D&AD Student Awards sponsors, the Formica Group, presents awards to the next generation of creative design talent

October 2009
The Formica Group, sponsors of the D&AD Student Awards 2009, presented the winners of its Environmental Design category with the prestigious student yellow pencil at the D&AD Student Awards 2009 ceremony in London...

Tina Northover and Ekaterina Kitaina both from the London College of Communication were awarded joint second winner prize in the Formica Group category.

Gary Brown, Group Director of Innovation at the Formica Group comments: “We’re proud to be sponsors and part of such a prestigious scheme for students. The standard of entries was very high and judging extremely close. The Formica Group and D&AD share a common goal - to encourage the next generation of creative talent.”

Borough Market was the setting for Tina Northover’s entry. Tina designed a space that would evoke feelings of the layers of community in creating a distinct piece of urban architecture which can grow with the markets needs. The Borough Beehive is constructed from layered sections with yellow Formica® Exterior Compact used to sandwich horizontally laid plywood creating a vibrant banding effect. Formica AR Plus® High Gloss plain colours in Vibrant Green creates an interesting contrast between the texture of the plywood and the matt of the Formica Exterior product.

The design from Ekaterina Kitaina applied traditional transgressions of the seven sins to seven entertainments providing leisure interiors dedicated to men. Carnaby Street was the setting for The Pride Lounge which is divided into three sections; The barbershop; the virtual game area and the outdoor relaxation space. Formica® products would be used sculpturally, with images projected onto laminate.

Satoki Kuwano, also from London College of Communication, received a commendation for her design.
D&AD Education Chairman, Greg Quinton comments: "I want to be impressed by good ideas and crafting when I judge, but I also want a 'wow moment'. That moment when I feel respect tinged with a heap of jealousy and I wonder, 'why didn't I think of that first?'. That feeling was certainly present this year. Congratulations to all of the students who picked up a D&AD Student Yellow Pencil at the ceremony. Congratulations also to the colleges who are continuing to produce world class graduates."
Supporting emerging design talent is an integral part of the Formica Group’s history and being part of the D&AD Student Awards builds on the previous work in this area which has seen the Formica® Design Competition celebrating student creatives from 2003 – 2006 and The Formica® Design Award in 2007-2008 for post and pre-graduate Designers.
Each year, an estimated 20,000 students work on the Student Award briefs, which are recognised as valuable teaching aides by tutors. D&AD’s mission is to champion creative excellence across advertising and design communities worldwide. D&AD sets industry standards, educates, inspires and with the Student Awards, it is able to bridge the gap between education and industry.
All of the work, including the additional 18 First Prizes and 36 Second Prizes can be viewed at www.dandad.org/studentawards09.
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