Talented Southampton design students scoop top awards

Two savvy young designers have scooped prestigious awards and prizes in the White Total Design Achievement in Design Awards 2007, an annual scheme organised by top Hampshire agency White Total Design in association with Southampton Solent University's School of Design.

Claudia Castano, a final-year degree student in Graphic Design, was the winner of the ‘print based’ award and Duncan Wyatt, who’s just completed his Graphic Image Making degree, was named winner in the ‘screen based’ category.

The WTD judges felt that Claudia’s work was the most unique they saw. Entitled ‘Objects & Memory’, it consisted of a bound book containing important objects in her life displayed using a mix of photographs, dress-making plans and the objects themselves. Duncan’s project was based on the idea ‘travelling’ which had a strong environmental message, used simple, clean graphics and strong, punchy and clever animation.

Duncan and Claudia each won a design materials/computer equipment voucher and a two week work placement at the WTD studio, however, as Duncan has already secured a job his work placement was offered to runner up, Jason Emon, whose work was a promotional piece for Oxfam.

White Total Design Head of Design, Marc White, said: “This competition has been running for four years now and the overall standard was definitely up on last year, which is always good to see! We continue to enjoy working with up and coming new designers, and it’s great to be able to give a boost to those with particular talent and enthusiasm.”

Senior Lecturer for the BA (Hons) Graphic Image Making course at Southampton Solent University, Peter Jarvis, said: “Our continued thanks to White Total Design for their support of this award scheme which gives our students a great opportunity to meet with work alongside a top design agency.”