ACG Strathallan student is NZ’s Young Designer of the Year

ACG Strathallan student is NZ’s Young Designer of the Year

Karaka, 27 November 2013 - Shirin Chen, Year 13 ACG Strathallan student is delighted with her win at the 2013 Young Designer Awards for her Photography entry in the visual arts section. She now holds the enviable title of New Zealand’s Young Designer of the Year.

Ten ACG Strathallan students were recognised amongst thousands of entries in The Young Designer Awards, New Zealand’s premier design competition for intermediate and secondary school students. The Art and Design Departments at ACG Strathallan are over the moon with the results of Shirin and other students who spent many hours preparing their entries for the awards.

ACG Strathallan students Sarah Summerscales and Abby You Kyung Lee received honourable mentions, which places them in the top four young designers in New Zealand. Their work stood out to judges who then did not award second or third places in their category, as the other entrants did not come close to their standard.

Shirin’s work is about Consumerism today, she says, “I’m exploring the negative impact of Consumerism. In our society we are accustomed to excessive spending because of the powerful influence of advertising. We seem to be living in a culture of constantly buying products. Essentially we are fooled by marketing. I will be creating a sense of ‘mockery’ towards the consumers who are fooled.”

Gaelene Manuel of the Art Department says, “Shirin became deeply involved in her controversial topic and developed and generated many ideas surrounding the issues. She looked into various psychology theories to help her reach an understanding of why we are hooked into society’s portrayal of what is deemed acceptable.”

Robin Kirkham, Principal of ACG Strathallan says, “I am so proud of our students achievements. To enter into these awards takes considerable effort over and above their Cambridge International Examination work. Our students want a chance to compete against the best in New Zealand in a pure design based competition. They deserve the highest accolade.”

For Shirin, Sarah, Abby and the other students who gained places at the YDA, they can finally relax and enjoy a hard earned rest. Between the YDA and their Cambridge International Examinations it has been a whirlwind of a term.

The following is complete list of ACG Strathallan places at the YDA.

ENDS

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