Brand students SHINE

Learning & GROWING

IIE-VEGA SCHOOL PULLED OFF A GAME- CHANGER DURING THE LOCKDOWN, TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE WITH ITS FIRST VIRTUAL PORTFOLIO DAY

The event, in August, allowed

students the chance to present their work to top corporate brands and advertising and marketing agencies from around the world. For those who don’t know it, Vega School (named after the brightest star in the constellation, Lyra) is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (IIE).

Vega was started 21 years ago and delivers globally recognised degrees in graphic design, digital design, copywriting,

strategic brand communication, brand management, interior design, game design and digital marketing.

Vega enjoys influential international alliances with Fontys Academy for Creative Industries in Holland, Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach University of Art and Design in Germany, Lillebaelt Academy in Denmark, Sup de Pub, with campuses in France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and USA. Vega also has a strong affiliation with The One Club in New York.

The work of IIE-Vega students receives

recognition and awards at local and international industry festivals like the Loeries and the Design Indaba.

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.

They 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.

ABOVE: Student work from the annual showcase.

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 and secured 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.

FOR MORE INFO www.vegaschool.com

“It was such a privilege to be given the opportunity to connect with inspiring industry leaders and of course young bright minds from Vega! A humbling reminder of the value of being open to new and different perspectives, and broadening your network to learn as much as you can from others, as well as sharing your own knowledge and experiences.”

– Stacey Grant, Consumer and Marketing Insights Director, Unilever Africa

“I was very impressed by the professional way in which technology was used during the first Vega Virtual Portfolio Day. The students rose to the occasion, albeit a bit nervous, and their presentations were generally of a high quality.”

– Cathie Lewis, Sustainability Manager for Grinrod

“I thought the overall quality and depth of thinking of the Business/ Management students was impressive while some of the physical presentations were outstanding.”

– Clive McMurray, FCB Durban