MACON – Six graphic design alumni and students from Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recently won a total of eight awards in Graphic Design USA’s (GD USA) American Graphic Design Awards competition.
“I’m so proud of the winning students for this prestigious recognition,” said Tennille Shuster, associate professor and director of the graphic design program. “This year’s winning projects represent a wide variety of formats and skills that are taught in Mercer’s graphic design program, including print design, illustration, packaging design, publication design, kinetic typography, and interaction/app design. I appreciate the judges’ selections as they effectively represent the wide variety of coursework available in Mercer’s design program.”
Class of 2022 graduates Ivy Allen and Savannah Duringer each won two awards. Allen was recognized for her Pasta Social Club eNewsletter/Subscription Pop-up and Wine Packaging Design, while Duringer was selected for her Children’s Book Illustration/Design and Zoo App Design.
Fellow Class of 2022 alumnae Olivia Cleveland and Ali Dupree each won an award for their Around Town/Mercer App Design and an Exhibition Catalog, respectively.
Additionally, current students Yuuki Ando and Vicky Nguyen each won an award for their USPS Stamp Design and Kinetic Typography, respectively.
Entering its 60th year, Graphic Design USA has long sponsored competitions that elevate areas of excellence and opportunity for the creative community.The American Graphic Design Awards is the organization’s original and the flagship competition, open to everyone in the community and honoring outstanding work of all kinds and across all media.
More than 10,000 entries were submitted this year, and only 10% were chosen as winners, recognized with a certificate, and will be featured in the GDUSA Design Awards Annual.
Mercer’s comprehensive graphic design major encourages the investigation of contemporary directions in art, imaging, and visual communication in a wide range of print and interactive media to aid students in developing a cohesive portfolio appropriate for the pursuit of graduate studies or professional practice. Theory, methodology, and industry-standard technology are studied and applied to prepare students for success in this continually evolving field of study.
“These skills serve the students far beyond the classroom, and the distinction of a GD USA award instills confidence as they embark on their careers,” said Shuster. “It is an honor to see Mercer’s design program recognized – for the second year in a row – for producing some of the highest quality work in the industry.”
About the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences serves as the academic cornerstone of one of America’s oldest and most distinctive institutions of higher learning. The oldest and largest of Mercer’s 12 schools and colleges, it is a diverse and vibrant community, enrolling more than 1,900 students, dedicated to learning and service through the practice of intellectual curiosity, respectful dialogue and responsible citizenry. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers majors in more than 30 areas of study, including more than a dozen pre-professional academic tracks, with classes taught by an outstanding faculty of scholars. In 2015, Mercer was awarded a chapter of The Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society that recognizes exceptional achievement in the arts and sciences. For more information, visit liberalarts.mercer.edu.
