UK wins global design competition

Fashion queen Vivienne Westwood, might have to watch her throne as Danielle Lewis, fashion student from Colchester Institute is awarded with the SDC Colour Design Award 2008. The top international award was announced at an awards ceremony on Friday 18 April in Bradford, UK.

The budding designer is a second year fashion design student at Colchester Institute's Centre for Art, Design and Media. Danielle Lewis was one of the 13 finalists of the student design competition - the first of its kind run by the SDC in conjunction with regions/affiliates around the world. Over 50 institutions took part, with students from Australia, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the UK and USA making it through to the final.

As the global winner, Danielle received a cash prize of £1000, presented by Sue Williams (SDC president). Danielle also received a trophy in honour of the late Dr Veronica Bell (an SDC past-president) to acknowledge excellence in the field of colour and design.

The SDC is an independent, not-for-profit educational charity and the world's only chartered, professional body dedicated to colour. With the competition, the SDC encourages the creative and inspired use of colour in fashion and textile design and is a committed sponsor of young designers.

The grand final of the SDC global design competition next year is provisionally planned for Goa, India in June 2009. Further details to be issued in due course.