Sheffield Hallam student wins international design award

5th July 2017

A Sheffield Hallam University student is celebrating after winning a prestigious student design award Sarah White won a Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Student Design Award for her design of a money management app to help students spend and save money wisely.

The awards are the longest-running global student competition - which challenges emerging designers at university level to tackle real-world social, environmental and economic issues through design thinking and skills. More than 800 students from 21 countries entered the awards which included 12 different design briefs. Sarah, a final-year graphic design student, has won a paid-placement with international consumer transaction company NCR for her app in the Mind Your Money brief, where students were challenged to design a way for people to improve their financial capability and manage their money better. The app, called Back in Black, is specifically targeted at students and works to prevent the urge to spend impulsively by reminding students of their longer-term saving goals, but also acknowledges that students want to enjoy their lives and going out. Sarah, who collected her award at a ceremony in London from David Constantine MBE, said: "I couldn't believe it when I found out I had won. I was encouraged by my friends and course tutors to enter the competition and to have won is amazing. "I really enjoyed designing the app. I wanted it to look stylish and practical but also have a light-hearted side so it can connect with students' personalities and sense of humour." Matt Edgar, graphic design course leader in the University's Sheffield Institute of Arts (SIA), said: "We are delighted for Sarah for her award win. Sarah has been a hard-working and dedicated student during her time here at Hallam and it is great that her talent has been recognised with this award." For press information: contact Tim Ward in the Sheffield Hallam University press office on 0114 225 2811 or email tim.ward@shu.ac.uk