Rafael Sommerhalder, first-year Animation student at the RCA, took away this year's top prize ($3,000 plus Adobe software) in the Animation category of the 2008 Adobe Design Achievement Awards at the Skirball Center for Performing Arts in New York City. The awards reward the best interactive, motion and video, and traditional media work created by the most talented and promising students from around the world.

Three finalists for each of 12 design/application categories were selected from 409 semi-finalists – from a world-wide total of almost 3000 entries. RCA students made 23 entries, seven were selected as semi-finalists, and two –Rafael and Freddie Yaunder (second-year Design Products student) – emerged as finalists. Both were at the awards ceremony in New York where the winners were announced.

The Adobe Design Achievement Awards were launched in 2001 and originally consisted of 21 colleges and universities in the USA, identified through the Adobe 'Partners by Design' Programme. In 2003 the RCA and Glasgow School of Art, and Sheridan College in Toronto, were invited to join 'Partners by Design' and take part in the competition. Adobe also sponsor multiple software licenses to the PBD members.

In 2005 the Awards were extended to European and Australian Institutions, and this expansion has been extended to include the Middle East, Asia and the Far East, including China.

The RCA has had competition category winners in 2004, 2005 and 2008, and finalists in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008. To find out more, visit the Adobe Design Achievement Awards online.