Melissa Takes Center Stage With Print Successes

Melissa Takes Center Stage With Print Successes

Christchurch printing apprentice Melissa Dalgety has found the hardest thing about winning recognition from her peers in the print industry is having to take centre stage – wearing high heels!

Mel, a Graphic Artist with Rainbow Print Group, ended up having to tread the catwalk of success in front of hundreds of people at the Pride In Print Awards in Wellington, not once but twice.

The first was expected – she was among the top print apprentices from around New Zealand, winning her category of Digital Processes for Print.

However the second was a surprise. In the Pride In Print Awards themselves – recognised as the “Oscars” of the print and packaging industry – she won a gold medal for her entry of her design portfolio in the Specialty Products and Processes category. Gold medals are highly sought-after in the print industry and entrants include the top print groups in the country. For someone just out of an apprenticeship to win one as an individual is remarkable.

Mel says she was nervous on hearing her name read out. “I felt like I wasn’t even there, like it was honestly just a dream. I was nervous throughout the awards and my category was near the end so I had to wait anxiously as the awards were presented. As my name was read out it felt like fireworks were going off all around me. I felt so proud, emotional and excited, it was quite surreal.”

Mel has worked for Rainbow Print Group for just over three and a half years. She previously studied for a Diploma in Computer Graphic Design at Natcoll Design Technology. Mel handles a variety of different tasks including processing files supplied by clients, advertising or design agencies to ensure they are set up correctly for print. She also designs concepts and finished artwork, working to briefs from Account Managers and clients.

Her rise to prominence began with winning the national Digital Processes for Print Apprentice Award. She was selected by PrintNZ Training based on her marks and assignments that make up the apprenticeship and comments from training liaison officers and her employers. She made a short list of three finalists, then had to wait anxiously for the phone call that would announce the winner.

“I was nervously excited when my employer; Graeme Duncan, passed me the phone and had a grin as wide as his face. I felt nervous and excited during that phone call, I even had to ask the result again just to make sure I was hearing it right!

“Being in the running for the award was a goal right from the beginning. I was elated to have achieved something that I set out to do two-and-a-half years beforehand. I was excited to be told that I was a finalist for the Apprentice of the Year Award and that I had won the Digital Processes for Print Top Apprentice award.”

Entering her portfolio into Pride In Print was suggested by her employer as it was of a high quality and standard. “Before Graeme suggested to enter I wasn’t aware that I could as an individual or there was a category it fitted. I felt that if I had a positive outcome it would be a fantastic reward for all the time, effort, heart and soul involved.”

Mel’s Design Portfolio was created to show the variety of graphic design work carried out and produced by herself during her apprenticeship in Digital Processes For Print, at Rainbow Print Group.

“I spent a lot of time researching and planning how I would present my work. I wanted to use a variety of methods, materials, printing processes and embellishments to create a unique piece. I considered in great detail the content, fonts, colours, imagery and paper stocks.”

It included textured wallpaper for the portfolio book covers with screw post bindings, held within a box covered in black book cloth. On the box lid she created a piece of artwork from old metal block letters, printing it on to aluminium. Inside she displayed jobs that she had designed that were printed using both offset and digital presses.

“I found creating my portfolio challenging but rewarding. The final result was what I envisioned in the first stages of creating and developing ideas of what I wanted to create and produce,” says Mel.

“My work mates and family were very supportive throughout and having both my employers present at the awards was great. Without everyone’s support I really could not have produced what I did.

“I was fortunate to have both my parents at the Apprentice and Pride In Print Awards. They are really proud of what I have achieved and I know my Dad knows me too well when he said ‘wow you’ve achieved so much – what’s planned next?’”

And what is next in Mel’s career path?

“I am setting some new goals for myself as I would like to remain in the print and design industry and am keen to explore new areas and other opportunities. At present I am expanding my knowledge in the area of variable data. I’m looking at possibilities to use my GAPF (Graphic Arts Pre-Press Federation) professional development scholarship, which I received at the Apprentice Awards.

“Short-term I am looking at obtaining new skills in the area of web design so that I can be more familiar with this area and perhaps look at advancing this new knowledge further in the future. I am currently looking at joining a toastmasters group as I would like to become a more confident speaker.

“Throughout my career I would like to expand my graphic design skills, and be exposed to this creative process more. I would like to learn from others who are experts in this field so that I can continue developing my skills. My future goals are to progress into a management role and potentially I would like to become a Print Co-ordinator and/or Brand Manager” she says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media