Joo Yick Bong's wearable foam pieces, 2007
The New Zealand Student Craft/Design Award 2007 Winners Announced. Sponsored by TheNewDowse Friends
For over 20 years TheNewDowse Friends have offered their support and encouragement to tertiary students through an award scheme designed to encourage innovation and creativity specifically in the areas of design and craft.
The annual award is open to all students currently enrolled in a tertiary level arts, craft or design programme; as well as to students who graduated in the previous year. Prizes: Overall winner ($2000) and three merit awards ($500). Entries were received from tertiary institutions all over the country, from Northland to Otago.
Judges Claire Regnault, Concept Development Manager at TheNewDowse, Simon Morris, the artist who designed the 'Rainscreen' facade on the gallery and Phyllis Mossman, President of the Friends, were very impressed with the entries.
We particularly liked the originality of the responses to the briefs (some of which had been self-generated), the concepts behind these responses, the choice and creative use of often non-traditional materials and technologies (sometimes combined with traditional media or craft techniques), the imaginative use of colour and form, the sometimes fun or interactive possibilities shown and the generally high standard of the presentation boards.
The Winner
Jacqui Chan, from Unitec, Auckland, was the overall winner for 'Chinkeha' and 'Rupture/ disruption/ upheaval: volcanic jewellery' - two brooches made of a combination of traditional and non-traditional materials that reflected issues of identity, tension, challenge and 'wonderland'.
Runners-up
Emma Riha Kitson, a 2006 graduate from Massey University Industrial Design Department - for ‘Huruhuru: Kaitiaki o Te Reo’, a soft toy to assist in the learning of Te Reo Maori through stories, songs and language programmes.
Jin Jin Yang, a Victoria University Industrial Design student, for‘Swallow’, a lamp design that celebratesthe craft process of loom knitting but using coloured wire instead of wool.
Joo Yick Bong, a Manukau School of Visual Arts student, for 'wearable, swappable and playable' objects made of colourful foam pieces that can be made up or used in various combinations as toys or jewellery.