For Simone Rossum, the other Loeries 2008 Young Creatives Award winner, attending Cannes 2009 has been life changing.

Rossum, who attended the annual Cannes Festival as part of her prize for winning the Loeries Young Creative Award, says rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s biggest creative minds proved a humbling and inspiring experience that is spurring her to seek her fullest potential in the brand communication industry.
Rossum says while thousands of entries are received from all over the globe, the winners offer simple, clever solutions that really cut through the clutter.

She said apart from the opportunity to attend an international awards festival such as the Cannes Lions, the Young Creative Award has helped her gain more recognition in the industry.

“It’s really hard for a young creative in Design/Advertising to make a name for themselves in such an over-saturated market - especially in a country like South Africa, which produces so many talented young creatives,” she said. “The more you can get your name out there as a young creative the better. It can only open doors for you. (And going on stage to collect your award isn’t entirely overrated.)”

Rossum is a multiple award-winning designer currently working for Joe Public. She completed her BA in Creative Communications at Vega, the Brand Communications School in 2004. In 2005 the International Design Indaba Curator Panel selected her as one of 10 South African ‘Emerging Young Creatives’ in the Graphic Design category. Simone joined the Design Department at Joe Public in October of 2006, looking after brands such as Clover; eBucks; Italtile; Spier Wines; and The Rock4Aids Foundation.

She urges young people in the industry to enter the Loerie Awards, which is one of the few South African awards that is recognised internationally.

All entries for the Loeries Young Creatives Award have been received. The two recipients will each walk away with a Gold Loerie at the Loeries Festival Weekend, taking place 24 - 27 September in Cape Town. Each winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to an international awards show.

The other winner of the Loeries Young Creatives Award 2008, Darren Cronje, attended The One Show in New York.

Major Sponsors

The major sponsors for The 31st Annual Loerie Awards are the SABC, Ads24, Cape Town Tourism, The City of Cape Town, and Gearhouse South Africa

Additional Sponsors and Official Suppliers

Brandhouse, Lightworks, Sappi, Vodacom Mobile Media, Cape Film Commission, Aon South Africa, Mango Airlines, Hetzner, Tempest Car Hire, MetropolitanRepublic, Hello Computer, Zero One One, Wicked Pixels, DJ Badly, Media Host, Orchestra Blue, Sonovision Studios, Gallo Images, Paygate, Ornico Group, Rocketseed, Newsclip, Lifesense Financial Services, Egg Films, Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – The Rosebank, Grand Daddy Hotel, Cape Town Partnership, Audio Militia, H-Factor, Universal Music Group, EMI Music Publishing South Africa, Ultra Litho, juju,and the Core Group

Travelling Exhibition Venues and dates

Dates to remember:

Vega, Cape Town 25 July - 1 August 09
City Varsity, Johannesburg 9 - 15 August 09
Tshwane University of Technology 22 - 29 August 09
North West University, Potchefstroom 11 September - 4 Oct 09
Stellenbosch Academy 10 - 22 October 09
One Club, New York End November 09

*All dates are subject to change

Important Loerie dates to diarise:

Loerie Awards Festival Weekend
Cape Town: 24 - 27 September 09

Awards ceremonies: Friday 25 September & Saturday 26 September

Migrate Magazine 10
October/Nov 09

For more information, go to www.theloerieawards.co.za.