The background

In October 2007, Best Beginnings, in association with Dr. William Wynn-Jones, launched a poster competition for students at Central St. Martin’s School of Art and Design. Since the competition was launched, the NHS has agreed to distribute the winning design as a poster free to all of its Hospital Trusts and Primary Care Trusts throughout the UK.

The winning poster will be co-branded with Best Beginnings and the NHS logo and will support the launch of a DVD, made by Best Beginnings and sponsored by the Department of Health, NHS Health Scotland and Welsh Health Promotion Agency. The DVD is entitled “Breastfeeding: the ultimate gift” and has been made to inspire and enable women to breastfeed. It will be distributed free in six languages to every pregnant woman (numbering over 600,000 each year) in the UK from July 2008.

The short-listed students from Central St Martins presented their work to an eminent panel of judges, including leading figures from the NHS, the Department of Health, advertising agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, music festival ‘Bestival’, the Old Truman Brewery, Central St. Martin’s School of Art and Design and a teenage artist.

Best Beginnings launched a second art competition in partnership with D&AD, the educational charity whose mission is to promote and encourage creative excellence. Fledgling creatives often cite winning a coveted ‘Yellow Pencil’ as the tipping point in launching their successful careers.

D&AD worked with Best Beginnings to write a brief for students taking part in their internationally respected competition. Over 400 students from all over the world have produced postcard sized designs promoting breastfeeding. The winner will be announced on June 26th at the D&AD Student Awards ceremony. The ‘Get Britain Breastfeeding Exhibition’ will be a unique opportunity to see a selection of the entries.

To find out more about Best Beginnings please visit our new website.