Two academics from the Visual Communication Design programme recently returned from a successful research exchange visit to the Department of Communication Design (DeCoDE) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana.

The visit by Amanda Morris, Work Integrated Learning Coordinator: Faculty of Informatics and Design and Lecturer: Applied Design and Zwelibanzi Damba, Programme Coordinator for Visual Communication Design, aimed to establish possible research, learning and teaching collaborations with KNUST, mainly in decolonial practices for Design Education.

“There are many overlaps in the approaches to learning and teaching as well as the areas of interest in research as far as design education and cultural richness goes,” said Morris.

“KNUST is an old University and is turning 75 years old in 2026. There are many things with regards to processes, pedagogy, systems, and infrastructure that we can learn from them. We still have a long way to go but can draw from partnerships with fellow African universities who have established good ways of navigating the challenges faced by many African universities.”

During their time at KNUST, the academics engaged in a comprehensive programme of academic, cultural and institutional activities and interacted with Communication Design students through workshops and other interactions.

They were also afforded the opportunity to visit heritage sites such as the Manhyia Palace Museum.

Visiting the Weaving village Bonwire where traditional sustainable weaving practices are still alive and well was a highlight for Morris.

“Seeing the looms manufactured entirely by hand and from local wood is a great testament to the preservation of traditional, cultural practices.”

Asked what he gained from the experience, Damba replied: “There are many ways to skin a cat. Their approach to design education and structure is different from ours but still makes sense. The size of their university is big and allows for more exploration into innovation. There is a lot for us to learn (both parties) in terms of how identity and decoloniality can be approached to better our institution’s offerings”.

He said his main highlight of the visit was the rich connection to the indigenous history of the Ghanaian people, especially the Ashanti tribe.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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A student from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning won the first prize in South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN) Student Essay Competition.

Etomeleng Tsoeleng, who completed her Advanced Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning last year and recently graduated cum laude, said her intention has always been to find solutions to complex town planning issues.

Last year SACPLAN invited students to submit a short-written essay capturing local context dynamics and unique circumstances within the South African planning related service delivery discourse.

Etomeleng said she had first learned about the competition in her first-year at CPUT and had always wanted to enter but never did.

“Then, in my fourth year, our class representative shared it in our WhatsApp group. Although the deadline had already passed, it had fortunately been extended by four days when I saw it. I then decided to enter the competition.

“The process was not easy at all. I was under pressure with my assignments, which coincided with the competition deadline, and I only had four days to prepare everything. I remember, the day before submitting both my assignments and the SACPLAN essay, I asked myself whether it was worth it ... I sat quietly and reminded myself why I started and how I got the opportunity.”

She said that when the winners were announced, she couldn’t believe she had won first place.

“I was not expecting to win. I simply wanted someone to read my perspective and approach to planning issues, hoping it would contribute positively to the challenges we face as planners. Winning was the last thing on my mind, especially considering how much I had to juggle to complete everything.”

She acknowledged the Department of Urban and Regional Planning “for their role in shaping my understanding of the complexity of town planning and the issues we face, as well as our responsibility to communities”

“A special thanks goes to Brian Fisher-Holloway, who supported me throughout the process with constructive feedback. Even when I felt demotivated, he encouraged me to keep going. He showed genuine interest in my progress and how I approached my paper. Although I informed him late about entering the competition, he still helped me successfully navigate the process.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Fashion Department brought creativity and critical conversation together during Fashion Revolution Week 2026, as students embraced the theme: Be Curious, Find Out, Do Something.

The week’s activities culminated in a walkabout of the District Six Campus during which first- and second-year students displayed textile banners they created, sending a message about sustainability and the origins of the clothes we wear.

Lecturer Siviwe Jack said the Fashion Revolution week’s activities included a talk by Fashion Revolution SA, which centred around the origins and purpose of the movement, a movie screening and the creation of the banners by the students.

“The main message is for people to understand why the clothing industry is so important in our lives and why it should go sustainable,” said Jack.

Fashion Revolution was founded following the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh in April 2013.

