Green design wins RSA Award
University College for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester
A second-year student at the University College for the Creative Arts at Epsom has been awarded a prestigious RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Commerce) Design Directions Award 2007/2008. Karen Hamilton (21) is studying for a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and lives in Horley, Surrey.
Design Directions is the RSA’s annual student awards scheme. Students are asked to respond to challenging projects which highlight the changing role of the designer in relation to society, technology and culture.
Karen re-designed the packaging for a ‘Dora the Explorer’ children’s toy. The final design consisted of a fully recyclable box made entirely from card that also reverses into a novelty Dora carry case.
The innovative and environmentally friendly design idea gives the packaging a second use and is retained after purchase rather than immediately being thrown away.
Karen’s award winning project answered the RSA’s brief to create a sustainable packaging solution to both eliminate waste and use less valuable resources and energy during production. The work also formed part of her first project of the year at the University College.
Karen has been rewarded with an internship worth £2500 at Springetts Brand Consultants. The internship will provide an invaluable period of work experience (with financial support) to kick-start the young designer’s career.
Karen said: “I am obviously delighted to be chosen as a winner! The internship with Springetts will be an amazing opportunity for me to experience how a commercial company operates and I am very excited about joining their team.”
Karen’s tutor Melissa Thompson said: “I am thrilled that Karen has received the much deserved RSA award. Everybody has been impressed with her design, which tackles issues at the forefront of the packaging and retail sectors today. The internship will also provide a unique opportunity for Karen to benefit from practical experience in the workplace.”
Karen’s work will be shown at an online exhibition due to go live at the end of May at www.rsadesigndirections.org
