Back in 2017, a group of University of Gloucestershire students, armed with a camera, editing kit, green screen and a broomstick, hit the UCAS circuit to showcase their own creative marketing magic. The University already had a strong reputation for media and film, with alumni like Ed Dark (Visual Effects Co-ordinator on the Harry Potter films). So why not lean into that and give prospective students a taste of what’s possible? Using the green screen setup, the student team photographed visitors and instantly transformed them into Harry Potter-style special effects scenes.

With permission, the images were shared on social media - fast. Nearly 100 went live within 24 hours. The result? The university could highlight courses that lead to real creative careers, while prospective students got hands-on with the kind of tech they’d use. And of course, a little #FOMO helped amplify the reach, with both sides sharing the experience widely online. And it’ll highly relevant and inspirational now - especially because of the need to mix high impact with low budget.

Uplifting stuff. Wingardium leviosa, indeed.