ROTOCON, together with its partners Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and SA Litho Label Printers, has announced the winners of its third annual Student Wine Label Design Competition. The competition was open to undergraduate students in TUT’s Department of Visual Communication (Integrated Communication Design (ICD)), Faculty of Arts & Design, with 60 students participating.

First place was awarded to Mufaro Ncube (Integrated Communication Design: 3rd Year) for his The Point label. He shared the inspiration behind the design: “This wine label design communicates luxury and exclusivity. The concept is influenced by the topographical map of Cape Town, which is highlighted through the diecut on the label.

“Cape Point serves as a focal point and conversation starter, which inspired the name of the wine,” he adds. “High-quality embossed finishes and classic serif fonts reinforce the significance of ROTOCON, wine, and wine labeling. A hidden gem in the design is the ROTOCON name, which is topographically embedded into the map of Cape Town.”

Katlego Madikane (Integrated Communication Design: Advanced Diploma) took second place with his Two Distal Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc designs. SA Litho Label Printers sponsored a third-place winner, awarded to Lesedi Sephadi (Integrated Communication Design: 3rd Year) for her Ilanga Pinotage and Chardonnay designs.

Banie Stafford of B Creative, ROTOCON’s marketing agency, led the competition and facilitated sessions with the students, covering an introduction to ROTOCON, printing processes and embellishments, as well as key wine label design elements, including paper, color use, diecutting and typography —concluding with the importance of “knowing your target market.” This year’s design theme was Cultivate a Life Worth Tasting.

SA Litho Label Printers will print the winning labels from the competition. On April 14, Dawrian Salies, general manager of SA Litho, joined Michael Aengenvoort, CEO of the ROTOCON Group, and Banie Stafford on the judging panel. The awards function for all participating students followed on April 15. SA Litho Label Printers remains committed to partnering with ROTOCON and TUT in all future Student Wine Label Design Competitions.

The three student winners will be flown to Cape Town for a factory tour of SA Litho Label Printers on May 29 and will also be recognized at WineLand Media’s 30 Under 30 Awards on May 30. ROTOCON is sponsoring the event for the sixth consecutive year.

“One of the most important aspects of this competition is the collaboration between industry and education—it creates a platform to invest in South Africa’s future, especially in design, by giving young creatives a voice, states Stafford. “Design is a visual art form; it’s not just about aesthetics but a powerful means of communication.”

Michael Aengenvoort gave the keynote address during the awards function, offering inspiring takeaways for the students: “This competition is more than a design challenge,” said Aengenvoort. “It’s a reminder that, like great wine, a meaningful life takes time, integrity, and collaboration to craft. Invest in your passions, support one another, and savor every opportunity to grow. The future of our industry and our world depends on the creativity and character you bring to the table. Cultivate a life worth tasting.”