The ROTOCON Student Wine Label Design Competition showcases the talent of young South African label designers. Hosted in collaboration with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the competition attracts entries from third- and fourth-year students in the Integrated Communication Design (ICD) programme. This year’s competition, held alongside the WineLand & ROTOCON 30 Under 30 Awards, celebrated the vibrant minds shaping South Africa’s wine label design sector.
Michael Aengenvoort, CEO of ROTOCON, highlights the significance of such events: ‘An event like this helps identify future leaders, shaping our country’s destiny.’
The competition’s second year saw a remarkable influx of entries, showcasing TUT’s ICD students’ creativity and potential. ‘The competition’s standards align with international benchmarks, offering students unparalleled real-world exposure. This exposure is invaluable, providing students with networking opportunities and a platform to launch their professional design careers,’ comments Banie Stafford, owner of BCreative. He spearheaded the initiative to extend the competition’s reach beyond the Western Cape to Gauteng, offering students unique insights into the wine industry.
Renowned converter SA Litho Label Printers joined the initiative by printing the winning and runner-up wine labels at its Parow Industrial facility near Cape Town. This involvement provided students a tangible platform to showcase their creativity and skills.
Student exposure
Zenzele Nkambule, an advanced ICD diploma student, won the competition with his design, ‘Route 62’. His creation pays homage to Stellenbosch’s scenic beauty, infusing landscape imagery with elements from the Ndebele heritage. ‘The inspiration behind my design was straightforward,’ Zenzele shares modestly. ‘I started with landscape imagery and infused it with elements from the rich cultural Ndebele heritage, giving it a modern twist.’ His design earned him a R30 000 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the WineLand & ROTOCON 30 Under 30 Awards luncheon in Paarl.
Syamdumisa Mbele, a third-year ICD student, claimed the runner-up position with his design, ‘Soet Uitnemendheid’ (Sweet Excellence). His work featured the Cape Sugarbird, symbolising refinement and sophistication. Syamdumisa explains: ‘I incorporated the waistcoat to convey refinement, sophistication and a sense of excellence.’ His design earned him R15 000 and a trip to the awards ceremony.
A commitment to skills development
SA Litho Label Printers’ partnership with ROTOCON extends beyond sponsorship, it represents a shared commitment to skills development and education. Dawrian Salies, general manager of SA Litho, believes investing in youth and education is key to South Africa’s future. ‘Education is necessary for individual progress. We have financed and encouraged staff members in various training and learning opportunities,’ he states proudly.
SA Litho’s commitment to continuous improvement is evident in its focus on root cause analysis and welcoming new suggestions to enhance business and product performance. This culture of learning and development has been fostered through partnerships with various facilitators, enabling employees to expand their skills and qualifications. ‘We believe education helps everyone at different levels to speak the same language and understand each other better,’ Dawrian asserts.
Bridging the gap
Dawrian’s passion for youth development was evident when he personally guided the student winners, Zenzele and Syamdumisa, through a tour of SA Litho’s production facility. ‘We’re very passionate about the growth of this country and development of youth skills. It’s our way of giving back to the community,’ he says. During the tour, the students gained valuable insights into the printing and finishing processes, from raw materials to the final product. ‘Not many people have the opportunity to walk into a production site like that, and once you do, it’s like your whole mindset changes,’ he reflects. This hands-on experience not only inspired the students but also ignited a passion for the industry.
‘Bringing a design to life requires not just the right look, but the right feel,’ Dawrian enthuses. ‘Collaboration and interaction with the customer are essential. Our goal was to provide differentiation and emphasise value by selecting the perfect combination of elements – such as paper choice, texture, micro-embossing, foiling and high-build effects – to create standout, finished labels.’
Involving two interns from SA Litho’s DTP prepress department, Christal Alicer Hartman and Lebona Nooi, in the printing process of the winning labels further demonstrated the company’s commitment to youth skills development. These interns were given the opportunity to lead the project, make decisions and learn from the experience. ‘It was important for us to put our interns on the same journey where we could give them sufficient exposure. It compelled them to do a bit of lateral thinking and to explore various options,’ Dawrian explains. The interns’ involvement was a valuable learning opportunity, allowing them to develop their skills while contributing to a high-profile project.
A shared passion
SA Litho’s partnership with ROTOCON is rooted in a shared passion for youth empowerment and education. ‘Michael and I share the same passion of giving back, teaching students and investing in the growth of this country. And I think it’s a very well-balanced fit between technology, design and production,’ Dawrian notes. This alignment of values has created a powerful synergy between the two companies, driving innovation and nurturing the next generation of talent.
SA Litho Label Printers’ partnership with ROTOCON in supporting the Student Wine Label Design Competition is a shining example of how industry leaders can positively impact youth development. By providing students with real-world experiences and opportunities to showcase their talents, SA Litho and ROTOCON are not only shaping the future of South Africa’s design and printing industries but also investing in the growth and potential of the country’s youth.
Exciting investment
As SA Litho Label Printers and ROTOCON continue their partnership, there is a sense of excitement for the future. SA Litho’s recent purchase of a Pantec RHINO 340 flatbed hotfoil embossing unit integrated with a ROTOCON CHROME RDF digital finishing machine signifies its commitment to staying at the forefront of printing technology.
As general manager Dawrian Salies eagerly awaits the arrival of this new equipment, he envisions even greater opportunities for collaboration and innovation. PPM will publish more details of this exciting technological investment in future editions.
