Vega School bags 8 Loerie awards
One gold, four silver and three bronze awards recognise the talent, innovation and hard work of Vega students across several creative disciplines.
Vega School at Emeris has secured eight student awards at the 2026 Loerie Awards, recognising the creativity and talent of its students across several design and advertising disciplines.
The school received one gold, four silver and three bronze awards from 38 finalist entries, with winning projects covering package design, furniture design, out-of-home advertising, digital media and integrated campaigns.
Read more: Rivonia Village Hall awarded Johannesburg Heritage Foundation blue plaque status
Communication design student Danica Viljoen won gold in the Package Design category for Melrose Strange Tongues, under the guidance of lecturer Wilmarie Staub.
Interior design student Ella Rosmarin received a bronze award in Furniture Design for Neura Chair, guided by lecturer Jamie Gibbon. Other winning projects included Vans – Omageza, which celebrated South Africa’s taxi culture and drivers, and Whiskas – Catfished, an integrated campaign using humour to address online misinformation and rebuild consumer trust.
The students also received recognition for campaigns developed for Twix and Coca-Cola, while The Morning Shakeout explored wellness through interactive tea packaging. The head of communications at Vega School, Sarnelia Mandapalli, said the awards highlighted the value of combining creative thinking with practical skills and industry experience.
“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 Mandapalli.
Also read: Youth-owned businesses celebrated at fifth Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards
She said the achievement reflected the work of both students and lecturers in developing ideas that respond to real-world challenges. 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 milestone in the school’s brand development as it continues its journey within Emeris, while maintaining its identity and focus on design and brand communication.
Vega School has built a reputation in design, brand communication and business management, preparing students for careers in the creative industries. The awards highlight the importance of collaboration across disciplines, with students drawing on research, cultural understanding, design and storytelling to develop their projects.
The school said the achievement reinforced its commitment to producing graduates equipped to contribute to the evolving creative industry.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!
