Gray’s School of Art 3D Design Students Sculpt Success: 2024 Offshore Achievement Awards Trophy Design Winner Announced
November 2023
The winner of the Offshore Achievement Awards (OAA) trophy design competition for 2024, in association with Gray’s School of Art, was announced today (Thursday 2nd November 2023)
The 37th annual OAA awards, supported by joint principal sponsors Exceed and WellGear, recognises outstanding achievements in the energy industry. Rewarding innovative technologies, growth in companies both large and small, and the significant contributions of individuals within the industry, the OAAs give recognition to the superlative achievements of those who go above and beyond in the energy sector. Each category winner takes home a coveted OAA trophy designed each year by Gray’s School of Art 3D Design students.
This year’s winner is Nora Gricmane, 3D design student at Gray’s School of Art.
Five 3D design students presented their concepts for the 2024 trophy to a panel of eight judges and were then tasked with creating a prototype for further judging. Nora was selected as the 2024 winner with her design going on to be crafted into bespoke trophies for next year’s prestigious 2024 Offshore Achievement Awards (OAA).
Brogan McPherson, HR Advisor at EXCEED, says, “We have been exceptionally impressed by the range of creativity resulting from one brief, which asked the students to create a design which reflects the energy transition. It was obvious that each rose to the challenge with zest, providing the judges with a selection of unique concepts which clearly had recycle and repurpose in mind. EXCEED is committed to the development of young talent, and this competition plays an important role in showcasing the skills within Gray’s School of Art, whilst providing the students with a real taste of industry experience.”
Fraser Dougall, Project Manager for WellGear and judging panel member says, “As a company driven by innovative design, it’s been a pleasure for WellGear to play a part in the judging panel for this year’s winning OAA trophy concept. Like EXCEED, the development of skills in young people is a topic very close to our heart, and this process – the brief, the concept development and the presentation to the judging panel – will undoubtedly provide these students with a valuable experience to carry forward. Congratulations to them all for their highly individual, impactful designs – they have each encapsulated the Offshore Achievement Awards and all that it stands for.”
Graham Dallas, Chair of the Offshore Achievement Awards Committee, says, “As the industry continues to evolve, so too do the design entries each year from the talented students at Gray’s School of Art. It is fascinating to the see how the students get from concept to creation. It is always difficult to decide on a winner, but we feel that Nora’s design had the edge. We would once again like to thank 3D Dimensional Design course leader Matthew Wilcock and Gray’s School of Art for their ongoing commitment to the OAA and this annual design competition.”
Winners of the OAA will be announced at a black-tie ceremony on the 14th March at the P&J Live in Aberdeen. The full list of OAA categories for 2024 are:
- Pre-Commercial Deployment Technology Award
- Post-Commercial Deployment Technology Award
- Transformational Technology Award - Judges Choice
- Collaboration Project Award
- Sustainability Project Award
- Industry Enabler Award
- Skills Development Award – sponsored by CNOOC
- Diversity & Inclusion Judges Award – sponsored by SLB
- Young Professional Award
- Exceptional SME or Exceptional Founder Award
Entries are now open until 17th November 2023, with finalists announced in January 2024. Entries are open to all UK-registered companies within the oil & gas and renewables sectors – categories.
