Standard Bank Eswatini has announced the winners of the first-ever Standard Bank Eswatini Next Gen Bank Card Design Competition held in partnership with Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
Luhlelolwenkhosi Mnisi took first place, earning E3,500, and his design will feature on an upcoming Standard Bank Eswatini bank card. Banele Kunene and Leroy Humphrey Hoare secured second and third places, receiving E2,500 and E1,500 respectively. All three winners are graphic design students at Limkokwing.
The competition, launched in April 2025, attracted between 10 and 15 submissions from graphic design students, showcasing a wide range of creative ideas. After initial judging, five designs were shortlisted before the final winners were selected.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Brand and Marketing Specialist at Standard Bank Eswatini, Anele Tshabalala, said that the initiative was created to empower youth suffering from chronic unemployment.
“We wanted to do something impactful,” Tshabalala said. “Unemployment among the youth is a huge challenge, and we thought — what better way to empower students than to allow them to influence the brand identity of a major bank.”
The project invited students from Limkokwing to submit card designs that would not only reflect their creativity but also resonate with Standard Bank’s brand and the Southern African region.
Tshabalala explained that the judging panel was looking for originality, freshness, and strong representation of African culture.
“The designs needed to balance creativity with Standard Bank’s established brand identity, particularly its color palette, while also capturing vibrance, youthfulness, and local relevance,” she said.
Tshabalala added that Standard Bank is very strict when it comes to branding, but this initiative allowed the bank to explore fresh ideas.
“We wanted designs that were not only innovative but could also translate into something we could proudly use as a bank,” she said.
Tshabalala concluded by saying the experience has boosted the young designers’ confidence.
“This is just the beginning,” she said. “We want to continue partnering with students, giving them platforms to showcase their talent, and empowering the next generation of creatives.”
The Next Gen Card will now roll out to the market, but Standard Bank Eswatini is already thinking about how to build on the success of the competition. Plans are underway to involve students in future projects, such as designing posters and supporting youth-centred brand activations.