Education/training

Contests help jump-start students' careers

And the winner is ...

It may not be Project Catwalk or Designer Superstar Challenge, but recently two students from the International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT) entered contests to show off their skills to industry leaders, and as a result have jump-started their careers.
[ 2007-05-30 ]

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Courtney Roy's winning toilet paper dress won her the People's Choice award.

FROM BATHROOM TISSUE TO FASHION FIRST


When Courtney Roy was in her fifth term in the Fashion Design program at IADT, her instructor gave the class an odd assignment -- everyone would have to design an outfit made out of toilet paper. And it would be given two marks; one by her teacher, and the other by a panel of fashion gurus presiding over the White Cashmere Student Design Competition.

Roy decided to take the assignment seriously and she went to work. "I always had the contest in mind, and I took extra care and consideration making my dress," Roy says. After two hours of delicately unrolling and preparing eight yards of toilet paper, Roy spent 16 straight hours creating the pattern, and fusing it together into a retro-chic glamour dress.

Her hard work paid off. Although she didn't win the final runway competition, Roy won the People's Choice contest, after 50,000 Canadians voted for their favourite dress online. While the entire process took almost a year from beginning to end, Roy will never forget the moment she went to the contest's website and saw her winning design, "It was totaling thrilling, I kinda freaked out!" Roy says.

Besides winning $2,500 towards furthering her fashion education, the real-world fashion experience she gained was priceless. "It definitely helped me get a job and added another dimension to my portfolio," says Roy, who landed her first job in the industry as a merchandise assistant at Caulfield Apparel.


Her advice to fellow students and graduates is simple: "Always be on the lookout for contests and other possibilities, and take part in every little thing that comes your way. You never know what will happen."

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE


Aldo Bastos Filho left his career in graphic design in Brazil behind to study Computer Animation at the Toronto Film School at IADT in order to further his education and start a career in Toronto.

"There are many talented people in Brazil, but not enough clients to sustain the talent," Filho says.

After visiting IADT, Emilio Agha, CEO of Cynar Drinks Ltd., decided to run a contest among IADT and Sheridan students in search of creative talent to assist the company with their rebranding efforts. When the opportunity arose to show off his talents in Cynar's "Soda Couture" Design Contest, Filho went straight to work.

He submitted three designs and three animations that captured the spirit of the brand, and the votes of the judges. Among 60 entrants, "Aldo best captured and communicated the essence of high life, high fashion, high style and international good taste that is the hallmark of Cynar," Agha says.

"I felt great when I won the contest but, unfortunately, my family isn't here so I couldn't share the good news with them in person," Filho says.

For his winning entry Filho won $500, but more importantly was offered a contract position with the company, which will soon turn into a full-time job.

"My experience at Cynar has been great so far. I've been working on redesigns for products, logos and advertisements to support the new designs," Filho says. "I came to Toronto with a portfolio, website and business cards, but the contest gave me an edge, and now I'm working for awesome people with great marketing vision."



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