Press Release - NCAD Students recognised by the International Society of Typographic Designers
Visual Communication Students at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin have been recognised nationally and internationally at the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) student
Thursday, 20th April 2017
Ten final year students have been recognised for their responses to the ISTD set briefs, and have been offered membership to the Society. The students and staff involved will be awarded certificates in recognition of their achievements at the ISTD Awards in London, taking place in July 2017.
The ISTD is a professional body run by and for typographers, graphic designers and educators. The Society has an international membership, all of whom share its mission to establish and maintain standards of typography and to provide a forum for debate. Assessments are held across six regions annually; USA, Ireland, UK, the Middle-East, South Africa and Australasia. Membership to ISTD can only be granted through assessment and since its foundation in 1928 the Society’s membership has been host to some of the world’s most important designers.
NCAD student Conor Foran received ISTD membership with Commendation (the only one awarded in Ireland in almost a decade) while Liam Trumble and Phelim McGovern received ISTD Membership with Merit (two of only three awarded in Ireland). A further seven NCAD students were awarded membership including: Daniel Eames, Alana McDonough, Leah Downing, Deirdre Rawle, Tadhg Murray, Finn Mullan and Lucas Garvey.
The ISTD assessment has been described by international typographic luminary Erik Spiekermann as “the most rigorous and honest assessment in the world. No personal likes / dislikes can affect the outcomes”.
Speaking about the announcement, John Paul Dowling, NCAD Head of Department of Communication Design said, “Gaining membership to this recognised Society gives graduating students an edge when applying for work within the creative industries. It is a difficult task and a great honour to have the ISTD accreditation after one's name. We are delighted for all the students – especially the Commendation and Merit awards which are very rare. Having a facility such as Distillers Press embedded into our student’s education played an important role in their success at these awards.”
Also commenting on the announcement, Jamie Murphy, NCAD tutor and technician said, "The rigorous concept and outcome development undertaken to achieve a coveted membership to this Society impacts on both the individual student's approach to design and the professional practice standard of the graduating year as a whole."
The pass rate for NCAD students who entered this year’s assessments is well above the international average, with 62.5% of the 16 students who entered being recognised by the ISTD. For the second year running, NCAD has placed as the best performing institution on the island of Ireland, which is a clear indicator of the high standard of work by the College’s Design students.
ENDS
Contact: David O’Donnell, DHR Communications, 01-4200580 / 086-1081139
Note for Editors:
Images of the typography work by recognised NCAD student Conor Foran are available to download here: http://bit.ly/1qtJmdO
Media interviews are available upon request.
About NCAD
The National College of Art and Design occupies a unique position in art and design education in Ireland. It offers the largest range of Art and Design degrees in the State at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and is the only Irish university institution specialising in Art and Design. NCAD has over 1,100 full-tie students and a further 450 students who take award and non-award bearing part-time classes. Further information is available at www.ncad.ie
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