NWU designers shine once again in major competitions

Students and graduates of the NWU’s Graphic Design subject group have again dazzled with numerous wins and nominations in the recent international Loerie Awards and national Pendoring Awards. They have also excelled in various other competitions.

Their impressive creativity and skills have shone especially bright in the two major competitions, with NWU Graphic Design securing overall third place among institutions in South Africa in the Pendoring rankings, as well as 19 nominations in the Loerie Awards.

Awards and excellence at the Pendorings

Graphic Design has a proud legacy of excellence at the Pendorings – they boast many wins and accolades over the years. This year was no different and the students and graduates have again shown they have what it takes to excel in the ultra-competitive world of design and advertising.

The Pendoring Awards were announced via live broadcast on 13 November. This advertising industry competition, which celebrates South Africa’s indigenous languages, awards cash prizes to the overall winners and to the gold and silver winners in each category.

Marina Herbst, subject chair for BA Graphic Design, says all the NWU’s Graphic Design finalists in the Pendoring Awards won an award, ranging from Gold Pendorings to Craft Certificates.

Tanya van Deventer won two gold Pendorings in the Student Film Motion Graphic Design and Student Integrated Campaign categories, respectively. Her winning entry in both categories was her Literacy Association of South Africa (LITASA) Hunt. Her 'Lewers in die Bos' project earned her a craft certificate in the Student Print, Design and Out of Home (OOH) Crafts category.

Elani du Preez received a gold craft certificate in the Student Print, Design and OOH crafts category for her 'Divan se Avonture' project, and Lindi Joubert received a silver Pendoring for her 'Buurvroutrots!' project in the Student Integrated Campaign category.

Suné Uys received a craft certificate for the 'Sout van die Aarde' project in the Student Print, Design and OOH Crafts category.

Loerie Awards yield wins and many nominations

The winners in the Loerie Awards were announced in various categories during the Loerie Creative week from 16 to 20 November.

Van Deventer continued her winning streak with a silver Loerie award, again for her 'Litasa Hunt' project in the Student Integrated Campaign category.

Du Preez’s project, 'Divan se Avonture', also earned her a bronze Loerie Award.

Herbst says what makes the NWU’s achievements in this year’s Loerie Awards even more significant was the 19 nominations it received out of thousands of entries from across the country.

Students and graduates who received nominations are:

• Van Deventer for her Litasa Hunt project in the Student Integrated Campaign category, five nominations in the Student Television, Film and Video Crafts category and a nomination in the Student Print and Design Crafts category. Van Deventer was also nominated for her United by Chocolate project in the Student Television, Film and Video Crafts and the Student Fabric Design categories.
• Du Preez’s 'Divan se Avonture' earned her nominations in the Student Publication Design Category and Student Television, Film and Video Crafts, and Student Print and Design Crafts categories.
• Mareli Mostert was nominated for Culture of Confidence for 'Dignity Dreams' in the Student Integrated Campaign category.
• Carla Krugel and Jané Wiesner’s 'Dome Distillery Memories' earned them a nomination in the Student Packaging Design category.
• Gretchen Crotz, Johan Badenhorst, Carla Krugel and Mia Jordaan’s 'NWU Centre for Space Research: the Search for Wonder continues' was nominated in the Student Integrated Campaign category.
• Caitlin Sanders, Mareli Mostert, Dominique Saayman and Douw Kruger’s 'Tlhokatsebe le Noga' was nominated in the Student Print and Design Crafts category.
• Morné Kruger, Carolien van Renssen, Marlizaan van Loggerenberg and Anneri van Wyk received a nomination for their 'Ntsa, Phiri Le Lethlalo' project in the Student Print and Design Crafts category.
• Carla Krugel’s 'Tilly the Thirsty Bee' was nominated in the Student Print and Design Crafts category.
• Christi Ferreira’s the 'Bambanani Project: Touched live Touch Lives' received a nomination in the Student Integrated Campaign category.

Students also excel in other competitions

The NWU also boasts winners in various other competitions such as the BP Wild Bean Café Design-A-Cup, Ricoffy Tin Design and Goldpack competitions.

Kabelo Diphoko, a second-year graphic design student, did the NWU proud by taking first prize in the BP Wild Bean Café competition. His design was chosen as the best out of around 300 entries nationally. Minke van Schoor and Tian Zietsman were also nominated in this competition.

Tanya van Deventer and Lindi Joubert’s designs were chosen in the top three among 312 entries in the Ricoffy Tin Design competition. Their designs can be seen on Ricoffy tins in retailers. (Click on https://fb.watch/1YsOD93AzX/ and https://fb.watch/1YsTigqfWw/.)

Leo Rheeder received a Silver Special Mention Award for his packaging design for 'It’s not made in China' bottled water in the Goldpack competition.

Reflecting on the many nominations and excellent winners, Herbst says design excellence, refinement of original concepts and making a difference are very important to them. “We take pride in the uniqueness, professionalism and technical skill employed by students in their projects. We are proud of all our students and graduates who have allowed their creativity to take flight and showcase the outstanding quality of their work to the public.”

Contact person: Willie Du Plessis
Contact details: [email protected]