University of East London Homepage

Channel 5 calls on UEL expertise for Gadget Show

Thursday 6 October 2011

Interactive Dracula Book

When popular Channel 5 technology programme, the Gadget Show, was looking for someone to design a novel interactive comic for them they went straight to UEL graduate Matt Gibson.

Interactive Media Design graduate Matt, now marketing and production director for London-based digital agency Cyber-Duck, was approached by the show to design and produce an interactive version of the classic horror story Dracula.

The show chose Matt for the project after presenter, Ortis Deley, came across his award-winning student project, Dead on Arrival, when googling for inspiration on how to transform Bram Stoker’s dark tale into a whole new digital medium.

Busy balancing numerous multimedia projects Matt asked current UEL student, Jerome Defreitas, doing work experience with Matt’s company, to work on the project with him. Jerome, who is currently studying his final year BSc (Hons) in Multimedia Design Technology, worked on the graphics for the project. The finished design received very favourable comments from the author Iain Banks who appeared on the show to judge the finished result.

Programme Leader for new media degrees, Dr Tony Sampson said, “Matt’s British Interactive Media Association award-winning success back in 2007 was brilliant for him and UEL, but this demonstrates how his work is fast becoming a benchmark for the design of interactive comics and graphic novels. We are doubly pleased since Matt chose one of our current students to work on the project with him."

"Jerome is a very talented graphic/interactive designer and his work deserves attention. We asked Cyber-Duck to take him on over the summer to get some valuable work experience, but didn’t expect this to happen.”

Matt commented “It was a real privilege to be asked to be involved with an episode of the Gadget Show. Working with Ortis was great fun and we managed to draw on Jerome’s superb graphic design skills to create a brilliant interactive comic capable of winning the challenge.”

The interactive Dracula comic can be viewed here, while a clip of the show can be viewed here.

Return to top

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

Information for screenreader users:

For a general description of these pages and an explanation of how they should work with screenreading equipment please follow this link: Link to general description

For further information on this web site’s accessibility features please follow this link: Link to accessibility information