Close call for UFO design

– Laura Gilmartin
A KNOX school student’s extraterrestrial-inspired artwork has made him a finalist in a leading Australian design competition.
Adam Kollwitz used the Photoshop computer editing program to create the piece in which a Connex train doubles as a UFO.
The Year 11 student submitted the piece to the Australian Academy of Design Poster Prize Competition whose theme for 2008 was close encounters of a public transport kind.
Connex donated $3000 in prize money for the winners who were announced on opening night last Wednesday.
Adam said he was watching television when the idea for the piece came to him.
“It just popped up out of nowhere,” he said.
“I was surprised to be chosen as a finalist because I didn’t think it was that great.”
The judges at the academy disagreed.
The piece was one of 10 secondary school entries which were chosen to be displayed in the institute’s Clement Meadmore Gallery until 25 July.
The young artist is proud to have his piece side-by-side with academy students.
“I was really impressed with the open age section,” he said.
Adam attributes his success to the encouragement of friend and teacher Chris Hilton who sent him the application form.
Mr Hilton has been Adam’s mentor for more than five years.
Adam has been involved with arts since primary school and he has continued his involvement by studying VCE subjects visual communication and design and multimedia.
After secondary school, Adam will use his creative flair to pursue a career in advertising.
The Academy of Design Poster Prize Competition finalists’ artworks are currently on display at the Clement Meadmore Gallery, 121 Ingles Street, Port Melbourne.