A little over six months ago, four young graduates joined the “Creatives in Residence” project based at the CMYUK demonstration facility in Shrewsbury. After a difficult two years with little access to their university facilities from 2020–2021, the CIRL initiative presented a unique opportunity to explore digital manufacturing technologies and build their commercial knowledge. 

The project’s aim was to deliver a learning experience where the graduates would benefit from practical learning, expert tuition, hands-on access to digital equipment, and the full support of the CMYUK team alongside industry mentors and peers. The graduates have also benefitted from the combined efforts of the sponsors' application specialists who have visited the site to share their expert knowledge and training.

The graduates have now completed this six-month project, which was brought to a close with a final showcase. As the graduates missed out on their official graduation when they completed their university education, this was an overdue celebration. They have worked through four design briefs and, with each, have applied their new skills and industry knowledge to the manufacture of printed apparel, home furnishings, wallcoverings, upholstered furniture, carpets, and many other decorative applications.