THE IIE's VEGA SCHOOL PULLS OFF GAME CHANGER DURING LOCKDOWN

Launched 21 years ago, Vega offers globally recognised degrees in graphic design, digital design, copywriting, strategic brand communication, brand management, interior design, game design and digital marketing. 

Every year pre the pandemic, Vega in Durban hosts its annual Portfolio Day, inviting industry representatives to view the work of students. This year the event went online and was a roaring success. 

IIE-third year and postgraduate students from various disciplines participated - from Business, Management and Strategy, and Graphic and Digital Design to Copywriting. 

Participants introduced themselves to the mentors and presented their portfolio of work to about 60 industry experts in various virtual meeting rooms. 

It was a lively format – a cross between speed dating and Dragon’s Den, and students got a real sense of what industry standards are, receiving feedback and mentorship from top-placed potential employers in South Africa, London, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Ireland and Canada. 

The event, said Vega campus head Naretha Pretorius, was “part of Vega’s commitment to grooming its students and supporting the continuous development of our industry”. 

“It helps our students to become industry confident. It was inspired by the International Portfolio Night originated by McCann. We have been running our own Portfolio Night at Vega School in Durban for several years. It is immensely valuable to our students, industry partners and ourselves.” 

Senior Copywriting Lecturer, Siobhan Gunning, saw this year’s Virtual Portfolio Day as an opportunity to go international by securing creative directors and ex-Vega lecturers from around the country and the world. 

“While there is nothing to beat a physical encounter, being able to get international luminaries such as Naresh Ramchandani from Pentagram and Gemma Lord from IDEO, both from the UK, was an exceptional coup for us! This event is a Vega Durban initiative, it is not part of the curriculum, and I am so proud of our campus for dreaming big and pulling this off.” 

Nothing prepares students for the real world better than engaging with real world experts and Vega used its tremendous influence to make the connection global. The event reflected the passion Vega has for its students in ensuring the best industry exposure for them and their work. 

Students were introduced to creative directors from top agencies such as FCB Durban, King James, Joe Public United, Barrows Global, Derivco, and agencies from around the world (the likes of Parsons Branding, Ireland), and business and brand management heads of local and globally recognised brands, such as Unilever, RCL Foods, Red Bull SA, ABSA and SA Homeloans, to name a few. 

From this experience, students secure interviews to embark on industry immersion opportunities, the first step to realising the career they have aspired to.

CREDITS:

First published in The Ridge magazine.