Thabo Ndlovu, a third-year graphic design student at our Midrand campus walked away with the top position in the “Competitive Edge” category as well as the Safripol Silver Award. We talked to Thabo about his academic journey, awards and plans after graduation.
Why did you decide to study Graphic Design at Eduvos?
I was weighing out the different options available to me and came up with two institutions. Then I decided to look at the modules they offered and noticed Eduvos offered 3D Animation. I didn't expect to see that in a graphic design curriculum, and I was very impressed by Eduvos, that they strive to keep up to date with trends.
What has your Eduvos experience been like so far?
I'd say for the most part it's been pivotal and surreal as well. It's been incredibly rewarding being in this community. Some of my peers have become my family members because I'm very close to them and to my lecturers. It's always so nice to talk to the lecturers like they’re my peers, I can always reach out to them. If I have a design that I want to work on, or if I have certain suggestions on certain things, it's very easy to talk to them and the community is just so supportive. I love being here and I love everybody.
What was your overall experience at Eduvos, with staff and lecturers?
My student advisor, Vanessa is amazing. Anytime I have a problem, she's always on top of it. I can talk to her about anything. I have an interesting relationship with my lecturers. I'd say something that caught me off guard is that the modules correspond with the personalities of the lecturers, each lecturer has a certain personality and that personality complements what they are teaching, which is something I enjoy.
What makes Eduvos unique to you?
Definitely the curriculum and the way it works. Other institutions are very traditional in their approach, they are very fixed and predictable. Our industry is always evolving, and I appreciate that our curriculum changes and evolves with it. For example, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is sometimes used in our faculty. We use AI for certain mundane or repetitive tasks. That saves us time and helps us discover newer or faster solutions. I have a friend at another institution and what he’s learning is not relevant in the modern day.
How did you end up entering the Gold Pack Awards?
We received an assignment that was structured around the competition. Everyone had to do the assignment part of it, but you could choose if you wanted to submit it for the Awards or not.
How does it feel to be a finalist and award winner in the Gold Pack Awards?
It's extraordinary! It’s so unbelievable because I honestly never thought I'd make it this far. It came as a surprise to me. When it was announced to me that I was a finalist, I didn't think much of it. So, when I attended the ceremony, I was surprised that I not only won in my category, but I also received the Silver Award for the overall top winners. Having all those accolades will boost my career as well as my portfolio, having those certificates is amazing.
Why did you choose that specific category that you entered?
The category complimented my skills the most. I'm not the best at research, but I'm very good at presenting my concepts and making them look good. I gave my products a competitive edge, making them stand out from others. The other categories didn't compliment my skills as much and didn't cater to what I enjoyed the most, like packaging. So, I ended up defaulting to competitive edge.
Do you feel like events like this improve the employability of students?
Definitely! A CEO approached me and asked for my number at the event. I’m now in contact with a few people. So, I think they do.
What do you want to do after graduation?
I'm very interested in product advertising, remote 3D work and packaging. I'm still pushing forward with that, but I also don't want to leave digital art because I really Iove it. I still want to paint murals here and there as I still enjoy those things.
What advice would you give to students looking to study at Eduvos?
Immerse yourself fully into the programme. Try as much as you can to delve deep into what is being offered. Even though we all get into Graphic Design with an idea of what we want to do, I highly recommend that you explore all opportunities presented to you. For example, I was interested in motion graphics and digital art. I was surprised to discover that I really liked 3D, product advertising and packaging Another thing, dedicate as much time as you can to that subject or curriculum. This is definitely something I ignored in my first year. Look after yourself, make sure you sleep. I spent a lot of time not sleeping because I was just doing so much work. It's important to do your work but please look after your health.
Enjoyed the read? Stay updated with the latest from our Eduvos blog.
