Five Westminster Graphic Communication Design students awarded memberships in 2020 international typographic design competition

Second year Graphic Communication Design BA Honours students Jennifer Bailey, Kintija Karasa, Rumaysah Mahmood, Yuliya Pylypko and Kaimana Sauter each been awarded the ‘Professional Membership’ for their work in the 2020 ISTD international typographic design competition. 

The Westminster students took part in the competition during Semester Two, overcoming challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among various projects, they focused on issues related to Migration, Climate, and the scientific subject of ‘Numbers’. The second-year students were successful with their design work in the competition amongst other international graduate students. 

The ISTD briefs are traditionally part of the ‘LIVE PROJECTS’ module on the Graphic Communication Design BA Honours course. During the semester, students researched, experimented, designed and produced their individual work according to set ISTD student briefs, working to high standards and a tight deadline. Throughout the projects, the students were supported and guided by their tutors Iwona Abrams, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Communication Design, and Hans-Dieter Reichert, Senior Lecturer and Liaison Tutor on the Graphic Communication Design BA Honours course.

For over 45 years, the ISTD student assessment scheme has been one of the most important student awards in the international visual communication industry. Judged by a cohort of eminent professionals and academics, the competition runs in the UK, Ireland, the Middle East, North America, South Africa and Australia and attracts submissions from students from all over the world. 

The students were awarded a membership certificate which entitles them to add the MISTD affix to their name and are also invited to make contact to any other ISTD quality company in the sector.

Talking about her achievement, student Kintija Karasa said: “I finished this project having gained such highly valuable knowledge in both fields, the craft of actually making a full publication and the ability to do quality research which is then combined with the layout design. Having an organisation like ISTD recognise that and see that even through pictures is the best reward a student can ask for. This experience also made me realize that choosing a subject I was truly interested in can elevate the project and add real substance to it.”

Kaimana Sauter added: “The ISTD project brief was very challenging but once I put all my research together it was easy to further develop my idea. At Westminster, I learnt a lot about typography and time management and will take these valuable skills with me to help me with future projects. I am really glad to have achieved an award and to be an ISTD member now.”

Yuliya Pylypko said: “Seeing the project building from the brief was a truly magical experience for me. With my publication, I wanted to provide the reader with an insight into the experience of time passing by. Therefore, I decided to retell the fiction story The Aleph written by Borges using the scientific descriptions of space-time by Stephen Hawking. I am grateful for the support from the two senior lecturers who have helped to gain the honourable invitation to become a member of the ISTD.”

Senior Lecturer Iwona Abrams added: “At the time of chaos and uncertainty we have been experiencing, the word ‘to survive’ is often used to describe our state. What these students proved, is that through dedication, drive, resourcefulness and hard work, they are capable of not merely surviving but winning! ISTD, as an internationally esteemed competition, is a true test for the students to measure their work against the peers and future leaders in the industry. 

“An outstanding quality of projects, both conceptually and visually, were delivered by these talented individuals. Great rigour in the approach to research, including high quality literary and scientific sources, guided their highly crafted typographic outcomes. As they have just completed their second year, this is an even greater cause for celebration.”

Senior Lecturer Hans-Dieter Reichert commented: “All five students have produced well considered design concepts and a good body of research for their respective works. This set the foundation to a highly detailed and intelligently handled design production.”