FOUR out of 12 winners of this year’s University of the Arts White Square Teaching Awards are London College of Communication staff.

No other UAL college matched this success.

The awards, a reflection of other major art and design awards the Red Dot and the Yellow Pencil, as well as being a reference to London’s The White Cube, and to Malevich’s famous composition White on White, recognise staff excellence as voted by students.

Of Nicolas Marechal, a technician on the BA (Hons) Interaction and Moving Image course, one student said: “If you have a crazy idea he knows how to make it happen. He is always
ready to help you develop projects in your own way.”

“Paul (McNeil) makes me feel more confident as a designer; I have been treated as an equal who has a lot to offer,” said another student of the lead tutor on the Postgraduate Graphic Design course.

There were 570 nominations for 270 candidates. The judging panel, made up of 10 UAL course reps and Union officers, scored each nominee against three criteria: Inspiring, Passionate, and Approachable.

Other winners were Paul Bailey, lead tutor on the Design for Graphic Communication BA and FdA courses, and Steve Cross, BA (Hons) Media and Cultural Studies course director.

“Paul (Bailey) sees potential in everything. He is super talented and always give well reflected and useful feedback,” a student said.

“When you see how enthusiastic and knowledgeable Steve is it drives you to learn and challenges you to push your own boundaries,” another said.