Ji Hyun Jenny Lee’s Berlin Note

DK announces formal partnership with LCC student talent pool to boost publishing innovation and excellence

GLOBAL PUBLISHER DK, famed for spectacularly illustrated reference books, has entered into a formal “talent relationship” with London College of Communication (LCC).

This unique arrangement proves LCC’s standing as a world leader in creative industries education.

Phil Ormerod, UK Art Director for DK Knowledge, said: “LCC has always been highly regarded in the industry. We see LCC as our main talent feed.”

Mr Ormerod added that DK leaders would be visiting LCC in July to discuss further partnerships that would utilise the whole range of skills at the college.

“We might also look at how LCC could train up DK staff,” Mr Ormerod said.

The partnership announcement was made yesterday (Monday) at DK’s Strand offices (London, UK) where 15 LCC BA (Hons) Graphic and Media Design students presented ideas for visionary travel guides.

DK executives set a design brief that looked for inspired integration of digital and print formats.

Three winning solutions were announced this morning (Tuesday), and each student received a £500 award.

The judging panel comprised: Phil Ormerod;  DK and Rough Guides Digital Publisher Peter Buckley; and DK Travel and Rough Guides Design Director Scott Stickland.

They awarded the prize money to Callum Copley for his weather-based travel guides (Best Design); Ji Hyun Jenny Lee for her Moleskine-inspired “city notes” guides (Best Concept); and Vasiliki Kontaxi for her 24-hour city guides (Best Commercial Viability).

Peter Buckley said: “DK’s relationship with LCC is very close to our heart and we are always delighted to see how their students interpret a creative brief from us. 

“We look for creative approaches to conceptual thinking that take into account mature approaches to information design and a deep understanding of the target user.”

Sarah Temple, from LCC’s Faculty of Design, said: “We are delighted to be working with DK. LCC is the only educational institution to have a formal relationship with DK, which sees LCC as a talent pool full of the future leaders of the design and publishing industries.

“For DK to acknowledge the vision and potential of these students is a great accolade, and proves that the college is a place where creative people are inspired and encouraged constantly to develop their abilities.”