A team of five graphic design students from County College of Morris (CCM) recently captured the two first place awards in the annual Design Derby sponsored by the Art Directors Club of New Jersey.
The team won both first place awards for Best Presentation and Best Design. This is only the second time that a school has won both awards; Montclair University was the last school to do so.
The annual competition brings together teams of graphic design students from colleges and universities throughout the state to present their proposals for a client selected by the Art Directors Club. This year’s client is the New Jersey Emergency Preparedness Association (NJEPA), which trains individuals and agencies involved in emergency management. Based in Cape May, with an additional office in Bergen County, the organization runs an annual conference for members each spring to share best practices and to network.
As the winner, the CCM team now is producing its design project for NJEPA. The client’s design brief asked for a logo refresh and a new identity for the annual conference. Requested materials include a set of save-the-date postcards and a related cover for the organization’s program. That project is now underway with deliverables due by the end of November.
The 2015 CCM team consists of graphic design students Dylan Shelley, of Succasunna; Arin Swenson, of Denville; Sabine Formanek, of Basking Ridge; Jacobo Aristizabal, of Whippany; and Steven Greene, of Rockaway. In addition to receiving two trophies, the students will have printed samples from the client project to include in their portfolios.
The Design Derby this year was held at Ramapo College in October and submissions were judged by client representatives. All materials were hand drawn as computers were not allowed as part of the competition.
“Kudos are in order for Professor Kathy McNeil for overseeing the students and for the entire graphic design teaching staff for their commitment to helping students develop the critical thinking skills that are important for entering the graphic design profession,” said Professor Stephen Longo, special project leader for the Department of Graphic Design at CCM. “We also wish to thank the Art Directors Club of New Jersey for their continued sponsorship of this event and commitment to design scholarship.”
Photo: (l-r) Denise Spell, from the New Jersey Emergency Preparedness Association, poses with CCM students and Design Derby winners, Jacobo Aristizabal, Steven Greene, Sabine Formanek, Arin Swenson, Dylan Shelley, and Professor Kathy McNeil.
