Young designer Grace Kim to take up scholarship at legendary New York design agency Pentagram
Emerging designer Grace Kim of Auckland’s Alt Group is dusting off her passport to take up a scholarship at internationally-renowned design agency Pentagram in New York early next year.
She is only the second New Zealander to win the agIdeas NewStar award; an award which offers 30 of the world’s rising design stars work experience at the studio of their choice with mentoring from leading design masters.
Grace was one of a record number of entrants asked to submit their best works in 2D, 3D and multimedia to a leading panel of international judges. The winners were announced recently at agIdeas International Design Week in Melbourne.
Entitled ‘They live in a mirror’, Grace’s winning work was a 3D typography project which she described as “simple, yet complex.” The project delved into unfamiliar territory for the designer, demanding creative problem solving and developing new skills.
Grace, who joined Alt Group a year ago as an intern from Auckland’s Whitecliffs College of Art, says she is hugely excited about the opportunity but couldn’t have done it without the agency’s encouragement.
“I couldn’t ask for better mentors than the team at Alt and without the support of the directors, I wouldn’t have had the courage to enter,” says Grace.
Alt Group Director Ben Corban says the firm is proud of Grace’s achievement and see the scholarship as a great means of enhancing her design perspective and career opportunities internationally.
“Not only will Grace get the chance to be exposed to top international designers and ideas but she will also be encouraged to pursue and develop her own approaches,” says Ben.
Since it was founded the agIdeas NewStar programme has given more than 50 young designers international work experience and an opportunity to launch their careers globally.
Top pic: Grace Kim with Colin Lewis, Collie Print Trust Chairman at the agIdeas presentation in Melbourne. Above pic: Grace’s winning 3D typography project