Ogilvy Namibia has concluded a three-month creative mentorship programme with the College of the Arts (COTA). On Wednesday, 10 June, eight students presented full marketing campaigns to representatives from Paratus Namibia at the agency's Windhoek offices.
The programme paired design, photography and web design students with the agency's strategic and creative teams to solve a live client brief under professional conditions. The collaboration began in March. Students were grouped into two agency-style teams, Team Para and Team STXSH, and briefed to develop a marketing campaign using Paratus Namibia as the case study, says the agency.
The brief required them to conduct research, set a strategy, develop a central creative idea, produce visual assets, apply the client's brand guidelines and combine photography and design into a single campaign, adds the agency.
The programme was led by Ogilvy Namibia's Managing Director, Rozanne van der Merwe, working alongside COTA lecturers Clara Schnack, Patrik Mwashindange and Ebben Kapalie. Before the creative work began, students completed the Lynette de Beer Temperament Colour Assessment to help them understand their working styles within a team, says the agency.
"This partnership has been a tremendous success, and we are incredibly proud of the growth shown by the students throughout the programme. Beyond producing great work, the objective was to prepare them for the realities of the professional world. What stood out most was their willingness to collaborate, take constructive criticism, adapt and keep pushing forward despite numerous revisions," says Rozanne van der Merwe, Managing Director of Ogilvy Namibia.
"Their perseverance and positive attitude were evident from start to finish. At Ogilvy Namibia, we believe that skills can be taught, but attitude is everything. If you remain open to learning, embrace feedback and never give up, anything is possible," adds van der Merwe.
Representatives from Paratus Namibia attended the final presentations to review the campaigns and give feedback directly to the students, giving participants exposure to a live client setting. The mentorship forms part of Ogilvy Namibia's 30th anniversary activity in 2026 and continues the College of the Arts' aim of placing students with industry partners. Ogilvy Namibia concludes that it has confirmed its intention to support similar programmes in future.
For more information, visit www.ogilvy.com.na. You can also follow Ogilvy Namibia on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor