A group of final year graphic design students from Edinburgh Napier have had their work recognised at an award ceremony that aims to inspire creatives to apply their talents to socially valuable projects.
At a ceremony at London’s Southbank last week, final year students Craig Betts, Adam Breckons, Janette Marshall, Adele Juraza, Sean Last and Tom Lansdown all took home a prize from this year’s Creative Conscience awards.
Creative Conscience is a global movement that promotes socially valuable, human centred design that enables and inspires people to change their lives and the lives of those around them for the better.
Design with a conscience is a key theme through the University’s graphic design course and this has been recognised with this latest plethora of awards.
Craig Betts won gold in the top IMPACT category of the awards for this work on a project addressing young people’s mental health through small music events. Also taking home a gold award, this time in the Service Design category, was Adam Breckons for his project addressing men’s mental health.
Janette Marshall and Adele Juraza won a silver award for their series of cookbooks which encourages locals and refugee women to share language skills through cooking together. Student Sean Last also took home a silver award for his work on a re-brand of Scotland which used dance as a metaphor for the ever-changing nature of the country’s identity.
Tom Lansdown was highly commended for his illustrated children’s book educating children on the plight of refugees, in this case the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar.
All students are now graduates of Edinburgh Napier’s graphic design course, having graduated from the University at a ceremony at the city’s Usher Hall last week.
Myrna MacLeod, Programme Leader of the BDes (Hons) Graphic Design course, said: “We’re all really pleased that the commitment the course team has given since 2011 to design for social good has resulted in another fine showing in this important international student design showcase. Entries come from all over the world and we’re delighted our final year students have had such a successful end to four years of study.
“We know design can’t save the world, but we’re trying to do out bit – one project at a time.”