A Polish graduate has won a competition to make a lasting impression on next year’s Dundee Science Festival.
As part of the two-week event, which ran from November 1-14, The Courier helped to run a competition offering entrants the chance to design next year’s logo. Working from a basic template, budding designers were asked to let their imagination run riot by filling the four areas of the existing logo with anything they wanted.
The winner has been unveiled as Karolina Zimniak (27), who returned to Poland in September after graduating from Abertay University and, thereafter, spending three years working with the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce.
Karolina’s design is based on her interpretation of Dundee and its strengths in science and new technologies and will appear in a host of marketing materials, websites, posters and flyers relating to next year’s festival.
She said, “At first I was trying to use some of the numerous things, places and discoveries which Dundee is famous for but it was impossible to combine them all. Ultimately, I decided to use one of the city’s famous landmarks, the Tay Rail Bridge, to highlight that the festival belongs to Dundee.
“I also felt that the bridge would act as a symbol — as a link between the other images representing science, digital arts and technology.”
She added, “During my time in Dundee I met some wonderful people and had a chance to explore the Scottish culture. The city really has made a major and lasting impression on me, which I believe will remain even though I am now 1300 miles away.
“I’m still an avid reader of The Courier online, as I like to know what’s happening, and that’s how I found out about the competition.
“I’ve always admired the diversity of events which Dundee hosts and, still feeling nostalgia for the city, decided to take part in the competition. I’m absolutely delighted to win and to be part of next year’s festival and hope to return one day to enjoy it myself.”
This year’s festival was overseen by a collaboration of partners, led by Dundee Science Centre. Louise Smith, its chief executive officer, said, “The Dundee Science Festival Partnership loved the concept of the linkage between the bridge and DNA molecule, emphasising Dundee as a city of sciences.
“We were also delighted to receive an entry so far from Dundee but also from someone with a strong knowledge of the city and its many assets. We send Karolina warm congratulations and would love to welcome her back to the festival in the near future.”