According to the Fashion Revolution website, the building housed a number of garment factories that were manufacturing clothing for many of the biggest global fashion brands. The building collapsed and killed 1 134 people.

Fashion Revolution Week happens every year in the week coinciding with 24t April, the anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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An Interior Design student has made her mark on the global stage – raking in several awards at the BLT Built Design Awards 2025.

Lisa van Staden claimed two category wins and the coveted title of Emerging Interior Designer of the Year for 2025.

The awards celebrate excellence across architecture, interiors, landscapes and construction products. This year’s programme drew entries from 68 countries and received almost 900 projects, illustrating the event’s global reach and the diversity of its participants.

Lisa won the Interior Design – Spa / Fitness / Wellness category for her project titled Healing Hands Primary Care Clinic as well as the Interior Design – Exhibition/Gallery category for her project titled Symphony – Museum of South African Languages.

Another CPUT entry also took top honours in the category Interior Design – Hospitality: Hotel and Resort category.

Minette Visagie, an alumna who entered the competition as an Advanced Diploma student, won this category for her project titled Shimmer and Shine.

It celebrates South Africa's thriving wine industry through the design development of a heritage building located in the V&A Waterfront.

The brief and mentorship were supported by the Advanced Diploma, year coordinator and senior lecturer, Colleen Cocotos. 

Lisa, an Advanced Diploma student said: “Being announced as the winner in one category would already have been an incredible achievement — but hearing that I won in two categories and was also named Emerging Interior Designer of the Year honestly left me speechless. It reminds me that all the effort, late nights, and challenges were worth it, and that hard work really does pay off”.

Her award-winning project, Symphony – Museum of South African Languages, explored how sound travels as waves, “projected from the mouth and received by the ear”, and translated that movement into architectural form.

“The façade of the building mimics the shape and rhythm of a soundwave, specifically based on the waveform of someone saying the word language. The museum is ultimately about celebrating the diversity of South African languages, a symphony of sound, culture, and identity that unites people through communication.”

She credits her lecturer, Wendy Anne Press for helping her to explore the full potential of her ideas.
 “Her guidance, constructive feedback and motivation constructive feedback helped shape Symphony into the project it is today.”

Lisa hails from Ottery and said she’s always had a natural passion for design.

“I’m passionate about creativity in all forms. I love working with my hands, creating, and bringing ideas to life. I love local design and the way South African creatives use storytelling in their work. I cannot wait to step into the professional world next year, bringing all things great, creative, and inspiring to the design world!”

Cocotos said Lisa is an ambitious and passionate designer who has been enthusiastically mentored by all the interior design staff from her first year through to her advanced diploma.

“Her responsiveness to learning and receptiveness to guidance have made our jobs as lecturing staff a true pleasure."

Head of Department, Rayner Moodley, congratulated Lisa on her outstanding achievement and praised the collective efforts of the department’s academic staff, whose steadfast commitment and support have been instrumental throughout her educational journey.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Jewellery Design and Manufacture Programme continues to shine on the national stage, with six of its students named among the top ten finalists in this year’s prestigious PlatAfrica Competition.

They are: Njabulo Khuzwayo, Siphe Demeshile, Nolwazi Linda, Kelebogile Seleka, Wesley Fransman and Siyabonga Retshe.

Adding to the celebration, lecturer Ronel Jordaan has also been recognised as a finalist in the Professional Category.

Jordaan won this category last year.

Now in its 26th year, the PlatAfrica competition provides a platform for professional and emerging designers to showcase the beauty and versatility of platinum in jewellery craftsmanship.

It features three prize categories: professionals, apprentices and students, as well as the People’s Choice Award, where the public can vote for their favourite jewellery piece.

PlatAfrica is hosted annually by Valterra Platinum and this year participants were invited to take inspiration from the theme New Horizons.

“I felt so excited and proud of myself when I heard I was a finalist,” said Wesley, a third-year student.

He and his fellow finalists will be attending the awards ceremony, scheduled to be held in Johannesburg on 24 October.

“Jordaan said the participants were provided with the platinum to make their pieces with.

