This Interior Design student has literally raised the bar and is in line to win a hefty R50 000 prize for her creativity.

Yolandi Kotze, 24, is the only student designer in the finals of a bar design competition for Fine Brandy- a collection of excellent South African brandy products.

She now has to compete against two professional designers for the honour of having her bar made and used at Design Indaba 2014.

Yolandi’s design mimics the swirl of brandy in a glass and is a refreshing take on an ordinary square bar.

The competition was entered by all third year Interior Design students as part of a project brief and Yolandi was initially part of a group of 10 industry and student semi-finalists who had to pitch their designs to judges.

“It was exciting to work alongside professionals who are obviously used to pitching their ideas. I felt like an amateur and didn’t expect to get pass the top 10,” she says.

Senior lecturer Colleen Cocotos says her entire department is extremely proud of her for her achievement regardless of whether she wins the overall competition next year.

“The competition was of an extremely high standard. The results show that our students can compete with active industry practitioners,” she says.

As part of the top three a small prototype of her bar design will be created for display at Design Indaba and apart from the R50 000 prize money she is also in line to win a year supply of fine brandy.

Written by Lauren Kansley

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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

Interior Design student, Kriska Liebenberg, recently won a prestigious competition, which will see her winning chair being manufactured and sold by a renowned Cape Town-based furniture-maker.

Kriska won prize money of R10 000 and will also get a percentage of future sales for her nesting chair, which as the name implies was inspired by a bird’s nest.

Hers was one of two designs submitted by BTech students and entered into the 12 IZITULO Design Challenge by senior lecturer Colleen Cocotos. Safoora Ebrahim, whose entry was among the 12 finalists, was the other CPUT student participating in the competition.

“I am completely ecstatic to have won such an amazing competition, but it took a while for the news to sink in,” says Kriska, adding, “I could hardly believe they had chosen my design, considering how beautiful and innovative the other chair designs were.”

The winner was announced at an event where the finalists' designs were showcased at the Leon on CCXIX showroom in Woodstock. Leon on CCXIC together with St Leger & Viney sponsored the competition.

The competition brief required that entrants design a contemporary armchair, dining chair, occasional chair or bar stool using, among others, fabric, timber, metal or wool. Describing her creative process, Kriska explained that she first decides on a muse, then develops “the initial concept through research and sketches until the original idea transforms into a solid design”.

She’s confident that winning will open doors for her in the future, but for now she’s concentrating on completing her degree, before going out to see other parts of the world and then returning to pursue a career in her chosen field.

View the design concept for a better understanding of her chair here.

Written by Abigail Calata

Interior Design students scooped the first, second and third prize in the prestigious Roche Bobois product design competition.

Roche Bobois is a world leader in furniture design and distribution and collaborated with three design schools in South Africa: CPUT, Greenside Design Center and Tshwane University of Technology for the eighth edition of the Roche Bobois Design Awards.

The competition offered an opportunity for students to gain exposure to the professional world and to learn the ins and outs of a product’s design, creation and production.

The students were under the supervision of Senior Lecturer, Colleen Cocotos and were tasked with designing a luminaire.

Valdina Manuel was the first prize winner and earned a R20 000 prize while Cheri-Lee Cloete was placed second and won R15 000.

Cocotos said there were three third-prize winners, one from each institution, and alumnus Johannes Goosen was among them.

The winners also earned the opportunity to have their products prototyped and presented at the international Roche Bobois congresses that select future models to be added to its collection.

They also learn about the communication process to gain international press coverage for their product.

Valdina, who hails from Angola, said she could not believe when she was announced as the winner.

“I wasn’t present at the announcement because it was my sister’s wedding day. I was doing my nails when I was told that I had won and had to turn my camera on. I’m very grateful for everything that I’ve learned.”

Cheri-Lee said participating in the competition was a great experience “which took me out of my comfort zone”.

“’I’m now considering going into furniture design.’

The students thanked Cocotos for her support and helping them to gain industry exposure.

Cocotos said: “It was an honour for our students to design for the Roche Bobois, quality brand. The presentations that they delivered to the group of well-renowned, international, and national judges, were exceptional.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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A CPUT interior design student and his lecturer will soon be jetting off to a sought after international fair in Italy after scooping top honours in a prestigious design competition.

Douw De Kock, who was a part-time interior design BTech student, won the Caesarstone Student Designer 2016 competition, which has been referred to as the “Oscars” of the student design world.

His prize was an all-expenses paid trip worth R100 000 to an international design fair for him and interior design lecturer Colleen Cocotos.

Caesarstone awards the prize to both the student and the lecturer in recognition of the mentoring that takes place to help students develop their design skills.

In his acceptance speech De Kock gave thanks to Cocotos for her oversight and encouragement.

The competition brief was Education and Incubation and students had to design an “organic architectural structure where the architecture serves the people and the land and the people serve the architecture”.

Among other things the structure had to have the ability to be adapted to various regions of the country and the design had to be inspired by nature and be sustainable

De Kock and Cocotos will be attending the Salone del Mobile, which will be held in Milan, from April 4 to 9.

“I really didn’t expect to win. I have never been overseas. When I saw some of the other designs I was wondering what am I doing here. I just tried to follow to the brief and to come up with something that could easily be implemented anywhere in the country,” said De Kock.

He works for an exhibitions company and is scheduled to graduate in March.

Each institution was permitted five entries and the calibre of entries from CPUT impressed the judges.

“All five of our students were selected as finalists. It was amazing. This meant that five out of the nine finalists were from CPUT,” said Cocotos.

Not only did CPUT clinch the top spot but another CPUT student, Erik van Renssen won second place.

Van Renssen was awarded a R10 000 cash prize.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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A senior lecturer in the Architectural Technology and Interior Design Department has been selected as a jury panel member for the prestigious International BLT Built Design Awards.

Colleen Cocotos said she felt privileged to have been selected as a jury panel member for the awards, which recognise and celebrate the contributions of professionals in architecture, interior design, construction and landscape architecture on a global scale.

“The jury consists of practitioners from around the world and I am honoured to represent South Africa alongside Phill Mashabane, principal at Mashabane and Rose Architects. I look forward to the awards event, which will showcase exceptional work. I find it inspiring to review the dedication and effort that have gone into these projects.”

She joined CPUT in 2009 from Nikheel, a Middle Eastern property developer.

“The most enjoyable part of my job is challenging students to become their best selves as designers. I believe that we have the power to make a positive impact on society through good design and there is no greater privilege than being able to create happy, environmentally responsible and supportive environments.”

Cocotos said being a juror for the BLT Built Design Awards would give her the opportunity to review a wide range of projects, buildings, and infrastructure that tackle the challenges of urbanisation.

“I appreciate the chance to witness first-hand the exceptional and human-centred approach that goes into these projects. It is creatively stimulating to be part of an awards event that celebrates excellence and shares it globally, with a broad audience, allowing others to aspire to the same level of greatness.”

For more on the awards, click here.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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