Romy Chessells has won the mental health charity Crossways Community’s 50th anniversary logo competition.
The 17-year-old from Tunbridge Wells is an A-level pupil at Beechwood Sacred Heart School on Pembury Road.
She worked on her design during the summer holidays after reading about the competition in The Times of Tunbridge Wells.
Romy’s simple but clever design consists of four stylised depictions of the number 50 configured to form a gold cross.
It will be used on the charity’s letterhead, emails, website and a dedicated anniversary calendar throughout 2017.
Crossways Community is a Christian charity providing residential care and support for adults with acute mental health issues.
Romy was presented with her prize – £200 of Amazon vouchers – by Chief Executive Chris Munday at Crossways’ offices in Culverden Park Road.
She described graphic design as her ‘passion’ and explained the rationale for her design: “The charity is called Crossways, so the cross seemed appropriate – and it’s in gold because of the anniversary.
She added: “Geometric patterns are currently fashionable within the design industry while the circle completes the design, giving it a logo feel.”
Mr Munday added: “We’re delighted with our 50th anniversary logo. Romy clearly thought carefully about what she was being asked to do and interpreted the brief in a clever, considered and interesting way.”
Romy is studying art, media studies and psychology, and the latter has sparked an interest in mental health. She interacted confidently with residents during her visit.
Gary Hatter, Beechwood School’s head of art, commented: “I’ve been teaching Romy since she was seven years old and seen her grow.
“She has tremendous vision and imagination and also the ability to take a task above and beyond the superficial and turn it into something extraordinary.”
Crossways resident Ray Woods came second with his design of two heads interspersed with garden images, representing ‘the powerful and therapeutic effect of gardening’.
