Student designer wins competition to brand Green Innovation Corridor

James Thomas, a Year 3 student from the School of Arts, impressed judges with a bold and professional branding concept, selected as the winning entry from 16 submissions.

The new identity will help shape how the Green Innovation Corridor is presented to businesses, partners and communities as the major regeneration initiative develops.

Judges praised the design for its clarity and commercial strength, describing it as “a strong logo, clearly communicating GIC, incorporating building and innovation imagery into the design – a strong concept for business audiences”.

The winning concept features a clean, contemporary logo built around the initials ‘GIC’, forming a geometric structure that reflects both the built environment and forward-looking innovation.

The wider branding system demonstrates how the identity can be applied across a range of digital and physical platforms, supporting strong, consistent messaging for the project.

Competition winner and University of Wolverhampton Graphic Design student, James Thomas, said:

“I chose to study at Wolverhampton because of the supportive, small class sizes, which really allow you to develop your skills. When approaching this brief, I spent time researching the Green Innovation Corridor and its purpose, particularly the construction and development elements, and brought those ideas into the design.

“I’m really pleased to have been selected as the winner. It’s been a great opportunity to work on a real-world project, and I’m looking forward to showcasing my work at the Degree Show as I prepare to build a career in digital design, creating user-friendly websites, apps and systems.”

The Green Innovation Corridor connects key sites including the University’s Springfield Campus, Science Park and the i54 business park. It aims to drive innovation, support the transition to net zero, and create new opportunities for skills development, research collaboration and business growth.

Backed by significant funding from UK Government and as part of the West Midlands Investment Zone, the corridor will create spaces for collaboration, incubation and enterprise, supporting job creation and attracting further inward investment into the region.

Dr Pete Cross, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Wolverhampton, said:

“This is an exciting example of how our students are contributing to real-world projects that are shaping the future of our region. The Green Innovation Corridor is a transformative development, and having a strong, professional identity is essential as we engage partners, businesses and communities.

“James’ design captures the spirit of innovation and the built environment in a clear and compelling way, and we are proud to see student talent playing such an important role in this journey.”

Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said:

“It is great to see one of the city’s young people make such a valuable contribution to this transformative scheme for Wolverhampton – congratulations to James.

“It provides GIC with a strong identity that will help showcase opportunities to investors and businesses seeking to locate in the corridor and be part of our community of innovators.”

The winning artwork is now on display at the School of Arts Degree Show, running from 5–19 June 2026, where visitors can explore the creativity and innovation of the University’s graduating students from Monday to Friday, 10am–4pm.