Graphic Communication students win in Dragon Rouge Firestarters Competition 2023

Ellie Woodcock-Jones, Olivia Knights and Reece Tennyson-Parsons win first place, with Emma Watts scooping up second in the Dragon Rouge Firestarters Competition. 

Global agency Dragon Rouge has held its annual Firestarters competition for students across the UK. Undergraduates could choose one of three briefs; Creating Value, Rethinking The Rules and Mash-up, Liven-up. Winners receive a month’s paid internship at Dragon Rouge and a National Art Pass.

BA (Hons) Graphic Communication students Ellie, Olivia and Reece teamed up for their project ‘The Originals’ in response to the ‘Mash up, Liven up’ brief, which asked for a collaboration between two unlikely brands to inspire a new product, service or experience.

As a group they chose to tackle ageism with the brands Werther’s Original and Adidas. Their aim was to make the older generation feel more relevant and remind the younger cohort of their value in todays society by challenging stereotypes.

Emma, a BA Graphic Communication student, won second place with her project ‘Unwind’, responding to the ‘Mash-up, Liven-up’ brief. The project addresses men’s mental health with a brand collaboration between Who Gives a Crap and Headspace.

After looking at the hard facts that men spend 7 hours a year on the toilet and 23% describe the bathroom as their ‘safe place’, Emma’s campaign created a limited edition of five toilet rolls. Each roll portrayed a negative emotion but included helpful and constructive advice on how to cope.

Martin Schooley, Director of Communication Design at Norwich said: “Competitions such as the Firestarters are a great way for design agencies to spot emerging talent, and for participating students to potentially win a valuable first step on the ladder in terms of their careers.

In the last four years, Graphic Communication students have won 1st Place twice and 2nd Place twice, with many of these winners taking up the offer of fully paid internships with Dragon Rouge, to kick-start their professional lives.”

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