“It's a big opportunity to work in a different metal for the students”.

Jordaan’s piece was inspired by Moiré interference patterns.

“The design considers the unstoppable movement towards the future and the potential of kinetic energy as a power source.”

Head of Programme Vassiliki Konstandakellis said she was incredibly proud of the students and staff members’ performance in the competition this year and in the past.

“We are just thrilled to have six out of ten finalists, and I’m absolutely happy with how well we have done. We have an outstanding track record in the competition”, she said.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Industrial Design students have once again made their mark at the prestigious Institute of Packaging SA (IPSA) Student Gold Pack Awards, earning an impressive nine finalist positions in the 2025 competition. The awards ceremony was held recently at The Barnyard Theatre, Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg, and was attended by the students and their lecturer, Craig Finnan.

Leading the pack was Jameel Pietersen, who received silver overall in the Industrial Design category and was named Section Winner for Accessible Packaging for his project, Band-EEZ, an inclusive plaster packaging system designed to simplify opening, reduce waste, and improve accessibility for users with limited dexterity or vision.

Theodorah Skosana earned bronze overall and Second Place in Accessible Packaging for her project "Pure Hold", a hygienic and travel-friendly soap bar holder that prevents sogginess and contamination in shared environments.

Jarod De Villiers and Marseilles Naude claimed third place in Accessible Packaging for their team entry, which looked at providing an improved and eco-friendly cryogenic glue packaging solution, while Julian Bester received the IPSA Sponsor Award and Chiree Bosman was honoured with the Bowler Packaging Sponsor Award. Kamogelo Morare, M. Zaheer Magmoed, and Tsakane Mashele rounded out the list of CPUT finalists.

The project formed part of the third-year Product Graphics subject in the Product & Industrial Design programme, with Julian and Jarod entering independently as Advanced Diploma students; and Marseilles as a second-year student. Notably, this is only the second year that CPUT has participated in the competition after achieving three finalists in 2024, the 2025 results represent a significant leap in national recognition. CPUT also garnered the most finalists in the Industrial Design category out of the three universities represented in this year's competition.

All finalists from the Student Gold Pack Awards automatically progress to the WorldStar Global Packaging Awards, giving CPUT students the opportunity to compete on an international stage.

Reflecting on the achievement, Finnan said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see our students’ creativity and problem-solving recognised at this level. The Student Gold Pack Awards expose them to real-world packaging challenges and give them invaluable experience in professional design contexts. Students were grateful for the opportunity and exposure, and I am proud of how far they’ve come.”

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The Fashion Design Programme recently hosted its first Spring Market Day, a dynamic event designed to showcase creativity, promote sustainability and encourage collaboration.

Lecturer Siviwe Jack said third-year Fashion Design students led the initiative, which provided a platform for them to showcase and sell their original garments.

In addition, it encouraged sustainability through a clothing swap and aimed to create a collaborative space for various creative disciplines within the university.

“This event also aligns with the broader Fashion Revolution movement, fostering awareness around sustainable fashion and student innovation,” said Jack.

She said the objectives were to:

• Provide fashion students with a real-world platform to showcase and monetise their work.
• Create opportunities for journalism and photography students to document and cover the event, building their portfolios.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Senior lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Dr Belinda Verster, scooped the Top Woman in Planning Award during the recent South African Council for Planners - Women in Planning Awards.

“I carry this recognition on behalf of every female student who has ever sat in my lectures, asked the difficult questions, challenged the status quo and dared to imagine better lives for our people,” she said.

Verster was also honoured with the Outstanding Community Planning Award for her work with the communities of the informal settlements of Dunoon and Fisantekraal.

“Community has always been at the heart of my practice and this special award reminds me why I do what I do. Planning is never neutral. Each plan, each classroom discussion, each community workshop is a chance to choose inclusion, justice, sustainability and care.”

She continued: “Thank you to the students, communities, and colleagues who continue to shape me and a special word of appreciation to CPUT and SACPLAN. This is a reminder of the shared responsibility we carry and the collective future we are tasked to build.”

