Rotocon launches wine label design competition with TUT

Rotocon has launched a wine label design competition in partnership with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). The competition is open to undergraduate students at TUT’s Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Arts & Design, and the winner will be announced at WineLand Media’s 30 Under 30 Awards on June 23, 2023.     

The TUT Integrated Communication Design students will develop an innovative, cutting-edge wine label design that factors in design process and strong ideation that must also speak to contemporary printing processes as well as finishing, including foils, varnishes, die-cuts, and embossing. One winner from the competition will be selected, awarded R30,000 prize money, flown to Cape Town to be recognized at the WineLand Media/Rotocon prestigious 30 Under 30 Awards luncheon, and receive a certificate from Rotocon about their knowledge in label printing and finishing. 

Banie Stafford of B Creative, Rotocon’s marketing and branding agency, said: ‘As a sponsor of WineLand Media’s 30 Under 30 Awards for the fourth consecutive year, Rotocon is adding to the spirit of the event with this competition, to also recognize the creativity and technical intricacies behind a wine label design and inspire young students with brand-driven innovation in this industry.’  

The winning label design will be printed on a press with auxiliary technologies, all represented by Rotocon, and applied to wine bottles for presentation at WineLand Media’s 30 Under 30 Awards.  

‘The partnerships between industry and the university are of critical importance for our success,’ said Herman Botes, head of the Department Visual Communication. ‘We are excited to add this vibrant partnership to this mix that will enable our students to be industry ready in the niche area of wine label design and production.’  

The 30 young individuals to be awarded by WineLand Media are from a variety of fields in the wine value chain – from soil scientists, sommeliers, winemakers, wine marketers, academics, PR and marketing experts, harvest assistants, and brand ambassadors.  

‘These young voices will become the leaders of tomorrow and we want to tell their stories, share their visions for our industry and help shape their future,’ said editor of WineLand, Wanda Augustyn.