11 June 2010

Duncan of Jordanstone run of success continues

Students and graduates from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design are enjoying a run of success in the aftermath of this years Degree Show.

Following on from last weeks announcement that almost 100 graduating students will exhibit at this years New Designers show, eleven Interior Environmental Design graduands will take part in the Free Range exhibition in London from July 15th-19th.

Free Range is described as Europe's largest graduate art and design show, and takes place at the Old Truman Brewery. The show provides an excellent platform for some of the UK's hottest creative talent to showcase their work to both the public and industry.

Representatives of The Mill, one of the worlds top visual effects companies, visited the Degree Show to give a presentation to animation students and view their work during the Industry Night. Following on from this, they have recruited three graduands Stuart Turnbull, Rob Connor and Owen McGonigle

Stuarts 8ft statue of The Welder, the eponymous hero of his Degree Show film, has been on sentry duty outside DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, and proved one of the biggest talking points of the exhibition. With bases in London, New York and Los Angeles, The Mill offers a hugely important first step on the career ladder for the trio.

Jewellery and Metal Design graduands have also received good news, with Linsey McGregor winning first place, worth £750, in the UK Metro Re-create competition while Anne Sutherland was runner up in the Marcia Lanyon Innovative Design Award 2010 and won £100 worth of precious gems.

The pair will be hoping to achieve further success and emulate 2009 Jewellery graduate Hannah Livingston, who has been selected as a Bright Young Gem at this years International Jewellery London exhibition. Hannah has also won the Astley Clarke Gold Award, entitling her to mentoring and to sell her work through Astley Clarke, a globally renowned luxury jewellery company, as of next year.

Professor Tracy Mackenna, Acting Dean of DJCAD, congratulated all the students and graduates to receive recognition for their work.

She said, 'It is fantastic that so many students are finding work, exhibiting, winning prizes and commendations, and otherwise taking positive steps towards a successful career so soon after graduating.

'Our talented graduates are a match for any other entrants to the art and design industries, and I fully expect to hear about many more success stories as the months unfold.'

It is not just those who have completed their studies who are helping to raise the profile of DJCAD as Graphic Design students Julie Kibble and David Tolmie have received a boost ahead of their final year after being commended at the YCN Student Awards 2010.

Julie received recognition for her response to a brief set by clothing company Ted Baker, while her classmate David won praise for his work on the VisitScotland brief.

Julie was asked to devise a campaign for the launch of the Ted Baker Autumn/Winter collections that made use of the company's store windows as its primary vehicle. David responded to the challenge of capturing a perfect day on film. His entry will be shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

The work of both students will feature in the forthcoming YCN Annual publication, and also in an exhibition to be held later in the summer in London. Additionally there may be possible offers of work placements to the students.

Now in their 8th year, the YCN Student Awards exist to unearth and showcase emerging creative excellence. Based around a collection of live creative briefs, the awards are supported by universities, colleges and art schools across the UK.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officee
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277