Verster said she was still stunned by the magnitude of both awards.

“The honour and responsibility to stand up and be acknowledged as a female planner is huge. I am very aware of the role that I have to play in assisting our young planners for the task of building sustainable communities and cities that lie ahead.”

The project in Dunoon is a capstone, interdisciplinary project between urban planning students from CPUT and information systems students from University of the Western Cape as well as interdisciplinary groups from Avans University in the Netherlands.

“The project has completed four iterations and a strategic partner in the project is the City of Cape Town, with whom a Memorandum of Understanding was signed this year. The first objective of the project is to develop a community-centred understanding of sustainability challenges experienced by the informal community of Dunoon. This is done through the pre-production, empathise and define phases of Brown’s Design Thinking method.

“Several highly sensitive environmental elements existed within the boundaries of the case community, namely the Diep River and its associated ecosystem, the quarry site as well as the surrounding farmlands. Apart from environmental sustainability challenges, this community also experiences social and economic sustainability challenges, which are covered in the project’s problem identification phase.”

She said the second objective of the project is to develop digital prototypes and innovations to respond to the sustainability challenges that were identified in the first objective.

The project in Fisantekraal has received funding for the next two years from the Swedish Research Council and the focus is on a series of workshops, both in Cape Town and Stockholm with relevant stakeholder groups. The title of the project is: A Research Agenda for Advancing Education for Sustainable (Smart) Development in Marginalised Communities: A North-South Learning Perspective.

“This project has as its main objective to create a research agenda which allows the voices of marginalised communities to penetrate the spaces (lecture halls, conferences, publications) traditionally held by academics and in so doing amplify and recognise the status of communities’ lived knowledge. We are using the framing of the United Nations' Education for Sustainable Development but added smartness as technology engagement is a huge obstacle for marginalised communities.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT and global tech giant Huawei have strengthened their partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step in an ongoing collaboration.

The formal signing ceremony, which took place in Johannesburg earlier this month, initiated the process of upgrading CPUT’s status from a Huawei ICT Academy to a Huawei ICT Academy Support Centre.

Prof Tembisa Ngqondi, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Design, and Dr Waldon Hendricks, IT First-Year Academy coordinator in the Information Technology Department, attended the event.

As an ICT Academy Support Centre, CPUT will play a crucial role in expanding ICT education, supporting other academies and enhancing digital skills development across the region.

“I feel incredibly proud and grateful to see our efforts recognised through this milestone. Being selected to become a Huawei ICT Academy Support Centre is not only a great honour but also a meaningful affirmation of the impact we are making in ICT education. It reflects the strength of our partnership and opens exciting new possibilities for growth, collaboration and regional capacity building,” said Hendricks.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Fashion Design Programme brought style and sustainability together during their recently held Fashion Revolution Week.

The week’s activities included a vibrant clothing swap at the District Six Campus, which provided an opportunity for members of the campus community to swap their unwanted clothes for other pre-loved clothing items.

 The event sought to promote mindful consumption and lecturer Siviwe Jack said it was a fantastic opportunity to “engage our community, promote sustainable practices, and generate positive buzz around our values”.

One of the highlights of the week was a dynamic fashion show where first- to third-year Fashion Design students unveiled creative pieces made entirely from donated fabrics and garments.

“We are promoting sustainable fashion practices, and they must use the given materials to create commercially sustainable clothes,” Jack explained.

The speakers for the Fashion Revolution Week included: Safiyya Karim - Fashion Revolution South Africa, Cyril Naiker - Plain Tiger, Sheri-Lee Carver Brown - Buying Manager – AYANA, Devin Govender - Textile Technologist - Pepkor Group, Catherine Kruger – AYANA, Cathy Hacking – Woolworths, Nandi Kona - Senior Brand Manager – Superbalist and Phumi Korber - WISI-Oi.

Jack thanked the event’s sponsors and partners, which included: Fashion Revolution South Africa, AYANA and the Pepkor Group, Superbalist, Truworths and Woolworths.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Higher Certificate programme in the IT Department is working closely with Fundani CHED as part of the Unfurling Post School Education and Training (UPSET) programme in their effort to make university access available to TVET college students.

