Students have a point to make about design

06 July 2009

West Herts College scooped all three places on the winners’ podium at the National Student Design Competition 2009, organised by the British Display Society (BDS) in conjunction with the Shop and Display Equipment Association (sdea).

Students on the Advanced Diploma in Point of Sale Design and Merchandise Projection course at West Herts College swept the board, winning medals in every colour and also receiving several Highly Commended and Commended certificates.

The Student Design Competition is open to anyone studying BDS courses nationally. In addition to the individual student winners West Herts College also reclaimed the Viscount Hambledon Trophy, awarded annually to the College of the gold medal winner.

This year’s competition entrants were tasked with designing point of sale and promotional material for a new brand of wine called Savannah Heights. The brief was to design a complete promotional package for the new company, including leaflets, t-shirts and a scale model of an exhibition stand.

West Herts College student Yasmin Tarr won gold for her design, and as well as receiving a cheque for £100 she was also presented with a trophy from sdea, the leading online guide for buyers of shop fittings and display.

The silver medal was awarded to 16-year-old Grace Francis, while the bronze medal went to 17-year-old Beth Simmonds. The students were presented with their awards by Bernard Brandham, Chairman of the British Display Society. He said: “The standard of work this year was very high, especially considering the students were asked to work to a very tight brief.

“We always aim to keep the brief as realistic as possible, so the students get a good experience of what they can expect to work to commercially in the future. All the designs are very strong and well thought through.”

For more information about the point of sale design course and other retail courses offered at West Herts College telephone 01923 812345 or visit www.westherts.ac.uk