TORONTO, April 5, 2006 -- Nelson Cheng, a second-year student, is enjoying the ultimate martini cocktail experience. He is now in Italy representing Canada in a prestigious international glass design competition.

The student in the York/Sheridan Joint Program in Design recently took the top prize in the Canadian leg of the Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Competition. He earned rave reviews for his design of a functional cocktail glass inspired by Bombay Sapphire Premium Gin, which is packaged in a translucent blue glass bottle.

For his design efforts, Cheng was awarded an internship of his choice with a leading design firm in Calgary or New York City, as well as an all-expense-paid trip to Milan, where he is now representing Canada at the global finals of the competition from April 5 to 10. The national prize was presented to Cheng at an awards ceremony at Toronto’s Sandra Ainsley Gallery on March 24.  (Photo: Will that be shaken or stirred? Design student Nelson Cheng and glass blower Paull Rodrigue display the award-winning designer martini glass that won a national prize. Cheng is currently in Milan, Italy where his design is being judged at an the international competition.)

Cheng, who left for Italy on Monday, is scheduled to enjoy a couple days of socializing, including meeting and mingling with other world finalists, judges and marketing teams, before the world winner is announced tomorrow.

In addition to earning the prestigious international title, the winner will receive a cash prize of $15,000 (U.S.)
The finalists' glasses will be displayed and judged on site at Salone del Mobile, Europe's largest contemporary interior design exhibition, held annually in Milan.

Open to aspiring designers who are of legal drinking age or older from around the world, the competition takes place in two phases – regionally and internationally. Regional participants include Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Regional winners automatically advance to the international competition.  (Photo:Student Nelson Cheng's winning glass design, titled "Amalgam.")

At the regional stage of the competition, Cheng worked with glass blower Paull Rodrigue to bring his creation, titled "Amalgam," to life. Rodrigue began working with glass in 1993, while studying at the Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning in the glass program.  He is now co-owner of Glen Williams Glass in Glen Williams, Ont., and actively exhibits throughout North America.

Regional entries were judged according to functionality, innovation, aesthetics and inspiration from the Bombay Sapphire brand. 

In what will be a fun competition, Cheng is looking forward to having a drink from his winning glass to complete his ultimate martini cocktail experience.

The York/Sheridan Joint Program in Design, Ontario's first bachelor of design degree program, is offered jointly by York University and the Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Oakville.

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For more information, contact:

Media Relations, York University, 416-736-5585, media@yorku.ca