As part of this, the HCINCT UPSET student orientation workshop was recently held at the Bellville Campus. The aim is to provide orientation and information to students enrolled for the Higher Certificate in Information Communication Technology (HCINCT), receiving tuition from the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and who intend to enter the job market or continue to university. Xolani Vanda, the Coordinator for the HCINCT, said the programme was started three years ago and is offered to students coming from the partner TVET colleges like Northlink College, College of Cape Town and False Bay College. “Initially, the idea was to provide information that would help students to be ready for assessments or examinations. This was also to address concerns and complaints received from the students and staff that they did not get all the information shared with Diploma in ICT students.”

The workshop was attended by 196 students and 41 staff members. This was an opportunity to share information with the students about the available student support services that all students can access, including those receiving their tuition at the TVET colleges. The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) and the Finance Department were among the presenters who unpacked the services and processes of their respective departments.

Lecturers from the university and the colleges took time to unpack the programme to the students. The workshop unpacked the HCINCT programme and how it relates to the Diploma in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programme, giving students the relevant information that would enhance their chances of getting into the Diploma programme, should they wish to do so. The presenters also provided the students with the top 20 criteria as part of the memorandum agreement signed by the university with the TVET colleges, “which says the top 20 best performing students out of 60 students from each college campus will be considered on condition they apply for the Diploma in ICT at [CPUT]”.

Vanda said the workshop gave them an opportunity to unpack the programme expectations and what the students need to aim for to secure their spot in the ICT Diploma programme for the year 2026, “The presenters from Fundani, Finance Department, CPUT Libraries, DSA and the subject lecturers provided valuable information to the students which in a way served as a cheat code for the students to be successful for the year.”

Vanda added that the primary beneficiaries are the students in the HCINCT programme, as they have been given access to information they would normally be away from. “This allowed them to feel and know they are part of the CPUT community and have a right to access the university resources.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Information Technology Department lecturer Waldon Hendricks has earned a spot in the Global Finals of the Most Valuable Instructor Contest, scheduled to take place in China in May.

Last year Hendricks was the coach and mentor of the South African Network Track global finalists for the Huawei ICT Competition 2022-2023 Global Final and his team bagged first prize.

He said the Most Valuable Instructor (MVI) was a new contest that has been added to the competition.

Hendricks qualified for the global finals after showing his outstanding skills during the regional stages.

He said he felt honoured and proud to showcase the work of the Information Technology department in the Faculty of Informatics and Design.

“We have added value to our graduates by providing them with extra achievements to compete in competitions while they continue to study and learn about the industry and future trends."

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Head of the Architectural Technology and Interior Design (ATID) Department, Rayner Moodley, was recognised with two prestigious awards during the recent Planning Africa 2024 Conference.

Moodley, who has been with CPUT since 2012, was honoured with the Outstanding Planner in South Africa award (one of five winners ) while the Western Cape region, which he chairs, was awarded most promising region.

The conference, initiated by the South African Planning Institute, was held in Durban and this year’s theme was Sustainable Futures: from Theory to Practice. He also served as programme director for the conference and chaired the closing plenary.

Moodley’s career at CPUT began as a Town Planning Technician, later advancing to junior lecturer , lecturer and becoming the Head of ATID in 2021. Along the way he completed his Master’s degree at the University of Cape Town and is currently pursuing a PhD at CPUT. He attributes his professional growth to the development opportunities provided by the university and the supportive leadership within his department and faculty.

Moodley said winning the awards was an honour and marked a significant milestone in his career.

"Being recognised as one of the top five outstanding planners in South Africa reinforces the importance of focus, hard work, and dedication, supported by a strong network both at home and within my workplace. This accolade is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the collective effort and support from my family and mentors within and outside of CPUT."

The awards come just two years after he scooped the 2022 South African Council of Planners award for Top Young planner in South Africa in the academic category.

