NUCA students dominate design awards

Design students from Norwich University College of the Arts (NUCA) are celebrating after their work was selected to win six national awards in this year's PaperCo Brief Encounters design competition.

Award-winning NUCA students. Front: Gold Award winner Gregory Pye; Back (L-R): Sarah Green, Chris Cole, Katie Dann and Kerrie Scott.

The PaperCo Awards celebrated its 10th year by setting three design briefs for direct mail campaigns. The judges selected a total of 13 submissions from students nationwide, six of which are studying BA Graphic Design at NUCA, including two of the four Gold Award winners.

Gregory Pye received a Gold Award for his campaign which promotes the use of papers with strong environmental credentials to the financial industry. Brian Webb, chairman of the judges, described his piece as "an outstanding piece of work. The presentation, strong use of message, graphics, French folds and wide use of materials secured it this top position."

Gregory says: "It was interesting to get feedback from a professional industry client. When it came to submitting the project we dealt with a tight deadline so this made me focus on what needed to be done to complete it quickly, with a high standard of finish. After graduation I would love to work in the book industry."

Joanna McLeod's work fulfilled a brief set by the awards' co-sponsor Henderson Global Investors and earned her not only a Gold Award but also an opportunity to obtain work experience in the company's studio. Her use of mathematical symbols with a bold yellow and sans serif type face was described by the company's print procurement manager Anthony Buck as "a powerfully executed piece using simple imaging...direct mail that is pertinent to our company and which could be put into production in real life."

Joanna says: "I learned how to present my work professionally, both technically and verbally. I think ultimately I would like to see myself designing magazines such as i-D, Wonderland or ELLE."

NUCA students also picked up a Bronze Award (Chris Cole) and were Highly Commended (Sarah Green, Katie Dann and Kerrie Scott).

Victoria Winteringham, Senior Lecturer at NUCA, says: "Professional briefs allow students to visually convey an appropriate message in a meaningful and contemporary manner to a relevant audience, while still thinking very creatively. Success in national competitions keeps the course at NUCA in the public eye and demonstrates that we are committed to an all round student experience. During the PaperCo brief the students gained knowledge of new technologies and environmental issues - having that extra knowledge stands them in good stead for the highly competitive market that they will be entering."