YOUNG designers have put Darlington’s heritage on the map to help promote one of the town’s most prestigious events.
Darlington College’s extended diploma art and design students presented their work to the town’s Mayor and Mayoress, Charles Johnson and his wife Carol, for them to choose a winning design for this year’s mayor’s ball.
With more than 30 graphic representations to choose from, based on a ‘Celebrating Darlington’ theme, both the Mayor and Mayoress were unable to choose just one winner so awarded joint first place to students Daniel Thorne and Jade Jephcott with Rebecca Butler named as runner up.
Speaking to the students Coun Johnson said: “I have been absolutely lost for words here today; the standard of work is absolutely overwhelming.
“It has been incredibly hard to choose between the designs and there really are no losers or winners as all of the work is so incredibly professional.
“We picked Daniel’s design as it incorporates everything that sums up Darlington when you think about its heritage.
“His artwork was clean and fresh and it sends out exactly the right message to convey the spirit of Darlington.
“Jade’s design was also extremely eye catching with a more modern twist and some truly excellent iconic images of the town including my favourite St Cuthbert’s Church.”
The winning artworks will be used on promotional posters as well as flyers, tickets, menus and table plans for the charity event which will be hosted by the Mayor and Mayoress at The Dolphin Centre on October 18.
Darlington College programme leader for art and design Pippa Eeles said: “The College has worked in partnership with the events team for the mayor’s ball for the past 12 years with our students competing to design artwork to promote the event.
“This year the Mayor came in to talk to our first year BTEC art and design students about his ideas for the ball and his theme ‘Celebrating Darlington’ gave them the scope to look at the history and heritage of the town and use their images to once again produce some very high quality work.”
All of the student’s designs will be on display at the ball and profits from the sale of the artwork will go into the Mayor’s charitable fund which will be distributed to local good causes at the end of the year.
Winning student Daniel Thorne, 17, of Northallerton, said: “I was quite stunned when the Mayor held up my poster.
“I went all over Darlington taking photographs and then I based my design on the artist Rodenburg’s work, using colourful overlapping images of the town.”
Jade Jephcott, 19, of Richmond, added: “The standard was so high this year that it was a real surprise to be named as a joint winner. It will be great to see all the designs on display together at the ball.”