To maintain relevance in the ever-evolving field of planning while managing his responsibilities as Head of Department, Moodley remains actively engaged with professional associations, including SAPI. Serving as Chair of the Western Cape and a member of the SAPI National Executive Committee (EXCO), he stays informed about the latest trends and advancements in the field.

“Balancing these responsibilities involves effective time management and leveraging the support of my team at CPUT. By integrating insights gained from these roles into my work at ATID, I ensure that both my academic and professional contributions remain current and impactful," he explained.

SAPI President, Dr Johannes Mulaudzi, conveyed his congratulations to Moodley, adding that he was deserving of winning these awards. He stated that SAPI appreciates his commitments towards promoting the planning profession.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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Two academics from the Media and Communication Department recently presented their work at the Annual South African Communications Association (SACOMM) Conference, hosted by the Departments of Journalism and Visual Arts at Stellenbosch University.

Lecturer Dr Adelina Mbinjama presented on her National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka grant project, which ran from 2021 to 2023. Her presentation was titled: An Investigation of Cyber-Ethics among Digital Media Marketers in a changing Media Landscape: A Case Study on Black-owned SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upasna Maharaj, nGAP Lecturer in Film Production, presented her research article: Decolonising Film Education in South Africa: A Review of Approaches and Challenges, as part of the New Pedagogies panel at the Conference.

Mbinjama, who is the Chair of the Media Department Research Committee at CPUT, where she chairs the master’s proposal defences, also serves as a mentor on the Sisonke 3.0 Mentorship Programme, where more experienced supervisors give support and advice to CPUT employees who are new to postgraduate supervision.

Through a qualitative approach, her study investigated the use and practices of cyber-ethics among digital media marketers and employers in 50%-100% black-owned Small and Midsize Enterprises (SMEs). The study revealed the ethical and moral behaviour-related challenges that black businesses encountered during the period of COVID-19. Limited technological and legal infrastructures proved challenging for SMEs considering their loss of revenue during the pandemic.

“Due to my work on cyber-ethics for Thuthuka, I noted certain topics that emerged from my study but need to be expanded on, so I have a call for book chapters with Emerald Publishers, which I am working on with two other editors with research interests in the digital world, Dr Janelle Vermaak-Griessel (Nelson Mandela University) and Prof Bianca Wright (Coventry University in the UK).

She is also part of the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) CPUT Cohort as a supervisor to master’s and doctoral students.

Mbinjama recently attended the Humanities International Spring School at North West University, where postgraduate supervisors and students are capacitated to do research.

“The exposure to research is important to me as an emerging scholar and postgraduate supervisor. Through conference presentations and attendances, I believe that I will be able to enrich my knowledge and speciality in cyber-ethics and digital media. I also feel that my research activities will expand from an interdisciplinary approach to a more multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach.

Maharaj joined CPUT in November 2023.

“My presentation explored the ‘decolonisation’ of film education in South Africa, attempting to address questions of how to make film education more relevant, accessible, and context-specific in the post-colonial university. Decolonisation in film education involves interrogating and decentring Western and dominant theories, methodologies, and assumptions. It requires experimenting with curriculum design, teaching delivery, and shifting power relations within the classroom, where new approaches are underpinned by a desire to make education more relevant and accessible to students.

“The study synthesises existing literature and insights from South African film educators to investigate how ‘decolonisation’ translates to tangible efforts and specific actions that assist in equipping students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in our current globalised/glocalised mediascapes. Additionally, the research explores barriers and challenges faced by academics and institutions attempting to engage meaningfully in context-sensitive pedagogy.”

She will be presenting an updated version of this research at the CPUT Research Festival on 31 October 2024.

Maharaj serves as an editorial intern for Intellect's Journal of African Cinemas and freelances as a story consultant in the film industry.

She holds an MA in Media Theory and Practice from the University of Cape Town and is currently pursuing a PhD in Film Studies.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Informatics and Design is gearing up for the most exhilarating week of their calendar- the annual FID Open Day.

The event is the culmination of a year of hard work by staff and students and runs from tomorrow through to Friday.

