International competition in its 24th year with paid awards

Aquent has joined forces with D&AD (British Design & Art Direction) to sponsor the D&AD Student Awards 2002 program. Aquent, along with other companies worldwide, contributed to the call for entries pack of 28 briefs encompassing a wide range of creative disciplines including multi-media, advertising, graphic design, illustration, and photography, among others. The deadline for entries is March 28, 2002.

"Aquent has always been a staunch supporter of quality educational programs in the creative field," said Kimberly Kapner, who heads up the European division of Aquent's design executive search business (RitaSue Siegel Resources) and co-creator of Aquent's competition brief. "We are pleased to partner with D&AD on this awards program which provides an essential connection between design, advertising, education and the commercial world by inviting students, worldwide, to work on real business problems proposed by real clients."

Aquent is sponsoring the "Design for Print" category in which entrants are required to create a printed piece that meets the company's objectives. "The strength of the Student Awards is that it forges a nexus between business and education which provides a springboard for future talent," says David Kester, Chief Executive of D&AD. "It is essential that we are working with some of the best businesses worldwide like Aquent, a respected brand in the creative community."

For the first time in the program's 24-year history, the award purse will include two £5,000 (US $7,085) Bursaries, each with a three-months paid work placement with the WPP Group, one of the world's leading communications services companies. The WPP Group Bursary and three-months paid work placement, is open to participating students whose work is selected for inclusion in the D&AD Student Annual. "D&AD and the WPP Group recognize that there are few formal graduate trainee programs for college graduates who are seeking a career as a creative practitioner in the advertising and design fields," says Kester. "The WPP Bursary program is designed as a valuable addition to D&AD's existing education initiatives that help to smooth the path from education into employment."

Winners in each category receive £1,000 (US $1,417), with second and commendation receiving up to £400 (US $566.81) each. An additional £1,000 is awarded to the "Student of the Year" for the best overall submission. All first and second-prize winners are awarded a baby "Yellow Pencil" award, a recognized symbol of excellence in the design and advertising community.

The D&AD Student Awards highlight the best student talent and promote it to leading design and advertising creatives worldwide. The best entries are published in the D&AD Student Annual, required reading for creative directors, with winners featured on the D&AD Getty Images Bloodbank - the first worldwide online showcase of top, young creative talent.

For more information and to download an entry pack, go to: