UCW Students Shotlisted For Adobe Design Awards

TWO University Centre Weston (UCW) students are in the running to win global design prizes after reaching the semi-finals of the Adobe Design Achievement Awards.

Annapurna Dave and Phil Demir submitted their graphic design degree work to the prestigious digital media competition earlier this year and have now beaten thousands of entrants from across the world to make it through to the shortlisting stage.

By reaching the semi-finals, the talented pair have been awarded digital Adobe certificates and badges, which can be used to boost their online portfolios, and have also been invited to attend a ‘career boot camp’ hosted by the major technology company.

The 21-year-olds, who will soon graduate from UCW with BA (Hons) Graphic Design degrees from a course run in partnership with Bath Spa University, will find out in September whether they are winners in their respective categories.

Annapurna’s project, shortlisted for one of the Social Impact awards, is the design of an app called ‘Pulse’ which would be used to match humanitarian organisations with volunteers.

She said: “My idea was inspired by last year’s earthquake in Nepal and the difficulties in getting aid to certain areas because of travel issues and not always having the people who could help in the right places.

“One side of my family is Nepalese and my mum, who is a nurse, went there to help.

“I couldn’t go because of my studies, so instead I wanted to design something that could connect aid agencies with volunteers in the aftermath of natural disasters.”

Phil, who now works as a Junior Digital Designer for Splash Content in Bath and is pictured with Annapurna at the recent New Designers exhibition in London, added: “Considering this is a global competition with so many talented entrants, to have made it to the semi-finals seems unreal.

“Annapurna and myself both entered Social Impact categories and it is incredible to be shortlisted alongside so many great projects and designers who want to make a difference.”

His ‘High Wire’ concept is the design of a contemporary campaign to engage and inform young people about the dangers of legal highs.

Victoria Norcross, the Course Coordinator of UCW’s Graphic Design degree programmes, said: “To have progressed in such an important competition is a fitting tribute to the high quality and professional standard of design that Annapurna and Phil have produced.”

“The Creative Arts team at UCW are so proud that their hard work and design skills have been recognised by Adobe and showcased to a worldwide audience.”

Annapurna’s project can be viewed along with her other work at www.annapurnadesign.co.uk and Phil’s portfolio is online at www.phildemir.com.