University of Chester alumnus, Brad Hughes, Digital Designer at Coax Creative, who graduated from the same course in 2019.  

DM Kavindu Thamalka Bandara Dissanayake, Graphic Design student at the University of Chester, said: “The experience at Coax Creative gave me the chance to sharpen my skills and learn new ones. I am really happy I had the opportunity to work here and would recommend the agency to anyone who is looking for an industry placement.”

Fellow course peer, Judd Martin, added: “I am thrilled to have had the opportunity of a graphic design placement at Coax Creative in Chester. It has been a fantastic chance to gain hands-on experience and build my design skills in a real working environment.” 

The students worked on visuals for social media, website banners, client presentations, as well as internal content for the company. 

Gareth Price, Programme Leader for BA Graphic Design, said: “I think it is a brilliant experience that our students got the chance to work with Coax Creative. They are taking the first step into the industry and handling tasks professionally, always determined to learn and improve their skillset.” 

George Daly, Founder at Coax Creative, said: It has been a pleasure to have DM Kavindu and Judd on the team. I have seen them grow throughout their placements and I hope their time with us will give them extra insight to take into their final year of university.”

Coax Creative creates bespoke digital designs, platforms and products covering brand identity, brand strategy, web design, and back-end development.