Kabelo Diphoko, a graphic design student from the Potchefstroom Campus, walked away with first prize in the 2020 Wild Bean Café Design a Cup competition.

 

The competition began with a patriotic campaign last year, when the sponsor – BP, which owns the Wild Bean Café brand – joined up with MetroFM and invited people to tell their stories about Mzansi. They called for positive stories that highlight the goodness of Mzansi, especially those that illustrate the unity found within our diversity.

 

Stories were submitted on various social media platforms and the five winning stories were sent to 15 design institutions – including the NWU – with an invitation to students to illustrate their favourite story on a Wild Bean Café coffee cup.

 

Inspired by a story

 

This is where Kabelo’s talent comes in. His design, inspired by a story that highlighted South Africa’s cultural diversity through language and ethnicity, won him first prize in the design part of the competition.

 

“I chose to go with the design because it reflected the spirit of our country, which is diversity and ubuntu and the bright, colourful South Africa,” he said.

 

The main reason he entered the competition was because he really wanted to win the first prize, which included a cash prize that would pay for the remaining two years of his studies.

 

“The second and third prizes were laptops and, as a graphic design student, a fast laptop makes us work faster and more effectively, but my eye was set on winning the main prize.”

 

Creativity pays off

 

There is a saying, “If you see it in your mind, you will see it in your hands”, and that was the case with Kabelo’s entry because all his hard work and ambition paid off when he walked away with the coveted first prize. He won R100 000 towards his studies, and an all-expenses-paid coffee experience for two in Tanzania.

 

“I am so grateful for this win, and the reality sinks in deeper every day; I am happy beyond words,” Kabelo exclaims.

 

He is currently studying graphic design with illustration as subject and hopes to transition to multimedia, which is also part of graphic design. He plans to own a multimedia company in the future and also sees himself in the creative field.

 

“All the glory goes to God because in him I found favour to win and to be where I am today.”

 

Kabelo also thanks his family for always encouraging him to do his best, as well as his lecturers at the School of Communication Studies for guiding him and steering him in the right direction.

 

“I would also like to thank BP for giving designers an opportunity to showcase their talent and skills, especially during the lockdown period.”

 

This just goes to show that, with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.