Rotocon names winners of student wine label design competition

Rotocon and its partners Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and SA Litho Label Printers have named the winners of the 3rd annual student wine label design competition.

The competition was open to undergraduate students in TUT’s Department of Visual Communication (Integrated Communication Design (ICD)), Faculty of Arts & Design, with 60 students participating.

The three student winners will be flown to Cape Town for a factory tour of SA Litho Label Printers and recognized at WineLand Media’s 30 Under 30 Awards. Rotocon is sponsoring the event for the sixth consecutive year.

First place was awarded to Mufaro Ncube (Integrated Communication Design: 3rd Year) for his The Point label.

‘This wine label design communicates luxury and exclusivity,’ commented Ncube. ‘The concept is influenced by the topographical map of Cape Town, which is highlighted through the die-cut on the label.

‘Cape Point serves as a focal point and conversation starter, which inspired the name of the wine. High-quality embossed finishes and classic serif fonts reinforce the significance of Rotocon, wine, and wine labeling. A hidden gem in the design is the Rotocon name, which is topographically embedded into the map of Cape Town.’

Katlego Madikane (Integrated Communication Design: Advanced Diploma) took second place with his Two Distal Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc designs.

SA Litho Label Printers sponsored a third-place winner, awarded to Lesedi Sephadi (Integrated Communication Design: 3rd Year) for her Ilanga Pinotage and Chardonnay designs.

Banie Stafford of B Creative, Rotocon’s marketing agency, led the competition and facilitated sessions with the students. The sessions covered an introduction to Rotocon, printing processes and embellishments, and key wine label design elements, including paper, color use, die-cutting and typography. They concluded with the importance of ‘knowing your target market’.

SA Litho Label Printers will print the winning labels from the competition.

‘One of the most important aspects of this competition is the collaboration between industry and education, it creates a platform to invest in South Africa’s future, especially in design, by giving young creatives a voice,’ said Stafford. ‘Design is a visual art form; it’s not just about aesthetics, but a powerful means of communication.’

Michael Aengenvoort gave the keynote address during the awards function, offering inspiring takeaways for the students: ‘This competition is more than a design challenge. It’s a reminder that, like great wine, a meaningful life takes time, integrity, and collaboration to craft. Invest in your passions, support one another, and savor every opportunity to grow. The future of our industry and our world depends on the creativity and character you bring to the table. Cultivate a life worth tasting.’