Graphic Design student wins prestigious Tim Coventon Award

Graphic Design (BA) student Eathan Aktion is off to an Australian creative studio after being chosen as this year’s winner of the Tim Coventon Award.

The award was created by Mr and Mrs Coventon in memory of their late son, Tim, who was a former Falmouth Graphic Design BA student. It enables an outstanding student to undertake a work placement in Sydney, where Tim worked for world-renowned branding companies such as M&C Saatchi. The prize comes in the form of a £2,000 grant to cover costs to fly out to Australia, where he will begin a placement with Frost*collective in late September.

On receiving the award, Eathan said, “I am humbled to get this amazing opportunity... I want to honour Tim’s legacy by making the very most of this experience.” The award has been suspended over the last few years due to the pandemic, but has previously been awarded to a number of outstanding students. 

We caught up with Eathan about the award, his progress on the course and what the future holds. 

How did you feel when you found out you’d be the recipient of the award?

I was shocked and surprised to have been chosen. It is very exciting and a lovely way to end my university experience. I submitted a letter on why the trip would benefit me and why I’d selected the agency I’m going to be working for… I guess I made a compelling case to the Coventon family. I am very excited to go to Australia. It will be my first time there, and I’ve not travelled much previously. It will be a really enriching experience.  

How have you found your Graphic Design course so far at Falmouth?

I definitely think Falmouth is the best place to study Graphic Design. As someone who had not studied the subject at all before joining the course, I think it’s been the perfect place to give me a solid foundation to start a career. There are so many opportunities for us students on the course, and you really do get out what you put in, which is the perfect environment to progress and do so quickly.  

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

My favourite project was the Fresh Content project that I did with fellow student Meg Mardon. We worked really well together, and it was so much fun. We were lucky enough to win the ‘Ultimate Champion’ award at the South West Design Awards. It was really nice to see our favourite project recognised within the industry. 

The Verdant Brewing Co. project – redesigning one of their iconic cans – I did was also a really enjoyable and successful project for me. It was part of a project run in conjunction with Verdant themselves, and this year the focus was on their 10-year anniversary. As someone who likes working collaboratively, I actually decided to do this project solo, so I had a project for my portfolio that was just me - my thinking, insights, ideas, and execution. 

Do you have anything else coming up?

A bit of a well-earned break! I’ll keep a hand in some design bits to keep me ticking over creatively, and I have some ideas for some projects I’d like to do. I have a placement lined up with Epoch, a studio in Bristol, and three other placements in London that I’m waiting on confirmation for when I return from Australia.  

Eathan will begin his placement with Frost*collective at the end of September and he will provide feedback to tutors and students about his experience on his return.