Robin Brings Home International Award

South Devon College student Robin Coles has returned home from an exciting trip to America’s windy city after scooping the sole runner-up award in a prestigious international Awards ceremony held in Chicago, USA.

First year Interior Design Degree student Robin Coles was entered into an international competition by his tutor Keith McDonagh to be selected for inclusion in the form.Z Joint Study Journal.

Every year form.Z produce their ‘Partnerships in Learning Joint Study Journal’ and DVD that contains the very best creative architectural, interiors and product research using their specialised software. This is a global showcase for digital research and Robin’s work for the chainstore HMV has not just been included in the journal, but has made him the recipient of an Honourable Mention Award in the Interior Design category of the form.Z Joint Study Awards. The awards were given out last month at a dinner sponsored by AutoDesSys, one of the foremost developers of 3D visualization software in the world, at the Acadia Conference in Chicago, USA.

The recipient of this fantastic honour, South Devon College student Robin Coles, said:

“It came as quite a shock! I feel honoured to have even been considered let alone achieve an Honourable Mention Award and the runner up prize. I was obviously very happy and really excited to travel to Chicago to collect this accolade.”

He goes on to say of the trip,

“Chicago was a very welcome culture shock. It was my first visit to America and the first time I’d ever seen genuine skyscrapers! The award ceremony itself was an awkward experience. All the other winners were architect graduates and the standard of work was very high.

After the ceremony I spent a few enjoyable hours with the other winners in an ultra modern bar and glass walled garden on the 27th floor of the Wit Hotel. The following morning we took the Architectural Society boat tour and glided through the city - it was one of the highlights of the entire trip, riding up and down the Chicago River, taking in over a century of pioneering buildings. We watched the sun go down and the city lights come on from the Signature bar situated on the 96th floor of the John Hancock building. During the visit I also visited the Art Institute and was most moved by the Architecture and Design wing.”

South Devon College, recently awarded ‘Beacon Status’ and graded as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, agreed to fund the entire trip and Robins tutor, Keith McDonagh, who nominated Robin, was fortunate to be offered a specialist training programme during the visit, by some of the best design professionals in the business. He said:

“I would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone for coming together and making the trip to the USA possible for Robin and I. It was extremely beneficial in Robin's continued development as a designer and the specialized training I received will definitely benefit all of our students. It also helped to cement our relationship with AutiDesSys and the Joint Study Program. We are all extremely proud of Robin here at South Devon College and very excited that his work will feature in such a worldwide acclaimed journal.”

Robin also said of the College,

“South Devon College has been far too generous in agreeing to fund the trip but when I think about the whole experience I am so grateful that it did. I am also grateful to my tutors for putting my work forward for submission. I’m sure it will leave an indelible mark on all of my 2nd year work and beyond.”

The College’s 3D Design Foundation Degree course is in partnership with AutoDesSys Inc, who kindly supplies students with industry standard software. For more information on university level courses at South Devon College, call free on 08000 21 31 81 or visit www.southdevon.ac.uk.

For more information visit http://www.southdevon.ac.uk/