Designers mark date for awards success

Daniel Tortely, India Chick and Steven Day at B&FCs University Centre campus

Degree students from the college’s creative arts and digital industries courses almost swept the board with Blackpool and Fylde scooping five of the six Wynkyn de Worde Student Awards available at the prestigious event.

The annual event celebrates the achievements of the calendar industry and is attended by publishers and retailers from across the sector.

Several of the winning students recently attended a ceremony at the historic Stationers’ Hall in London to collect their awards.

B & FC undergraduates Matt Swift, India Chick and James Wilson with their certificates and designs at the 2017 Calendar Awards in London

Graphic designer India Chick, from Blackpool, won the Grand Prize while colleagues Matt Swift, 22, from Blackpool, and 20-year-old James Wilson, from Fleetwood, were highly commended. Daniel Tortely, 20, and Steven Day, also from Blackpool, both received certificates of merit.

India, 20, said: “My design was a 3D calendar which I hand cut with each season of the year represented by a certain scene.

“The awards were held in London and it was a great experience to attend and meet people from a wide range of design backgrounds.”

Daniel added: “Success in a national design competition like this is something which definitely looks good when looking at future employment opportunities.”

Steven, 29, said: “I came to university a little bit later in my life so it is great to be able to get experience like this which will help us in a variety of different design industries.”

For his award-winning calendar, Matt focussed on the lunar cycle while James’ digital design featured days represented by pound coins. Daniel produced a calendar map with towns and cities around the world representing specific months while Steven’s creation was based on a toilet roll with a different sheet for each day of the year.

Programme leader Michael Lambourne said: “It is always extremely satisfying when you see students using the skills they have learnt at B&FC to come up with a design which is then recognised on a national stage.”

The Calendar Awards attracts key industry figures from across the UK.

B&FC degrees are accredited by Lancaster University.