Student Story - Tour de Free State, Matthew Merrington

2011-09-26

Written By: Mathew Merrington, First Year Student: National Diploma, Interactive Graphics 2011

On the 22nd of August we left Cape Town for the Free State. Our team, "Team Intellibus" had been invited to participate in a professional cycling tour which started in Parys, and ended in Bloemfontein. The tour consisted of 5 stages, and had a total distance of +-500kms. There where also invitational riders from Spain, Belgium, France and other parts of the world. This made the cycling world-class.

Stage 3 was the stage that made the tour, starting in Clarens, and ending on the peak of the "hard-core" climb of "Golden-Gate", which forms part of South Africa's heritage sights. From there the leaders jersey did not change. Our team, as well as many other struggled to get riders over the line before the elimination time. Out of 7 starters in our team, only 2 of us finished the tour, and out of more than 100 starters, only 45 finished the tour. This just shows how hardcore it was. I was however lucky enough to complete the tour in 33rd position, and 14th in the u23 category, which I am very happy with, considering that I am only 19, and was one of the youngest riders in the tour competing against the likes of Tylor Day, the winner of the Argus Cycle Tour 2011, and Darren Lill, the current elite South African champ, and world-class professional.

The tour was a great learning experience, and we will be going back there for years to come. The amount of time, effort and money put into this tour (by our very own government) made it possibly the most successful tour held in South Africa for years. To bad we had to come back to a freezing cold Cape Town...

Student Story - Dare2Serve, Andrea Schoots

2011-09-26

Written By: Andrea Schoots, First Year Student: National Diploma, Interactive Graphics 2011

From August 16th to 24th I went with a group from Life Changer Church went to Harare, Zimbabwe. We went to serve with a team called Dare2Serve helping out with a youth conference they had organised called Truth or Dare for teenagers and orphanages in the area. The two day and three night conference was held at Avondale Primary School and The 7 Arts Theater. During the day sessions the group who attended the conference split up and went to different children's homes and old age homes and on the second day we walked from Avondale Primary School to The 7 Arts Theater cleaning up the streets. In the evenings we all gathered together for praise and worship, a speaker and then ministry time. It was incredible to see so many young people hungry for God.

For the rest of the time we where there we joined in with Dare2Serve team going to all the places where they help out: Harare Children's Home, St Josephs Boys Home and Foundations for farming to name a few. "Dare2Serve aims to encourage the youth, to see the hardships faced by their fellow man and to do something to change their circumstances". They are actively involved in their community helping in orphanages, retirement homes, street corners and community educational centres. It was so inspiring to see a group of young adults between the ages of 19 and 28 seeing a need in their community and making an effort to make a difference even if that means bring a smile to children's faces.

South African National Gallery Excursion

2011-08-04

As part of a print design project, the Interactive Graphics 1st Year students went on an excursion to the Iziko South African National Gallery on the 1st of August. Their brief was to design a poster displaying the work of one of the artists on exhibit at the museum, with emphasis on typography and layout.

The excursion was a success, and the students came away with enough research to complete their projects. They were also inspired by the work of the artists and photographers on show, including the renowned Kitsch painter, Tretchikoff.

The Brundibar Project

2011-07-28

On the 20th July Concept Interactive staff and students visited The Brundibar Exhibition at Cape Town's Artscape.

The exhibition is an inspiring collaborative installation displayed in the Theatre Foyer of the Artscape building. The artworks of young South Africans from the Frank Joubert Art Centre and Ibhabhathane is on exhibition alongside the significant exhibition from The Jewish Museum in Prague and Pamatník Terezín, of art and writings by the children imprisoned in the Nazi ghetto, Terezín.

Defying camp rules and risking their lives, adult prisoners in Terezín (Nazi) ghetto taught children literature and art and organised cultural programmes. After the war, most of the children's work was found hidden in the ceiling of the barracks. Thanks to The Jewish Museum in Prague we have the privilege to see these works and see through the eyes of those children from the Nazi ghetto as well as our very own South African children who have had the opportunity to express in art, their feelings about good overcoming evil, prejudice and stereotyping.

Frank Joubert Centre's Children's Exhibition that forms part of the greater Brundibar Project was based of the theme - Good overcoming evil, family love and care, prejudice and stereotyping, light overcoming darkness. Their older students based their work on Imprisonment and Freedom using surface and spatial design as an interactive installation, also using T-Shirt designs and masks.

It was inspiring to see our youth expressing so much feeling and emotion in their artwork.

