We are delighted to announce the winner of our Napier Student Film Festival Poster Challenge! We received several strong entries, but Vyshnav Manikandan Thanka's brilliant work was unanimously picked as the winner by our panel. It will become the official poster for the 2025 edition of the Napier Student Film Festival.
We caught up with Vyshnav to find out more about him and how he created his winning entry:
Q: Where are you from and what are you studying at Edinburgh Napier?
Vyshnav: I’m originally from Kerala, India, and I’m currently pursuing an MSc in User Experience Design at Edinburgh Napier University.
Q: What inspired you to submit an entry for the competition?
Vyshnav: As someone passionate about visual storytelling, I found the theme "Bridging the Gap" especially inspiring. It resonated with my own journey as an international student navigating the transition between academic and professional life. I saw the competition as a chance to express that shared experience through art.
Q: What was your process for creating the poster?
Vyshnav: I started with a rough concept sketch then refined the composition digitally, using warm tones and symbolic elements like a golden bird and university landmarks to balance realism with imagination. My goal was to evoke a sense of hope and creative freedom.
Q: What do you hope to do after you finish your studies?
Vyshnav: After completing my degree, I aim to work in a creative field that blends my skills in design, storytelling, and user experience. I'm particularly interested in emotionally intelligent design and visual communication, and I hope to contribute to projects that create meaningful impact.
Q: Do you have any other work or a portfolio that you would like us to share?
Yes, I’d love to share my digital art and design portfolio. You can find some of my recent work on Instagram. I'm currently building a full portfolio site as well.
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Massive congratulations and thanks to Vyshnav for his fantastic work - we love it! Keep an eye out for more details about the festival coming later this year.