JOHANNESBURG – Vega School at Emeris has strengthened its reputation as a leading institution for creative education after securing eight student awards at the 2026 Loerie Awards, alongside a further accolade recognising the institution’s brand identity evolution.
The school achieved eight awards from 38 finalist entries, comprising one Gold, four Silver and three Bronze Loeries. The winning work spans package design, furniture design, out-of-home advertising, digital media and integrated campaigns, demonstrating the breadth of creative disciplines represented in its academic programmes.
The achievement highlights the role of design education in cultivating critical thinking, cultural awareness, strategic problem-solving and industry-relevant skills among emerging creative professionals.
Beyond the accolades, the results illustrate how students can translate academic knowledge, research and conceptual thinking into practical creative solutions that respond to contemporary consumer behaviour, brand communication challenges and social contexts.
Louise Wiseman, Group Executive at Emeris, said the recognition reflected the institution’s commitment to developing graduates capable of making meaningful contributions to the creative industries.
“Creative excellence is about more than producing compelling work; it is about understanding people, challenging convention and translating insight into ideas that make a meaningful impact,” said Wiseman.
She praised the students and lecturers whose collaboration contributed to the achievement, adding that the results reinforced Vega’s contribution to the creative industries and Emeris’ commitment to preparing graduates for the future of their professions.
Student innovation across multiple creative disciplines
Among the standout achievements was a Gold Loerie in Package Design for Melrose Strange Tongues, developed by Communication Design student Danica Viljoen under the guidance of lecturer Wilmarie Staub.
The award recognises the importance of packaging as a strategic communication medium, where visual identity, product positioning and consumer engagement intersect.
In Furniture Design, Interior Design student Ella Rosmarin received a Bronze Loerie for Neura Chair, under the guidance of lecturer Jamie Gibbon. The recognition highlights the contribution of spatial and product-oriented design thinking to the broader creative economy.
Other winning entries demonstrated how students are using integrated communication, digital experiences and cultural insight to address contemporary challenges.
The Vans – Omageza campaign received a Bronze in Out of Home. The project brought together User Experience Design students Anne Rose Pera and Aqhama Ntabankulu, Motion Design student Miranda Chakodzonga and Communication Design students Belinda Ortlepp and Megan Froneman. Guided by lecturers Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt and Emile Le Roux, the campaign celebrates South Africa’s taxi culture and the drivers who keep urban communities moving.
The work demonstrates how brand communication can draw on familiar cultural experiences to create relevant and locally grounded creative narratives.
Meanwhile, Whiskas – Catfished secured Silver in Integrated Campaign. The project involved Communication Design student Megan Froneman, Motion Design student Yew Zhi Ting, and User Experience Design students Zama Pega and Aqhama Ntabankulu. Under the guidance of Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt, Emile Le Roux and Christiaan Graaff, the campaign used humour and integrated storytelling to address online misinformation and the challenge of rebuilding consumer trust.
The campaign illustrates the potential of creative communication to engage audiences while responding to issues that extend beyond conventional product promotion.
Design thinking meets everyday consumer experiences
Vega’s success also included The Morning Shakeout, which received a Bronze Loerie in Package Design. Developed by User Experience Design students Darshan Morar and Bronwyn Drake, the project reimagines wellness packaging as an interactive tea ritual intended to encourage reflection and a more considered approach to wellbeing.
The concept demonstrates how design can extend beyond functionality to shape experiences, influence behaviour and establish emotional connections with consumers.
In another example, Twix – Half Assed received Silver in Integrated Campaign. Communication Design students Kyra King and Karabelo Masukela collaborated with Motion Design student Kate Mulligan on a campaign built around deliberately unfinished packaging, outdoor advertising, retail displays and digital content.
The campaign challenges consumers’ acceptance of incomplete experiences, using a consistent creative concept across multiple communication channels. Lecturers Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt and Emile Le Roux provided academic guidance.
The Coca-Cola – XOKE campaign also secured Silver in Integrated Campaign. Developed by Communication Design students Anesu Matelakengisa, Xia-Zann Oelofse and Nyiko Siwele, the project uses familiar Coca-Cola sounds to challenge perceptions of isiXhosa click consonants and celebrate cultural connection.
Guided by Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt, Emile Le Roux and Christiaan Graaff, the campaign highlights the capacity of creative work to engage with language, identity and cultural representation in brand communication.
Its focus on isiXhosa sounds also demonstrates how local linguistic knowledge can inform distinctive creative concepts and create opportunities for more culturally responsive communication.
A further Silver award in Digital Media recognised the collaborative work of Communication Design students Danica Sher and Robyn Stopforth, alongside Experience Design students Mikeal v Eeden, Violetta Perez and Jean Beumer. Lecturers Tlholo Modiba and Marijke Ooms guided the project.
The award underscores the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in a creative environment increasingly shaped by digital platforms, evolving user expectations and the integration of communication with experience design.
Vega School rebrand receives industry recognition
In addition to the student awards, creative agency Utopia received a Bronze Loerie in Brand Identity and Collateral Design for the Vega School rebrand.
The recognition marks a significant milestone in the institution’s brand evolution as it continues its journey within Emeris.
The rebrand represents an effort to carry Vega’s established creative legacy into a new institutional chapter while retaining its distinctive identity and longstanding focus on design, brand communication and creative thinking.
Brand identity is a strategic component of institutional positioning, shaping how an organisation communicates its values, differentiates itself and maintains relevance among its stakeholders.
The award therefore provides recognition not only for the visual expression of the rebrand but also for the role of coherent brand communication in supporting institutional evolution.
Creative education and industry relevance
Vega School has established a longstanding presence in design, brand communication and business management, developing graduates who contribute to creative practice, strategic thinking and brand development.
Its performance at the 2026 Loerie Awards reinforces the relationship between academic development and professional practice, particularly in disciplines where originality must be supported by research, technical competence, audience understanding and strategic execution.
The range of recognised projects also illustrates the importance of interdisciplinary learning. Contemporary creative challenges increasingly require professionals to work across design, technology, storytelling, cultural research and consumer engagement rather than operate within isolated specialisations.
The students’ achievements suggest the value of educational environments that encourage experimentation, collaboration and the application of theory to practical briefs. Equally important is the role of lecturers in providing critical guidance, strengthening conceptual development and helping students translate initial ideas into coherent creative outcomes.
According to the institution, Vega School is currently South Africa’s most awarded specialist school. The latest results add to its record of recognition in the creative sector, while reinforcing its position within Emeris.
As the institution continues its development within the broader higher education group, the awards provide an opportunity to reflect on the contribution of specialist creative education to South Africa’s evolving economy.
The country’s creative industries depend on professionals who can interpret complex challenges, communicate across diverse audiences and develop ideas that are both culturally relevant and commercially effective. Achievements such as Vega’s demonstrate how emerging talent can contribute to that environment.
Ultimately, the eight student awards and recognition for the school’s rebrand represent more than a successful awards season. They highlight the intersection of education, mentorship, innovation and industry engagement in preparing the next generation of creative professionals to shape brands, experiences and conversations across South Africa and beyond.