Travelling Loeries Exhibition

2011-07-20

Concept Interactive was proud to host the Travelling Loeries exhibition as it made its way around the country, showcasing some of the best work from the brightest rising stars in advertising. Present at the exhibition was Boniswa Pezisa, the Chairperson of the Loeries Awards, who gave an overview of the design work and spoke about the industry in general.

After the opening of the exhibition, Rahle Dusheiko, Creative Director of the acclaimed interactive design studio Pixel Project, gave a workshop on designing and developing content for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It was an inspiring look into a new and exciting platform, and it was interesting to see how designers could take their work and deploy it on this medium.

As part of the event, a lucky draw was held, and the happy winner received a copy of the beautiful Loeries Annual.

Nelson Mandela International Day

2011-07-20

Mandiba's birthday is celebrated each year with a day dedicated to his life's work to ensure that his legacy continues forever. This is why last Monday, 18 July, saw many South Africans give 67 minutes of their time, whether it was supporting a chosen charity of serving their local community.

Concept's contribution to celebrating this internationally acclaimed day was to support the Sobambisana Community Development Programme which provides a special day care facility for children with disabilities, a day care centre for pre-school children and programmes for the elderly.

The substantial collection of food, clothes and books by Concept's staff and students was greatly appreciated by both young and old in the Sobambisana programme and it was so gratifying to know that in some small way Concept had made a difference on this special day. The picture says it all!

Jiving with Shapiro - Student Expedition

2011-07-12

Having just completed a character design module in their three year Interactive Graphics diploma, it was very apt that Concept students were able to experience Jonathon Shapiro's work at the Jewish Museum. Not only were students fascinated as they watched how to draw a cartoon of Madiba, but they left the exhibition inspired by Shapiro's scamp books.

Open Day 2011

2011-06-22

Concept Interactive will be having its open day on the 16th of July between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

At the Open Day, visitors can talk to some of our 1st, 2nd and 3rd year Diploma students, as well as some of the learners from our Design Techniques and Interactive Media certificate courses. Our students will also be showcasing their work and will go through the creative processes they used to create their portfolio pieces.

Lecturers will be available for any questions at the open day, and will be happy to assist visitors who have any questions.

Learnership: Design Techniques

2011-06-20

Congratulations to the 12 learners who have successfully completed a learnership funded by MAPPP-Seta!

During the course of the learnership, the 12 students each entered a two month internship, during which they gained valuable industry experience and applied the skills and knowledge which they gained during the course.

Many of the students are now working part-time at the companies where they interned.

Concept Interactive is proud to have hosted this learnership, and we wish these students all the best in their careers!

Student Exhibition 2010!

2010-12-07

November the 26th saw our National Diploma students completing yet another year of hard work and training!

Having been confronted with the challenge of finding clients and delivering a predetermined set of services, they were set free on the world. Through continuous contact sessions, facilitated training and a professional approach to client-interaction, the results really spoke for themselves.

Ranging from photographic websites to church merchandise, the results were absolutely astounding! Head over to our student-showcase and have a look, or you could even drop by from the 6th of December through to the 10th if you prefer the "eyes-on" approach.

Mothers Unite

2010-12-02

Concept Interactive has recently donated several of their older generation Macintosh Computers to Mothers Unite, an organization that works with children and youth at risk in Lavender.

This worthy cause was selected specifically to assist the organization implement their Literacy program for children between the ages of 6-18 years. Michelle, a representative from Mothers Unite, said "As the main objective of the literacy program is to teach literacy and provide access to the internet, these computers will encourage children to engage with the written word while they are learning the skills of using a computer. The internet is an arena that Lavender Hill community does not really have access to, and we hope that by teaching and transferring skills in computer literacy and basic internet skills, we will be able to provide these children and young adults with a vast amount of alternatives to their everyday life, as well as possibilities for their future careers and dreams."

Concept wishes Mothers Unite all the best in their efforts to realize the success of this literacy program project!

Creative Week Cape Town

2010-10-26

Concept Interactive successfully assisted with the arrangements of the following workshops: Educator's Roundtable, student and professional workshops for creative week during 29 September - 1 October 2010.

Testimonial

The week could not have ended better - an invitation to a presentation by Freda Sack of The Foundry, over from London for the Creative week culminating in the Loerie Awards. It was a real pleasure and privilege to be taken through some of the journeys in great contemporary typography, exploring the creation of design solutions for clients like Lisbon Metro, Swissair and British Library.

