Students at Canada's Preeminent Art and Design University Win Prestigious Format Career Launcher Prize.
July 16 2024 - 10:15AM
Format, the leading portfolio website provider for creative
professionals, is expanding its Educational Outreach initiatives
with OCAD University (OCADU), the largest university for arts and
design in Canada.
In collaboration with OCADU’s RBC Center for Emerging Artists
and Designers, two students were awarded the second annual Format
Career Launcher Prize.
Nina Iglesias, an artist in the OCADU Department of Material Art
and Design, and Jennifer Stewart, a graphic designer in the
Department of Design, were each awarded a monetary Format Career
Launcher Prize, along with a free Format Pro Plus lifetime
subscription and a one-on-one consultation with the Format Expert
Site Building Team. Two runners-up, including multi-disciplinary
artist Pixel Heller and UX designer Anson Zheng, each received a
free, one-year Format subscription.
The awarding of the Format Career Launcher Prize is the
culmination of a creative opportunity offered only to OCADU’s
graduating class of 2024. The call for submissions began in January
2024 and required that each applicant present their creative work
with a Format portfolio website. Submissions were judged by OCADU
and Format staff on both the quality of that work and how well
applicants conveyed the narrative of their creative practice
through their Format website.
John Loughlin, CEO of Format’s parent company, Zenfolio Inc.,
said the awards reflect Format’s and Zenfolio’s continuing
commitment to creative arts education. "We've seen first-hand how a
beautifully crafted portfolio website can help recent grads start
successful careers immediately after graduation. That's why we
pledged to provide $1 million of free student website subscriptions
back in 2022. And that's why we're so pleased to have advanced our
now twelve-year partnership with OCADU through the Format Career
Launcher Prize."
Throughout the academic year, Format hosts free webinars and
workshops where OCADU students learn the foundations of building a
portfolio and other professional practice principles. Format
also provides all registered OCADU students with a free Format
account while they are enrolled and for six months after
graduation. Additionally, all OCADU alumni receive a 25% ongoing
discount on Format annual plans to help support and build their
professional careers.
Zev Farber, OCADU Director of the RBC Center for Emerging
Artists & Designers, acknowledged the impact of the Format
Career Launcher Prize. “Format provides OCAD University students
with access to an easy-to-use, professional-grade platform that not
only enhances the online profile of an individual’s creative
practice, but also measurably improves employment outcomes and
other important markers of career success. The new Format Prize for
graduating students further demonstrates Format’s exceptional
commitment to and support of the OCADU community.”
About Format
Format is a website builder and content management system
designed for creative professionals to showcase their work,
collaborate with clients, and manage their business in a broadly
accessible and secure online platform.
The Format Prints Marketplace (PrintsMarketplace.com), is an
online gallery that sells museum-quality prints from artists and
photographers around the world.
Format was acquired by Zenfolio Inc. in 2021.
- Career Launcher Prize Winners
Cheryl Dell'Osso
Format
cheryl@zenfolio.com