The exhibit features work from our Graphic, Jewellery and Surface Design students along with the Fashion, Photography, Journalism, Architecture and Multi-Media departments.

It offers industry partners and media an opportunity to mingle with staff and students.

The event also gives the public and staff members a chance to see some of the most cutting-edge design concepts- many of which have won exclusive prizes throughout the year.

This includes the winning AngloPlat collection which our Jewellery Design lecturer Vassiliki Konstandakellis and students recently scored top prizes in.

The stunning designs which are based on Zulu culture were even featured on the lifestyle programme Top Billing.

The best designs from our Fashion Department like award-winning denim dresses will also be featured.

The event takes place at the Cape Town campus’ Multipurpose Hall and starts at 17.30 with an award ceremony taking place shortly after.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

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TWO CPUT Fashion Students have proved that when you are good you are very good.

Hot on the heels of winning the SA Fashion Week Vodacom Denim Dress Competition Alexandra Gaidouk and runner-up Shaun Smith have been announced as winners in another prestigious contest.

PROUD PAIR: Alexandra Gaidouk and runner-up Shaun Smith with the denim designs that won them top prizes in the recent SA Fashion Week Vodacom Denim Dress Competition.

The pair along with fellow CPUT fashion students Jacqueline Le Grange, Pascale Samouilhan and Zibuyisile Mhlanga have won the exciting opportunity of seeing their designs being manufactured and worn in the upcoming Cape Town Carnival.

WINNING WORK:  The creativity of Zibuyisile Mhlanga’s design appealed to the judging panel.

Students could let their imagination run wild when they were asked to design carnival costumes for the annual event which takes place through the city streets in March.

Winners will also receive R2000 towards their tuition fees for next year.

Cape Town Fashion Council’s CEO Bryan Ramkiliwan congratulated the winners personally and invited them to the factory where the costumes will be made to see the process first-hand.

“Come and spend half a day a week and watch the production. Who knows you may find a career in costumes.”

The fashion winners are only the beginning of a fruitful relationship between Cape Town Carnival and CPUT.

Recently lead carnival performers were measured in the Clothing and Textile technology’s innovative 3D scanning machine to make sure their costumes fit like a glove.

And journalism, graphic design and photography students are also expected to be roped in closer to the event time.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

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CPUT Graphic Design students who won a prestigious competition now have the privilege of watching their work change the world one project at a time.

Besides the honour of winning the Sappi “Ideas that Matter” competition these third-year students also have the distinction of watching the campaigns they created actually being used.

Students had to choose a Non-Governmental Organisation, consult with them, then create a campaign catering to their specific needs.

Kirstin Damon, Lyndon Jacobs and Karin van Rhyn chose the Carthorse Protection Association and won first prize for their unique campaign aimed at schoolchildren.

This means their box set containing a story and activity book as well as finger-puppets and a puzzle will go into an all-expenses-paid production for the organisation and hopefully be used in schools across the Cape Flats.

“The aim of our campaign is to make children aware of looking after these carthorses because often whole communities need them to survive,” says Lydon.

Teammate Kirstin says the cost-effectiveness and hands-on approach of their idea gelled with the judges.

“One of the reasons they liked it so much is because this campaign can run on its own and it’s a simple cheap idea,’ she says.

Jessica Begley and Ricardo van Lingen were runners up and won a partial grant for the campaign they created for drug rehabilitation centre Akron.

They created a full corporate identity for the NGO including a website, logo and advertising campaign based on the steps of recovery.

“We chose Akron because we both have personal connections to drug abuse,” says Jessica.

Akron loved the campaign so much it is already in use.

Click here to view Kirstin, Lyndon and Karin’s winning campaign for the Carthorse Protection Association.

Click here to view Jessica and Ricardo’s campaign for drug rehabilitation centre Akron.   

By LAUREN KANSLEY

Written by CPUT News
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A service learning project completed by second-year Architecture students will continue to give joy to learners at a remote primary school for years to come. Using mostly recycled and donated material the playground at St Michaels Primary School in Grabouw has had a complete facelift.