Listening to the variables that go into the upgrading of the British Yellow pages. Sharing the quiet delight of watching your design in red and white on an in-coming aircraft as it slides past the window while you wait for take off at Heathrow.

I liked Freda's style: quiet, authoritative, articulate and passionate about what she does so superbly. I liked the warm friendliness, accessibility in conversation and humility of the current President of the International Society of Typographic Designers.

Thank you Anne, thank you Tertia for a memorable week!

Glyn Hewson

Scarce Skills in Web Design by the MAPPP-SETA

2010-10-21

Concept Interactive has been granted a Scarce Skills in Web Design by the MAPPP-SETA. The programme will take place as from the 01 November 2010 until the 28 January 2011.

Learners who are claimed competent in the unit standards adhere to this scarce skills programme will be able to enter in commercial design studios, in private studios and in their homes as freelancers. They could gain employment in various sectors of the creative industries, e.g. publishing companies, advertising agencies, design firms, interactive and film media industries.

Completion of this project will provide the learner with accelerated employment and freelance career opportunities through work-based mentorship, with the primary focus on design and interactive media.

Should anyone wish to apply or simply request further information, do not hesitate to call us.

Concept refreshes its image

2010-04-14

On April 14, with the assistance of all our staff and students, we revealed our new fresh identity at a launch at which our clients were introduced to our new premises, new image and new courses. Apart from viewing the exhibition of our students' work and discussing the interesting variety of new courses for photographers, web designers and teachers, our guests were entertained by three experts from Paarl Media Academy of Print who demonstrated the principles of the litho and gravure printing processes as well as offer everyone an opportunity to test their colour blindness and perception.

Not to be outdone by the interesting print media demonstrations, Concept also organised their own in-house entertainment in the form of an artistic duel between two talented students currently studying our 3-year Diploma in Interactive Graphics. In the limited time of two hours, these students had to create a character that would serve as Concept's promotional mascot. Mikayla Wexler, a first-year student, was the winner and her concept and design has great potential to fulfill the task set out in the brief.

If you were unable to make the launch, please do not hesitate to contact us to make an appointment to discuss our new courses or alternatively just drop by when you will also be able to see our new premises and an exhibition of the high quality of our students' work.

Concept Refreshed

2010-04-13

2010 is a year of change and growth for Concept Interactive. It also marks our 20th year in business.

Upon the emergence from our teenage years into adulthood, we felt it fitting to celebrate our coming of age with a fresh approach: a new location, a new look and new courses, all informed by a renewed energy and passion for what we do.

We left our cosy Rosebank home for a modern, light and spacious building in the CBD, took on a fresh look and branched out our complement of courses into new and exciting industry-relevant directions.

Adobe CS5 launch

2010-04-12

Together with TouchVision, we are going to disclose Adobe's secrets of their new Creative Suite version.

Join us at our CS5 launch in Cape Town on the 19 May 2010 from 17h30 - 21h00 at the Protea Hotel Fire and Ice. Amongst other things you will hear from Mohammed Jogie (My Main Mojo & Pxl_Shft) and two industry experts, Johann Booyens (Concept Interactive) and Wynand Lens (Learn2), how to design without boundaries, work faster with greater precision and streamline critical processes.

Don't delay in registering as seats are limited.

Design Techniques Learnership

2010-04-03

We received the good news in mid-March that we have been chosen by the MAPPP Seta to offer a one-year National Certificate in Design Techniques to fourteen unemployed learners. The course will kick off on the 3rd of May and will, over the course of the next year, impart valuable design skills to these young people in preparation for their entry into the workplace.

This learnership will directly address the current shortage of employable disadvantaged individuals in the South African design industry, in releasing skilled, competent work-ready designers into the industry.

TitleSpier Exhibition

2010-03-10

Monette recently took her first year class to the Spier Contemporary 2010 Art exhibition at Cape Town City Hall.

The students found the work, dealing with socially and politically relevant current South African issues, both interesting and challenging. Class Representative Mikayla Wexler relates that "it was eye-opening to see difficult topics tackled and alternative perspectives offered." </br>The students also report that the use of materials in the artworks was inventive and challenged what they thought was possible.

National Diploma

2010-02-28

February saw Concept taking in the first batch of students for the newly launched three-year Interactive Graphics Diploma. First and Second Year students spent an afternoon at the Company Gardens, getting to know each other and collaborating on a group project - a collage constructed out of the contents of their packed lunches.

The rest of the week was spent showing new students the ins and outs of the college and breaking some ice over lively rounds of charades and Pictionary.