First-year Graphic Designers shortlisted for JDO RAW 2019 competition

News Desk
Authored by News Desk
Posted: Monday, August 5, 2019 - 23:00

First-year BA (Hons) Graphic Design students Emma Flintham and Brogan Algar, from Plymouth College of Art, were selected as two of the top five students shortlisted for the JDO RAW 2019 design competition, both winning two-week paid placements at JDO UK.

Launched in 2013, this fourth iteration of JDO RAW asked design students to create the brand and packaging design for a new 0% alcohol spirit. Final winners were announced at the JDO industry party on 17 July, with the final winner being awarded a two-month paid placement at JDO, an iPad Pro 12.9", and an additional £500 cash payment upon completion of the placement.

This year's creative challenge echoes the high profile ‘once in a lifetime’ briefs from previous years. In 2013, the DJ duo Basement Jaxx challenged the budding designers to envisage its new single cover, the winning design went far beyond its brief, going on to be used for the album cover. It was also splashed across billboards and even featured in the ‘Twerkbot’ music video. In 2015, the stakes were once again high; the opportunity to imagine and create the nightclub Ministry of Sound’s 2015 annual album. While in 2016, the challenge was to come up with a new drink to be sold at the music festival, Bestival.

JDO UK is a multidisciplinary, award-winning brand design and innovation agency, JDO UK, working with brands such as Jack Daniels, Dove, Carlsberg, Grand Marnier and Southern Comfort.

JDO Ambassador Boma Krijgsman said: “This is the first time that first-year students have made it into the top five of the JDO RAW competition. What an amazing achievement!”

20-year-old Emma Flintham (@emma.flintham.design), from Kingsbridge, said: “I focused on the Gen Z demographic for my design, thinking about how to create a brand that would appeal to people who value health and wellbeing. That was the starting point for a cocktail range, with each drink offering a different boost, from whey protein to anti-inflammatories. I wanted the packaging to say that this is a way to treat yourself without wrecking your body or the environment.”

19-year-old Brogan Algar (@broganalgardesign), from Exeter, said: “My concept was based on a brand that could be completely recyclable and would benefit the planet, donating 10% of profits from sales to an environmental movement such as Earth Day. I wanted to reflect the idea of creating a positive impact on the world in the design, and so took inspiration from tattoo designs, which we use to create positive, permanent marks on our bodies.”

Amanda Duffin, leader of Plymouth College of Art’s BA (Hons) Graphic Design, said: “Live industry briefs and placements are integral to our graphic design programme, giving students opportunities to network with other creative professionals and work on meaningful, real-world projects. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Emma and Brogan and I’m sure they’ll both be designers to look out for in the future.”

Paul Drake, Founder and Creative Director at JDO said: “Graduates are the lifeblood of the industry and without a constant stream of them coming through, design agencies risk missing out on an invaluable creative input.”