House and Leisure celebrates new student designers

Cheng's prize is an all-expenses-paid trip (worth R35 000) to the world's premier design showcase, 100% Design in London. Hsin clinched the coveted prize with her innovative design for a range of giftwrap, cards and tags, gift boxes and gift bags.

Nikki Barlow and Megan Wyche, students at Design Time School of Design in Cape Town, were placed second for their Caked Out tea set, winning R15 000 cash. Solomon Mashakeni, from the Department of Textile Design and Technology at Tshwane University of Technology, was third with his designer shopper bag. He won R10 000 cash.

The 10 finalists in this year's competition all received gift vouchers from Mr Price Home worth R1 000 and a year's subscription to House and Leisure magazine.

"Apart from the trip to 100% Design in London, this competition gives students the opportunity to break into the tough design sector in South Africa," says Kate Wilson, editor of House and Leisure. "This is the only competition that offers student designers the opportunity to have their items manufactured, marketed and sold in a large, well-respected retailer such as Mr Price Home."

The House and Leisure/Designers at Mr Price Home competition is open to students studying design at a tertiary level who are attending a university, tech or design school selected by the judges. "We select the institutions to participate so as to ensure a high calibre of work," adds Wilson. "The high standard of entries to this year's competition prompted Mr Price Home to choose three designers' works to be manufactured for sale at Mr Price Home stores."

The new products will be available at leading Mr Price Home stores across South Africa from July 2005.

"We are already looking ahead at the next House and Leisure/Designers at Mr Price Home competition," adds Wilson. "For the first time, the 2005/2006 competition will include a mentor programme, which will see a group of selected professional designers assisting and nurturing the students in their quest to create a winning design. The group comprises Richard Sparks, Heath Nash, Greg and Roché Dry from Egg Designs, Neville Trickett, Gregor Jenkin, Potlako Gasennelwe, Monna Mokoena, Jenny Gifford, Helen Gibbs and Haldane Martin."