Media Makeup Students Shine at Creative Careers Event

Last term, Bradford College’s talented Media Makeup students showcased their incredible skills at the Bradford Live Creative Careers Event, impressing visitors and industry professionals with stunning transformations and innovative designs.

Seven students took part in the event, presenting a range of creative projects that demonstrated the breadth of expertise taught at Bradford College. Highlights included a 1950s-inspired transformation complete with vintage makeup and wig styling, an ice dragon prosthetic creation, featuring intricate prosthetic pieces, and body painting where students applied vibrant stencils to visitors throughout the day.

The event, organised in collaboration with Bradford City of Culture, gave students the chance to network with industry professionals, including photographers and theatre representatives, and gain valuable insights into careers in makeup, prosthetics, and special effects.

Course leader Lisa Dawkins, praised the experience:

“For me, it’s getting the Media Makeup students to showcase what they do in a practical sense. It’s great looking at portfolios, but when people see wigs being applied, prosthetics being created, and characters coming to life, it shows the real-world side of our industry. That interaction is invaluable.”

The interactive Bradford College stand attracted significant attention, with visitors eager to learn about the creative process and view students’ portfolios. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, boosting students’ confidence and reinforcing the importance of networking in the creative industries.

“I have never done anything like this before so for me it was a big push for my confidence to create the prosthetic Ice Dragon look in front of so many people. A highlight for me would be the people who kept coming back to see how the Ice Dragon character came to life, prosthetic makeup application is a huge job on your own so I am proud of myself for being able to do this under the pressures of thousands of people walking by and asking questions.”
– Katie Huskisson, Media Make Up student

Our Media Makeup students also benefited from one-to-one mentoring sessions throughout the day, where they received advice on building portfolios, exploring career pathways, and setting up businesses in the makeup industry.

This event not only celebrated Bradford’s vibrant creative community but also highlighted Bradford College’s commitment to preparing students for successful careers in the arts.

Find out about our Media Makeup courses here.