Ali’s newspaper redesign earns him a national award
A TEENAGE sub-editor has helped his school win a prestigious national award.
Ali Abod, from Cheadle, has been designing and laying out Manchester Grammar School’s newspaper The New Mancunian.
His design skills have earned him the 2016 Shine Media Awards.
Ali’s major redesign overhaul of the publication saw him favoured over 30 other schools nominated in various categories.
Ali said: “I started working on The New Mancunian back in 2014 when, in all honesty, the drab design needed an entire overhaul.
“It was difficult at first, but after a few allnighters, I had produced a vibrant design that both myself and my friends loved.
“The awards ceremony itself was inspiring – I honestly felt like I was at the Oscars.
“The build-up to the presentation was nail biting.
“I had convinced myself that I hadn’t won after browsing over all the other magazines, but I hadn’t given up hope completely.
“Hearing The New Mancunian being announced was relieving, and a gratifying experience for sure.
“I hope to do computer science in the future.
“At the moment, design and creativity are both major components of software applications, and I feel like having a background in design, I will be able to combine both elements to hopefully create something spectacular.”
Ali’s designs were commended for their high standard of layout, typography and ‘brave use of white space and imagery to make the pages stand out.’
More than 80 schools from across the country entered the contest.
The winners were announced at a ceremony at Stationers’ Hall in London.