Business News
ROLAND DG (UK) RECOGNISES NEXT GENERATION OF GRAPHIC ARTS PROFESSIONALS WITH ROLAND ACADEMY INTER-SCHOOL CHALLENGE
Friday 25. April 2008 - Illustrating its commitment to education and developing the next generation of graphic arts professionals, Roland DG (UK) has recognised the winners of the inaugural Roland Academy Inter-School Challenge, a design competition for schools in the Walsall area. Pupils were asked to design eye-catching graphics inspired by the theme "the regeneration of Walsall."
A design submitted by a team of two schoolchildren aged 13 and 14 from Barr Beacon Language College was judged to be the best in its use of colour, image and clarity of message.
The winners, Kirsty Ryan and Stacey Taylor, from Barr Beacon Language College were yesterday presented with digital cameras and a framed copy of their design by Roland DG (UK) Product Manager 3D and Engraving, Peter Kettle, at a ceremony held on the company’s stand at the Sign and Digital UK exhibition at Birmingham’s NEC. The winning design will now be produced in large format and adorn banners on the perimeter of the construction site of the New Walsall College that’s currently being built. The winning entry will also be reproduced and framed for display at Barr Beacon Language College.
In total, more than 60 pupils from six schools in the Walsall area, including Palfrey Girls School and Joseph Leckie Community Technology College, submitted entries. The entries were judged by a panel comprised of representatives from the organisations supporting the initiative: Walsall College, The Roland Academy, Walsall Education Business Partnership, and Roland DG (UK). The teams prepared their designs at school before attending a half-day practical session at the Roland Academy, where they amended their entries using professional software, prepared them for printing in the VersaWorks RIP, and outputted them on a Roland DG large format printer. Pupils and their teachers were also given a tour of the Roland Academy, giving them the opportunity to learn more about wide format technologies and applications.
Barr Beacon Language College, Senior Teacher, Claire Emery, said: “I am extremely proud of our students’ professional attitude throughout this competition, and have to say that this demonstrates the positive and enthusiastic way they approach a challenge.”
Roland DG (UK) Managing Director, Jerry Davies, said: “We were pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the entries. Many were produced using the latest software packages and wouldn’t look out of place in a professional design agency. Roland DG is committed to supporting education and encouraging talent into the industry. I hope that the Roland Academy Inter-School Challenge has also given schoolchildren a chance to experience what a career in graphic arts can offer.”
Walsall College Signwork Academy manager, Andrew Evans, said: “Picking a winner was very difficult, but Barr Beacon Language College’s entry is stunning in terms of image composition, use of text, space and message. I look forward to seeing it on the site of the new college. The competition has been extremely valuable for Walsall College in that it has given more than 60 pupils approaching school leaving age first-hand experience of what a vocational course can offer them.”
The Roland Academy is the largest, industry-accredited sign, engraving and large format education facility in Europe and operates from Walsall College. It runs a range of courses, which have been developed by independent industry professionals. These include programmes on digital printing, engraving, RIPs and Adobe software packages.