In 2020, we had an unusual finish to the PG Bison 1.618 Education Initiative. Not only was it our first-ever digital awards ceremony, but all of the top three places at the were scooped by students from a single educational institution – Design Time School of Interior Design in Cape Town. The grand prize went to Armand Barnard, while Sarah Jane Sperryn took second place and Dillon Titus third place.
The three produced incredible entries that ticked every element of the brief, and they caught the attention of ARRCC, an acclaimed multidisciplinary interior design and decor studio based in Cape Town. All three were offered positions at the company, which they accepted. Armand and Sarah are working as junior interior designers in the interior architecture division, while Dillon is employed as a technologist.
We caught up with them to get a quick snapshot of how they’re all doing.
PG Bison: What are you enjoying most about your job at ARRCC?
Armand: I’m enjoying the challenge of putting my design knowledge to test in a ‘real life’ environment. I love the fact that every day is different and you have to be quick on your feet in creating innovative and original solutions for local and international clients.
Sarah: One of the highlights for me is working with an experienced team and being exposed to interesting international projects and clients. I’m also enjoying the design-learning environment and pace of the work. I have learnt how to use new programs and systems, as well as gained a wide variety of skills in a short amount of time.
Dillon: I’m enjoying being able to work in a team and learning the necessary skills and qualities from people more experienced than myself.
Do you think the PG Bison 1.618 Education Initiative has helped to kick-start your career?
Armand: Winning the PG Bison competition definitely puts your name on the map and gets you noticed amongst the big names in the design industry. It has had a positive impact on starting my career – I’m excited to see where this path takes me!
Sarah: The experience the PG Bison 1.618 Education Initiative provides is invaluable. It allowed me to explore design in a way I had not done previously. It created an interesting and stimulating addition to my sample portfolio and I was offered a job when I was in the Top 10 before the final judging, where I was placed First Runner-Up. Thank you to PG Bison for providing this opportunity.
Dillon: Yes, I think the competition is a great platform for exposure to the design industry and being in the top three or even a finalist is definitely a feather in the cap and a way to kickstart your career.
You can view their winning submissions, as well as those of the other top 10 2020 finalists on the PG Bison 1.618 Education Initiative website, along with the top entries from previous years.
Keep up to speed with the latest competition news on the 1.618 Facebook and Instagram pages.
