Hello SUSU team,

I am writing to raise a safety concern and propose a creative solution that could enhance our university's brand presence on social media.

As a student and Highfield resident, I have observed numerous students climbing the wall along Burgess Road to take photos of themselves with the Southampton sign during graduation days (with the gown)  at the University Road intersection. This practice not only creates safety risks due to heavy traffic and pedestrian flow but also potentially impacts our university's reputation when these photos are shared on global social media platforms.

I would like to propose the installation of dedicated photo-friendly (Instagram, tik-tok etc) wall art with eg Uni Logo etc, at strategic locations within the Highfield campus, for example near SUSU or the Highfield bus interchange, as I think that the blue UOS sign at the city centre graduation venue is not enough to cover the demand and students' needs. These locations are ideal as they would serve multiple purposes for our campus community:

• Provide a safe, designated space for students, graduates, and families to take memorable photos (which also is close to parking areas) at any point of their student life (starting their studies or graduating)
• Create an engaging social media presence that showcases our university's brand
• Generate additional foot traffic to SUSU's retail outlets, encouraging university merchandise purchases
• Drive food and beverage sales at nearby campus dining facilities
• Establish a vibrant social hub, especially during graduation periods and university open days
• Showcase our creative community through artistic expression

To make this a collaborative project, I suggest engaging Winchester School of Arts undergraduate and postgraduate students to submit design proposals. This would not only ensure high-quality artwork but also foster inter-campus collaboration and student involvement while serving practical commercial purposes.

Thank you for considering this proposal, happy to discuss further if you want. I would also be more than happy to get involved in this process to make this happen.

Best wishes,

Ana 

PhD Candidate, Southampton Business School