Design work gets top marks for value

A complete brand makeover for a natural health practitioners' group has won four Albany design students a $5000 first prize in the yMedia design challenge.

The organisation the students worked with, Natural Health Practitioners NZ, estimates the students have given it a new identity and massive image boost, worth at least $70,000.

The student team, Rachael Mobberley, Karina Tedjapoernama, Olivia Mills and Josephine Ross, called themselves the Designasaurs as a humorous twist on their client's self-confessed dinosaur-age understanding of cyber marketing.

They wowed the judges with their professional, creative and comprehensive design solutions, including a name change (from the New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners), a new Facebook page, a revamped website, new packaging, promotional materials and even a natural health first aid kit.

Natural Health Practitioners NZ has more than 60 member practitioners specialising in natural therapies, counselling, psychotherapy, mind-body medicine, integrative medicine, life coaching, personal development, fitness and exercise, and beauty therapy.

The yMedia challenge brings tertiary students and design professionals together with not-for-profit organisations to solve their design and digital marketing needs. Organisations were selected to participate and matched with students, who were given eight weeks to come up with a proposal for their client. A record 62 students and 20 community groups competed this year.

Natural Health Practitioners NZ board member Jenny Hammond, who liaised with the student designers, says the new look branding and internet tools gave the organisation a fresh new look. "What these girls have done and the way they worked with us is outstanding and of such a high standard."

One of the judges, Friday O'Flaherty, says they were impressed by the team's thorough understanding of the organisation and its audience, their thinking and the simplicity of their solution.

The Designasaurs, all 22-year-old fourth-year visual communication design students, enjoyed bringing different skills into the team environment. Ms Mobberley says it was great to work with a real client. "We had to find out what the client wanted, who they are and what they're about, so we could convey that in our designs." As well as web-based tools, the team created a new logo and printed materials Their research involved visiting clinics and shops and talking to practitioners.