The Visionary

Ruth Virgo is a final-year BA (Hons) Commercial Photography student at AUB, specialising in portraiture through both fashion and documentary storytelling. Her work explores themes of identity, creative expression and sustainability, with a focus on amplifying underrepresented voices and communities.

Ruth enjoys creating dynamic images on location, often photographing in natural environments across both fashion and documentary contexts. Her interests in textiles, colour and craft traditions lead her to see clothing as more than simply fabric stitched together, but as a form of self-expression that carries personal weight and cultural meaning. Her project Making Spaces, which documented artists in their studios across Dorset and southwest Ireland, led to a university commission to photograph the eight AUB archetypes for the 2026–27 prospectus.

Raised in Southeast Asia and frequently returning to the region, Ruth’s work is informed by cross-cultural experiences and textile heritage. These influences shape her visual storytelling, combining bold colour with thoughtful narratives around culture, identity and connections to nature.

Want to see more of Ruth's work? Visit her website and also on Instagram @ruthvirgophoto.

Elijah Komolafe-Bello is a student on BA (Hons) Architecture (Part 1 RIBA/ARB) at AUB.

"I’ve wanted to do architecture since I discovered designing and creating buildings could be a job (which was around 10). Ever since then I have not looked at anything else but architecture. Having the Number One thing you're most passionate about as a job is everyone's dream.

"Architecture at AUB has allowed me to express my design through building and construction. I think my favourite thing about the course is how much freedom you get with your design as you go through the years. They don't restrict your thoughts and design (unless it's totally impossible); they support creativity and don't diminish anyone's passion.

"I knew from word of mouth that the course is extremely time-consuming, but I never took it in until deadlines for each project were a couple weeks away. You can find yourself working every day and pulling all-nighters with a Red Bull in hand. Even with all these challenges, you have lots of support, whether it's from our course leader, Channa, or anyone in student wellbeing.

"I have two major career aspirations that I would like to achieve. I firstly would like to go abroad and study other countries' unique architecture and bring it back to the UK to get rid of the standardised, typical houses. I also selfishly want to create an iconic building of some sort that I can name after myself and that becomes famous. It would be nice to show my present and future family a building that's known worldwide."