SA student brand product team off to Paris

The team, from the AAA School of Advertising Johannesburg, had to come up with a new beauty product range for men, other than a fragrance, for the Diesel male beauty brand. They won for their innovative razorless shaving and hair removing system concept, which they branded Diesel Evolution.

"To win both first and second place in such a highly competitive forum is an achievement," says Ludi Koekemoer, principal and MD of the AAA School of Advertising. "These students are remarkably talented and driven and I have no doubt that Team Brand Café will make their presence felt at the finals with their unique product."

Apart from the AAA School of Advertising (both the Johannesburg and Cape Town campuses), entries were drawn from the University of Cape Town, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Wits Business School and Vega Johannesburg and Cape Town. Each of the seven finalist teams worked with the creative team from Publicis to design a DPS and packaging concept for their product.

The winning team at the International Finals will be awarded with a trip worth €10000 and the L'Oreal Brandstorm Cup for their university. Second and third places will win trips worth €5000 and €2500 respectively. There is also a Best Communication Campaign prize, which will be awarded by a leading figure from the international advertising industry.

The competition is designed to give marketing students from around the world the opportunity to turn theory into practice and to showcase top young talent on an international stage. It is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying marketing.