Roses success continues for Graphic Designers

Staffordshire University Design students have triumphed yet again at the Roses Student Creativity Awards 2011.

Top advertising and design agencies set briefs as diverse as designing a launch campaign for a new euthanasia clinic in Manchester to selling ice to eskimos.

Gemma Brownhill, a Level 3 Graphic Design student at Staffordshire, won in the “Supermarket Sweep” category with her lightbulb packaging design. Her brief was to choose a brand she didn’t like, then rebrand, redesign and repackage it.

Gemma said: “I just felt that it was dull and boring - something that light bulbs are not! They should set a mood and an atmosphere and this is what I wanted the designs to reflect. When I got the award I was rather shocked. But I am ecstatic that I won as I entered last year too and was shortlisted, so to win this year just feels great.”

Level 2 students Melanie Milne and Laura Mellor were runners-up in the same category. Callum Rudd, also a Level 3 student, achieved runner-up in the “Tattoo” category, where he had to design a typographic tattoo of a selected poem quote.

Each winner was offered a highly sought-after work placement with the agency that set the brief. Gemma’s placement will be at Elmwood Brand Design, who have worked for the BBC, Nike, and McCains. Gemma said: “To get that sort of opportunity is amazing! They’re the kind of company you never expect to get the privilege of working with and now I have, so I’ll definitely make the most of it.”

Winners also had their work published in the popular media and marketing magazine, The Drum, as well as on its website, and in its yearbook. They were also given a ‘winners’ logo’ to promote their success. Gemma Has also been selected to compete for a Gold, Silver and Bronze trophy at the Roses Advertising Awards in May.

Mark Garner, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design, said: “The Roses once again proved to be a great event. The venue was bursting at the seams and gave the students the opportunity to meet the professionals who'd set the briefs. It was wonderful to be part of another award winning evening for our Graphic Design students.”

Barbara Ridley, Principal Lecturer added: “We hope this is the first of many success stories for our final year students who have worked hard to produce some innovative and exciting visual communication design for their course work and for national and international competitions.”

Last year, Staffordshire University students received 7 runner-up positions in 6 of the categories.

The awards night was held on March 24th at The Hive in Manchester. More photos from the night can be seen on the Staffordshire University Graphic Design blog: http://iamasponge.blogspot.com/