It’s one of the highlights of the Faculty of Informatics and Design‘s calendar, and a showcase filled with spectacular designs and concepts, tongue-in-cheek innovations and practical, functional fashion. The annual FID Year End Exhibition last week played host to upcoming designers, industry members and hundreds of interested Capetonians on CPUT’s Cape Town campus.

Themed “Come See my Work”, the exhibition saw students from the 15 different design courses, including Architectural Technology, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Film and Video Technology departments, showcasing work completed in 2010, and work that won prestigious prizes or was highly commended in external competitions.

Kaleidoscopic in nature and almost overwhelming in scope, the exhibition was an incredible platform for these future design-leaders to introduce themselves, and their creativity, to Cape Town at large. Here are a few of the highlights.

B tech Graphic Design student, Orli Setton.

Setton is involved in an NGO working with high-school youths in the Western Cape, focusing on leadership and inter-cultural dialogue. “I’d like to use design for social development – and believe we can do more than just design logos or a “pretty something”. In Europe and the US, people use design to change health-care, education systems and politics. As designers we have a strong influential power. If we can convince people to buy things they don’t necessarily need, we can certainly convince them to do the right thing as well – it’s all about seduction!”

3^rd year Graphic design student Sandi Mvandaba says CPUT’s graphic design department is extremely hands-on from first-year. “Lecturers really take care of students, are very good at what they do and groom students to their full potential.”

Sandi Mvandaba

“Nested Light” by Anri Vercuiel of the Surface Design Department.

“The Tree of Knowledge Bookshelf” Megan Aitken (shown above), Surface Design.

“I am a bird” Hammock Nest by Juanne Groenewald.

BTech Fashion Design student Eileen Booysen designed a versatile and sustainable range of bridal wear for men and women. All the garments are simple and flexible enough to re-wear post-wedding as well.

Final year Btech Fashion Design student, Nabeela Moosa. “Autism is in my family and I saw first-hand the difficulties parents are faced with each morning. Getting the children dressed is a struggle and stressful for families. So I decided to design a range specifically for children with autism. This incorporates Velcro and elasticated shoulders, making it easier for kids to dress themselves.”

Springbokkies – The collected designs of 2^nd year Jewellery Design students.

Cacti Rings – Each cactus ring individually designed by 3^rd year Jewellery Design students.

Belt with Skulls. Jewellery Design student, Kyle Berry.

The stunning creation of Kim Nel, overall BTech winner of Top Student award in the Jewellery Design Department.

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News

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Students of the Film and Video Technology National Diploma have garnered high praise for the “originality and impact” of their work and are earning recognition from the industry for their skills and talent. As part of their second-year assignments, students had to produce Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) for various organisations. One particular PSA was described by the Foundation for Alcohol-Related Research (FARR) as “so powerful that we are of the opinion that it will have a huge impact.”

CEO of FARR Leana Olivier congratulated the students on their excellent project. “It has huge potential in raising awareness amongst the middle-income group and especially young people who often think that they are not at risk of having children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.”

The PSA is being used on FARR’s website, and so impressed are they that they’ve urged the students to approach ad agencies and the media to explore the option of using it as an awareness message on national TV.

Other highly compelling PSAs produced and shot by the students include messages urging motorists not to text and drive.

The Film and Video Department aims to redress the historical imbalances in South Africa’s film industry, and after 5 years of existence is beginning to do just this. Alumnus Volo Ganca is one of the very few black audio and video editors working in Cape Town. He’s been part of the team that produces ZA News, the show that skewers South Africa’s politicians and people in the news with sharp satire and comedy. In a recent article in the Weekend Argus, Ganca said he started working immediately after graduating with his National Diploma to gain experience and first-hand knowledge.

Describing his dream job, Ganca says, “Every day is a challenge. The biggest challenge is when the director wants something specific and has no idea how to get the end result. You, as the video editor need to figure it out and make it happen. This is challenging, but fun too, because you’re forever learning.”

By Jan Weintrob.

Written by CPUT News
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What do responsible gambling, planned parenting, and anti-vigilantism have in common? Besides their obvious social implications, these are all topics that are covered by second-year students in Public Service Announcements that they are required to film as part of their film and video syllabus.

These students are enrolled for the National Diploma in Film and Video Technology, a new course offered by the Information Technology Faculty on the Bellville campus. The one-year-old film division is the result of an amalgamation that brought the Cape Town International Film School in Montague Gardens to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

Mr Bennett Alexander who heads the Information Technology Department, introduced the concept to the institution. After the proposal made its way through the channels, the school finally found its place at the CPUT, under the leadership of Mr Alexander.

The Public Service Announcement project is just one of many innovative and practical exercises the students are required to complete. Throughout the course students are exposed to subjects like directing, pre-production practice, film appreciation and development, post-production practice, practical productions, introduction to video, video productions, film science and experiential training.

The aim of the Film School is to prepare students for the real world of film and television production and to simulate industry conditions as closely as possible. Students create graduation videos, music videos and Public Service Announcements as part of the course.

Mr Jared Borkum, lecturer in the film school, believes that the school has an important role as both an educational tool as well as a tool to address the demographically segregated nature of the film industry.

It allows students the opportunity to receive a good quality education at an affordable cost. Mr Borkum said, “We give students from all backgrounds an opportunity to tell their stories and equip them with skills that allow them to compete at an international level. We use this course as a platform to empower the students, and to educate and uplift the community as a whole.”

The creation of the country’s first major, Hollywood-style film studio by acclaimed South African film producer Mr Anant Singh signifies the beginning of a flourishing future for the South African film industry. This opens up numerous windows of opportunity for people entering the industry. In addition, film and video training also lends itself to incredible entrepreneurial potential.

With regards to the future of the film school itself, Mr Borkum said, “In the long run we would like to increase our international presence and get more recognition and exposure for our achievements abroad and nationally. I would also like to see the birth of a BTech in Film and Videography, and also perhaps an exchange programme for overseas students.”

Written by CPUT News
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