Vega School At Emeris Takes Home Eight Loerie Birds At The 2026 Awards

Eight student awards and recognition for the Vega School rebrand celebrate creative excellence, industry relevance and the next generation of talent.

Vega School at Emeris has achieved an outstanding result at the 2026 Loerie Awards, securing eight awards from 38 finalist entries. The awards include one Gold, four Silver and three Bronze, recognising work across package design, furniture design, out-of-home advertising, digital media and integrated campaigns.

The results celebrate the breadth of creative talent emerging from Vega School, as well as its commitment to developing graduates who can combine creative thinking, strategic insight and practical skills to address real-world challenges.

“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. We are incredibly proud of our students and the lecturers who guide them, and of the recognition Vega School has received. These achievements reflect Vega’s enduring contribution to the creative industries and our commitment at Emeris to developing graduates who are equipped to shape the future of their professions,” says Louise Wiseman, Group Executive at Emeris.

Celebrating the next generation of creative talent

Vega’s eight student awards span multiple disciplines, highlighting the value of collaboration across design, digital experiences, brand communication and creative strategy.

Among the standout achievements was a Gold Loerie in Package Design for Melrose Strange Tongues, created by Communication Design student Danica Viljoen, under the guidance of lecturer Wilmarie Staub.

In Furniture Design, Interior Design student Ella Rosmarin received a Bronze Loerie for Neura Chair, guided by lecturer Jamie Gibbon.

Other recognised projects demonstrate how Vega students are applying creative thinking to contemporary brand and consumer challenges:

Vans - Omageza | Bronze, Out of Home: Anne Rose Pera and Aqhama Ntabankulu (User Experience Design), Belinda Ortlepp and Miranda Chakodzonga (Motion Design), and Megan Froneman (Communication Design). The campaign celebrates South Africa’s taxi culture and the drivers who keep urban communities moving. Lecturers: Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt and Emile Le Roux.

Whiskas - Catfished | Silver, Integrated Campaign: Megan Froneman (Communication Design), Yew Zhi Ting (Motion Design), and Zama Pega and Aqhama Ntabankulu (User Experience Design). The campaign uses humour and integrated storytelling to address online misinformation and rebuild consumer trust. Lecturers: Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt, Emile Le Roux and Christiaan Graaff.

The Morning Shakeout | Bronze, Package Design: Darshan Morar and Bronwyn Drake (User Experience Design). The project reimagines wellness packaging as an interactive tea ritual, encouraging reflection and a more authentic approach to wellbeing. Lecturers: Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt and Emile Le Roux.

Twix - Half Assed | Silver, Integrated Campaign: Kyra King and Karabelo Masukela (Communication Design), and Kate Mulligan (Motion Design). The campaign challenges consumers’ acceptance of incomplete experiences through deliberately unfinished packaging, outdoor advertising, retail displays and digital content. Lecturers: Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt and Emile Le Roux.

Coca-Cola - XOKE | Silver, Integrated Campaign: Anesu Matelakengisa, Xia-Zann Oelofse and Nyiko Siwele (Communication Design). The campaign uses familiar Coca-Cola sounds to challenge perceptions of isiXhosa click consonants and celebrate cultural connection. Lecturers: Darren Meltz, Nicholas Nesbitt, Emile Le Roux and Christiaan Graaff.

Digital Media | Silver: Danica Sher and Robyn Stopforth (Communication Design), alongside Mikeal v Eeden, Violetta Perez and Jean Beumer (Experience Design). The award highlights multidisciplinary collaboration across communication and experience design. Lecturers: Tlholo Modiba and Marijke Ooms.

Together, the winning entries showcase the ability of Vega students to combine research, cultural insight, design and storytelling to develop distinctive ideas that respond to real-world challenges.

Recognition for the Vega School rebrand

In addition to the student achievements, agency Utopia received a Bronze Loerie in Brand Identity & Collateral Design for the Vega School rebrand.

The recognition marks an important milestone in Vega’s brand evolution as it continues its journey within Emeris, bringing its established creative legacy into a new chapter while retaining its distinctive identity and commitment to design and brand communication.

A legacy of creative excellence

Vega School has built a longstanding reputation in design, brand communication and business management, developing generations of creative professionals, strategists and brand thinkers.

As Vega continues its journey within Emeris, these awards reinforce the value of an education that extends beyond academic knowledge, connecting creative thinking with practical application and industry relevance. Vega School is currently the most awarded specialist school in South Africa.

The achievement reflects Emeris’ broader commitment to developing graduates with the skills, capabilities and experience to contribute meaningfully to their professions and the evolving economy.