Students and graduates of the Graphic Design subject group at the North-West University (NWU) have again shone at the recent international Loerie Awards and national Pendoring Awards.

Their distinctive creativity and skills caught the judges’ eye, with NWU Graphic Design securing an overall fourth place among eight design institutions or schools in South Africa in the Pendoring rankings. They also took home three silver awards in the Pendorings and a bronze award in the Loeries, and had five finalists in both competitions.

Ricardo Liut of the NWU’s Graphic Design subject group says although they did not enter as many projects in design competitions this year as in previous years due to Covid-19 challenges, they still excelled.

Winning praise at the Pendorings

Graphic Design has a proud legacy of excellence at the Pendorings, with many wins and accolades over the years. This year’s Pendoring Awards were announced via live broadcast on 4 November.

Carlia Janse van Rensburg’s The King and Queen of the Spice Route project was a finalist in both the General Design and Package Design categories, winning silver awards for both. “I conceptualised my project for Robertsons Spices,” she says. “I designed a card game, aimed at taking you back to the old spice routes.”

Anchen Badenhorst’s Zaan Kultuur project was a finalist in three categories. This included the category for Publication Design – Single Element and Student Design, which bagged the silver award. Anchen received craft certificates for the two other categories, namely for illustration and for typography in the Student Print, Design and Out of Home (OOH) Crafts category.

Anchen says she is grateful for the recognition she received from the Pendorings. “It has inspired me to continually improve my craft and I will carry on entering these competitions. It is a wonderful endorsement of the outstanding education that we receive from the NWU’s Graphic Design subject group and the Faculty of Humanities.”

Carlia says it was an honour to be part of the Pendoring ceremony. “I want to thank my lecturer, Marina Herbst, for her support. It was wonderful to end my final-year studies at the NWU on such a high note.”

Loerie Awards yield wins and many nominations

The winners in the Loerie Awards were announced in various categories during the Loerie Creative week from 20 to 22 October. The Loerie Awards recognise and award the best in the brand communications industry in Africa and the Middle East.

Graphic designers from the NWU made it to the finals in five categories in the Loeries’ Student Awards division.

Mardi Prinsloo was a finalist in two categories, namely Package Design – Type A, and Print, OOH and Design Crafts for Illustration Type B. Leo Rheeder was a finalist in the Digital Media – Type A category, and Anchen Badenhorst was a finalist in the Print, OOH and Design Crafts for Illustration Type B category. Marina Marais was also a finalist in this category.

Mardi took home bronze in the Package Design ─ Type A category. “Receiving a Loerie Award is one of my proudest moments as a graphic designer. I was fortunate enough to have great support systems: my family, friends and my lecturer, Jo-Ann Chan, who guided me every step of the way. A dream I never thought to be possible, finally became reality.”