Devon student reaches final of JDO RAW national design competition

Plymouth College of Art student, Emma Flintham, has been selected as one of five finalists  of the national student design competition -JDO RAW 2020.

Over 150 students from across the UK submitted entries to the initiative - run by one of the UK's leading design agencies JDO - that has garnered a reputation for opening doors into the notoriously competitive design industry. Three design grads who were part of RAW 2019 have recently signed full-time contracts with JDO as Junior Designers. 

Emma, along with the other entrants, was challenged with designing a new food/drink brand for millennials using a mash up generator to randomly select two unexpected food, drink or flavour combinations. A deliberately unconventional and ‘open’ brief designed to test the students’ ability to take big ideas and ‘package’ them to deliver fully-formed coherent, engaging brands. Emma's design, ‘Algae Cacao’ protein chocolate bars, are geared to break into the health food market. The packaging is designed to be almost entirely recyclable using a combination of paper and bamboo materials.

“The calibre of work sent into RAW never fails to impress” says JDO Co-Founder and CD, Ben Oates “and this year is no exception. Entrants have once again surprised and enticed us with their forward-thinking, innovative designs. We’re going to have a tough job picking a winner.”

The winner will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony in August with a prize including a 4-week placement with the agency plus Apple Airpods Pro and £250.

In a move to further support graduating design students, JDO has launched a programme of ‘You Can Do This’ webinars. Providing advice and mentoring to enable students to have the best chance of securing jobs in the industry. 

“The talent of tomorrow needs support today,” says Fiona Florence, MD, JDO “This is a tough time for everyone and we need to be nurturing and celebrating the new talent that is struggling to be seen and heard. The brief set this year has challenged the students to be at their very best. This competition has the potential to kick-start careers – as it has done for our new junior designers."