EXCITE-ing Design

This years hot-pink, edgy and alternative EXCITE campaign is hard to miss!

The creative design force behind this year’s EXCITE brand comprises none other than Otago Polytechnic’s very own second-year Bachelor of Design (Communication) programme students (L-R) Craig Scott, Simon Horner and Jess Bauer.

“Essentially, EXCITE is a student showcase and the EXCITE team felt it appropriate, and even necessary, to use the excellent skills of our Communication Design students to develop design work for the 2008 EXCITE campaign,” says EXCITE Executive Project Coordinator D'Arcy Dalzell.

“This way, the design provides the voice of the students and gives them a sense of ownership.”Craig says, "The idea behind the branding of EXCITE is based around a sense of underground and rawness.

“As students, we are still learning, and polishing our individual style, before we venture into a professional work setting, so the graphic elements of the branding have tried to capture this.”

Craig, Simon and Jess took on the challenge and produced an extensive EXCITE campaign – signage, posters, a programme, invitations, banners, maps, advertising and even a Facebook group!

This creative team of three each played a pivotal role in creating design elements that had to meet the creative briefs of not one, but a range of clients, from Otago Polytechnic’s Marketing, Communications and Customer Relations team to a large number of academic departments.

“Dealing with the wide range of clients provided me with a 'real world' understanding of compromise and achieving a finished application of the design output,” says Simon.

“Appreciation for the opportunity and industry experience is what I take away from this EXCITE campaign."

D'Arcy says she’s proud of how the students have coped and proved themselves time-and-again in challenging, and at times, stressful situations.

“This has been the first year we have produced a programme of all of the events and exhibitions that make up EXCITE. It required rigorous editing, design, liaison and attention to detail. It was a huge undertaking that would not have been made possible without the students’ relentless commitment and drive.

“They took the Otago Polytechnic brand essence "Inspiring Capability" and gave it a twist of youthful energy.”

EXCITE is adding a shot of hot-pink to Otago Polytechnic’s campus and the campaign is making its way towards Dunedin’s central city informing and inspiring everyone in its path.

"Being involved with the branding of EXCITE was both exciting and challenging.  To be working for a real client and having your work out there in the community has put all our study into practice,” Jess says.