27July 2012

DJCAD graduates rack up the prizes

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design's Class of 2012 has been making its mark on the world and racking up the prizes since graduating last month.

DJCAD graduates have been showcasing their work at some of the UK's most prestigious exhibitions for young designers over the past few weeks, picking up eight national awards along the way. In addition, Level 3 Textile Design student Helen Sawyer's work has won been recognised with a coveted award from the Royal Scottish Academy.

The graduate prize-winners were among the 300 exhibitors at this year's DJCAD Degree Show. More than 100 of them then took part in the three London-based shows organised for design graduates from across the UK - New Designers, D&AD New Blood, and Free Range. These events are visited by tens of thousands of people, including some of the important and influential figures in the global design industry.

This gives exhibitors the opportunity to develop contacts with trade professionals, potential employers and the media as well as having the chance to win awards, work placements and recognition.

Professor Tom Inns, Dean of DJCAD, congratulated all award-winners on their success, saying, "It is fantastic that our graduates, and indeed current students, continue to excel at a national level.

"When our graduates exhibit their work in London, they are acting as ambassadors for DJCAD and Dundee as well as taking a vital first step in their careers."

New Designers saw three DJCAD graduates win prizes, making it the most successful art and design college represented at the event.

Mairi Johnstone became the fourth Jewellery & Metal Design graduate in as many years to win the New Designers Goldsmiths' Company Award for Jewellery while Nikki Ferguson won the VAA Award for Product Design and her classmate Andrew Knott received the Designers Block Associate Prize.

Eighteen Interior Environmental Design graduates from DJCAD took part in the Free Range exhibition, with Sean Cassidy winning the Most Innovative Project Award.

Illustration graduates Tanya Hendrie and Louisa Lewis won the Best of Year for Integrated Communications and Best of Year for Crafts respectively at D&AD New Blood.

At the same exhibition, Tom Kinnear was awarded Best of Year for Digital Design, while Graphic Design graduate Kirsty Turpie won the overall Best New Blood 2012 prize. Kirsty has also reached the semi-final stage of the Adobe Design Achievement Awards, a competition that attracted almost 5000 entries.

Helen Sawyer was selected as one of two winners in the RSA Student Design Awards.

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