James wins £1,000 prize

MULTIMEDIA artist James Pyle has won the 2008 Northern Design Competition.

The 24-year-old Masters student from Blackpool was judged best young illustrator by a panel which included Wayne Hemingway, Trevor Baylis and Russell Mills.

His entry – a smart take on bullying - was inspired by wry observation by comedian Bill Hicks*.

Professor Mills said: “James’ work was outstanding because of his extremely considered skill in selecting the minimum elements needed to produce a bold and thoughful visually appropriate juxtaposition.”

James now hopes to land a job with Mills, whose has designed award-winning book and album covers for Samuel Beckett, Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno.

Design & Art Direction

James, who wins a £1,000 prize, studied for a BA in Illustration at MMU and will complete a Masters in Design & Art Direction at MMU in the autumn.

MMU also had two finalists: Tomasz Crompton, in the Architectural Design category and Rob Walmsley in the Graphic Design section.

* “Kids would come up to me when I was younger and go: “My Dad can beat up your Dad.” I’d go: “When? Take the man out, you know. He’s cutting the lawn Saturday. Pick him off then, why don’t you?”

For more about the Northern Design Competition, go to www.leedsmet.ac.uk/northerndesign/the_categories.htm