Wesley, said that his designs represented his unique view of South Africa, captured on the BBM platform. "I am inspired by African culture. I love the organic, hand painted signage that you see around most CBD's in South Africa and it's this freshness that inspires my illustration technique," he said.
He went on to add that illustration was traditionally used in a very one-dimensional way in elements such as posters, logos, advertisements; meaning that the viewer could only interact with the illustrations by sight. "Now with these BBM Stickas, they use illustration in a way that empowers the users to be expressive in useful daily interactions," he added. "To know that my sticka's will help South Africans communicate is a very cool feeling," he said.
Matthew Talbot, Senior Vice President, BBM said: "BlackBerry has invested heavily into the South African market, not just as a technology brand, but in understanding the vibrant cultural tapestry of the local market to inspire a level of creativity that can enhance users' experiences. We are in the business of creativity, and our ability to continue to push creative boundaries through a competition like the BBM Stickathon ensures our relevance as a brand."
Van Eeden wins an Apple iMac 21.5" as first prize, which comes with a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium drawing tablet, which he will put to good use as his current equipment is old. Other prizes include a MacBook Pro and several Wacom drawing tablets.
Anyone wishing to view the locally-inspired BBM Stickathon entries should visit www.bbmstickathon.co.za.
