FINAL year BA (Hons) Graphic Communications students from Bath Spa University have wowed a panel of judges with their original designs for this year's Bath Fringe Festival poster and programme.

The group of final year students were given a professional brief to come up with unique and eye-catching designs for the next Bath Fringe Festival poster.

The six finalists selected were James Whitehead, Caitlin Curtis, Cav Rigby, Amber Brookes, Niamh Thompson and Lucy Thompson.

The students then presented their final designs to a panel of judges and explained their concept, colours and inspiration.

The winning design by James Whitehead will adorn the programme for this year's Bath Fringe Festival from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, June 7. Mr Whitehead's use of bold imagery and imagination captivated all of the judges.

Tim Vyner, Professor in Illustration from the School of Design at Bath Spa University, said: “Our final year Graphic Communication students have been designing the poster and visual identity for the Fringe for many years.

"It's a really good professional opportunity for students to work directly with a client, and it is always a really nice moment when the Fringe gets its unique personality for each year once the designs have been selected.”

Steve Henwood, from Bath Fringe Festival, said: "There are two things we gain by using student work here: firstly that they are precisely the people who are most attuned to the newest developments and fashions in graphic art.

"They're spending all their time keeping up with exactly that, so our images never look out-of-date.

"Secondly, they know how to communicate with their own age-group (and those a little older) better than any focus-group; and these are always a generation that a Fringe needs to be able to talk with. It's a win/win/win set-up and we always get brilliant images."

Mr Whitehead said: “I am so pleased that my work has been chosen to represent such a unique festival."

"I really wanted the design to encapsulate the idea that something fun different and on the fringe was coming to Bath and I thought what represents being on the fringe more than being an alien."

The final design was launched at the Bath Fringe Festival's open meeting on Tuesday at the Bell Inn in Bath.

For more on the Bath Fringe Festival, go to www.bathfringe.co.uk, social media feeds (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) or the printed festival programmes which will be available locally nearer the time.