Students designed and built decking, a pergola (covered outside area), fireplace and painted a child-friendly wall to make the area more attractive.

Architecture lecturer Hermie Voulgarelis says students travelled to the school for a week and a half to complete the project.

“The school was selected for its involvement in our Multigrade Programme and its vicinity to Cape Town,” she says.

HELPING HAND: Architecture lecturer Hermie Voulgarelis helps a learner leave her handprint on the wall. 

Senior Architecture Lecturer Jolanda Morkel says a large part of the playground used to be practically unusable because a large container cut the area off, making it difficult for children to access a wooden play park.

“Now the outside area flows off of the classrooms creating a much larger play area,” she says.
“The pergola will also assist in keeping some of the wind and heat off the area.”

ALL TOGETHER NOW: St Michaels learners on the newly built decking which links classes to the playground.

St Michaels Principal Nicolas Davids says he had no idea a few simple changes could make such a huge difference.

“They opened our eyes to how the space could be used,” he says.

The next phase of the project, expected to role out next year, will revamp the entrance to the school.

As a reminder of the hard work put in students, learners, teachers and lecturers were all invited to leave a coloured hand print on the outside wall. 

HANDY HELP: Learners give Architecture students a big thank you for revamping their playground.

By: Lauren Kansley
Photos by: Shawn Uys

Written by CPUT News
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LOTS of imagination, plenty of ancient donated jeans and dedicated lecturing staff has seen three CPUT students win top places in a recent fashion competition.

Second-year student Alexandra Gaidouk trumped the competition with her pastel-shaded dress inspired by the Japanese art of origami.

ACE: Alexandra Gaidouk took two weeks to bleach and fuse her denims into this stunning design which won first place.

Her design won first place, R10 000 cash, a Mac computer and a coveted three-month internship at Ronald Sassoon.

Fellow fashion students Mia Marais and Shaun Smith won third and fourth places respectively and an impressive 14 CPUT students made it into the semi-finals.

Not bad considering the SA Fashion Week Vodacom Denim Dress Competition was flooded with hundreds of entries from students across the country.

Entrants were asked to ‘refabricate’ old denims into a new design.

Alexandra says making her dress from start to finish took about two weeks.

“I was very confident in my design but I wasn’t sure if they (the judges) were looking for something more conventional,” she says.

“Luckily for me they liked the different approach.”

Mia’s patchwork denim dress was inspired by scaffolding and her latest collection entitled “It’s a pretty ugly world”.

“It took me 26 hours to make the dress but as soon as I saw the competition I knew what I wanted to make,” she says.

PATCHWORK: Mia Marais, 23, sowed for 26 hours straight to finish her denim maxi dress.

If Shaun’s jacket reminds you of something reptilian it’s because the concept is based on both an alligator and a turtle.

The hood of the jacket is designed to look like a turtles head while the white accents hint at an alligator’s underbelly.

Fashion Design Lecturer Jas Myburgh says all the winners have one thing in common- self-discipline.

“It is a very challenging course so for them to have succeeded took a lot of self-discipline,” he says.

CREEPY CRAWLY: Second-year Shaun Smith won a MacBook Air for his unconventional design based on a turtle and alligator. 

By Lauren Kansley

Written by CPUT News
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Michelle Thornhill is proof that dreams do come true. This second-year Fashion student was announced the winner of the Cotton Made in Africa Fashion Contest.

This international contest is an initiative of The Aid by Trade Foundation and fosters sustainability in design.

Michelle created a t-shirt that fuses modern ideas with traditional African prints and also designed a dress made of raw cotton.

“It was not easy working with raw cotton. But I found ways and techniques to work with it. I was inspired by tribal patterns and various elements,” she says.

Michelle’s impressive designs outshone that of 21 competitors from across the globe. It was also her innovative approach to her designs that won over the judges.

In addition to winning the contest her t-shirt is now being marketed and sold by the OTTO “Chillytime” brand. It is available at the OTTO online shop, under the “Design instead of Jute” motto.

Michelle's winning design, available from OTTO

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