The Design School at Taylor’s University made history by becoming the only institution in Asia to be shortlisted and win an award from D&AD, the ultimate creative competition in the world
Two students from The Design School (TDS) at Taylor’s University brought home a prestigious award from the British Design & Art Direction (D&AD) 2015, recently. Their work was recognised in the New Blood category responding to a real brief set by Pantone, where they won a Wood Pencil award. Entry to the awards was opened globally to everyone in full or part-time education, recent graduates and anyone 23 years old or under. Taylor’s University was the only institution in Asia to be shortlisted and win an award from D&AD.
Zuhaili Akmal bin Ismail (middle), Programme Director, The Design School at Taylor’s was mentor to students - Vivi Chandiana (furthest left) and Romario Suwandy (furthest right) who won a Wood Pencil at the D&AD Award in UK recently
Vivi Chandiana, now a graduate in the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Graphic Communication Design and Romario Suwandy, also a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Interactive Multimedia Design graduate were tasked to reimagine their hometown in a new colour scheme. Hailing from Bandung, Indonesia, the duo used colours to identify an authentic reflection of its citizens inspired by a popular local comic strip. Their project aimed to display the characters across billboards, train platforms, local magazines and mobile app.
Their mentor, Zuhaili Akmal bin Ismail, Programme Director of the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Graphic Communication Design at TDS, said that, “Winning an award is the industry’s recognition of participants’ meeting their international standards. We are extremely proud of our students for working hard, where they were ultimately recognised in this outstanding achievement. It is truly a testimony of the quality of students and graduates’ stemming from Taylor’s when they meet expectations of the international panel of judges, many of whom are renowned designers in their own right.”
Prominent judges of the British Design & Art Direction (D&AD) deliberate shortlisted candidates’ work, where participants target to win the ultimate award – the Black Pencil
Winning a Pencil gives Vivi and Romario a spot with their names and work in the D&AD Annual magazine, alongside the Professional Awards winners. They will also get a chance to apply for a place in the 2015 New Blood Academy – a two-week creative bootcamp that catapults young creatives into the industry. The resulting work was judged by top professionals and creatives in the industry.
