Designed for success

A University of Wolverhampton student was centre stage at a regional business awards after designing and making the trophies.

Gwenael Prost won the commission to make the final collection of trophies for the Institute of Directors’ West Midlands Director of the Year Awards, sponsored by the University.

The second year Product Design undergraduate student from Rennes, France and is at the University of Wolverhampton for a year as part of the Erasmus European exchange programme.

His design was inspired by the Japanese art of Origami and he used state-of-the art CAD systems in its design and manufacture.

Gwenael (22), who is based at the School of Art and Design in Wolverhampton, said: “It is really rewarding to see something you have designed and made come to life.

“It’s great to hear good things about your work and to make something real. You feel that you can truly call yourself a designer.

“I realise it is an achievement to have my trophy used in these awards. I have had a brilliant experience in Wolverhampton. Coming to England has really opened up my mind as a designer.”

Gwenael attended the awards at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham on Tuesday May 15th 2012 and saw eight of the trophies he designed and made presented to the winners.

The event recognises the region’s leading directors in categories including large company, small medium enterprise, young director, family business, not for profit, environmental, chairman’s award and overall IoD WM Director of the Year.

John Phillips, IoD West Midlands regional director, said: “It always means so much more to receive something that is unique and individual and made by hand. It is even better that we have done that in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton.

“It is so important that we invest in tomorrow’s business leaders and that we network and provide opportunities for students of all disciplines.

“It is a tough market place at the moment and we want to help young people and motivate them to show that there are opportunities and exciting and rewarding careers out there.”

ENDS

For more information please contact James Allen in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322003

Picture: (from left to right) Peter Maskell, of the BHSF Group, who won IoD WM Director of the Year, Gwenael Prost and John Phillips, IoD WM regional director with one of the awards.