Excellence in Design

2010 Circle of Excellence Awards Program

Judges Report

  

Single-Page Publications (14)

  

Overall category: This category contained 14 entries ranging from greeting cards to folded brochures to maps. Many were interesting and a few publications stood out to judges. Outstanding publications had clean, easy to understand layouts with well-executed design themes. Problem areas for other entries included confusing layouts that were difficult to navigate and lack of creativity in design. Additionally, the content of some of the publications would be better served in a different format more suited to the topic or audience. Judges recommended paying close attention to design details, such as paragraph spacing and typefaces, would do much to improve some publications.

  

Bronze Award: University of South Carolina - Gamecock Good News - The judges loved the distinctive format and theme of the publication, which must certainly stand out to its target audience. The layout is visually appealing and readers can quickly scan the publication. Brilliant use of typography and black and white image throughout the publication reinforce its Victorian theme.

  

  

Multi-Page publications/Folders (97)

  

Overall category: This category had a lot of strong contenders. The entries ranged from annual or president's reports, admissions pieces, periodical issues, folders and portfolios, invitations, and more. The winners strongly tied covers and insides together with both a visual theme and an overarching concept, producing a complete and cohesive publication. They also shared a clean layout, good use of color, strong visuals, excellent typography, and type used to good purpose. Often a different shape stood out, not for the sake of being different, but because the shape was particularly suited to the concept of the publication.

 

The weaker pieces did not provide consistency throughout: an interesting cover design might not deliver on its promise once inside or the insides did not relate throughout, losing steam once the reader approached the financial information or the classnotes. Often the unit cost was too high, resources were not used wisely, or the format wasn't practical.  And sometimes typography was used badly or without purpose.

 

Grand Gold Award: Memorial University of Newfoundland - President's Report: Z to A

This unique approach to an annual report showed a strong thematic and visual approach, even using the color palette to good effect in the charts at the back. The one pop of strong color on the black cover hints at the full-color bleeds on one page of the major spreads throughout. The report is immediately inviting, with top notch illustrations, and the reverse Z to A approach to the copy was a wonderful surprise, truly showcasing the university with "gusto," as the president says in his letter.

 

Gold Awards:

Memorial University of Newfoundland - This is the Start of Something BIG

This big annual report is big for a reason, acknowledging its size in the title. The format follows the theme of big research throughout, with subsections on the Big drill (oil), the Big chill (icebergs), Big sound (music), and more.  The full bleed photography is "awesome," according to one judge, and the judicious use of a pop of color in one letter in each title spread is another element tying the pages together. 

 

University of Brighton - Seeds of Change - This brochure about sustainability in action is clean, with a strong, consistent use of color and typography carried throughout the layout. The subtle use of green symbols or plants that grow out of the type or become part of it is beautifully handled, and the various and natural shades of greens, blues, and purples, with pops of yellow and orange, make a strong statement throughout.

  

Silver Awards:

Brandeis University - Junior Viewbook - The interesting size, strong color palette, good use of photos, and clean layout made this brochure stand out.  The strong color block pages at the beginning should have been spread more throughout the piece, and one judge questioned why there was one orange page, and then this color disappeared, never to be seen again.  The judges also debated about the appropriateness of the photo of the girl on the cover, but decided that she was focused and pensive and that it suited the piece.

 

Columbia College Chicago - Aesthetics: A Memoir, The Cartoons of Ivan Brunetti - The square shape of this exhibition catalog-a motif repeated throughout-combined great images and clean type and made this piece interesting on every page.

 

Columbia College Chicago -2009 Annual Report - This vibrant and active-looking annual report, which started out with a photo of leaping dancers on the cover, was light, breathable, and modern.  With a great color palette, fun studio shots, the good use of a thin typeface-particularly in its use in vertical cutlines-the publication was obviously well planned. The judges felt that some headlines in a light color were hard to read.

 

Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Still Life with Recession - The judges loved the very clear name and the nice approach to this annual report. They liked the introductory two pages to each section with its smaller, very short headline at the top of the second page and with the bold graphic type approach to the one and only paragraph. The first page of each section was a group of items, or a still life, echoing the theme for each section, such as Sustainable solutions or Medical milestones. While the white space, the variety of type, and the detail shots were wonderfully handled, once the reader gets past the introductory pages, the layout becomes more predictable and less interesting.

 

Bronze Award

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Where Science Meets Society - The judges loved this brochure that brought life to the subject of genomic research, with its very visual display of science, the soft, subtle colors used throughout, and the fine solution to a topic the reader might not immediately find interesting. The fold-out panels with the timeline at the front and back, as well as the shape of the piece, created a strong horizontal line that was carried throughout the publication, and the colorful, but simple gene-like graphic that appeared on both the front and back cover was a beautifully elegant way to present science.

 

 

Periodicals (77)

 

Overall category: The top winners carried a strong message throughout the periodical and obviously throughout about every page. Entries that didn't make the winners category failed to feel consistent. For instance, some had a strong cover but nothing impressive inside. Others were intriguing until judges reached the classnotes section.

 

Gold Awards:

Kenyon College Kenyon College Alumni Bulletin, Fall 2009 - This magazine is full of fun visuals and is thoughtfully designed from cover to cover. Beautiful, full-bleed photos dominate some pages. For instance, judges consistently stopped and drooled at a two-page photo spread showing students playing in the autumn leaves. Judges said the photo felt real and candid, and the photo expressed a connection to place; alumni could probably picture themselves on campus. Portraits of people used interesting shadowing and lighting. One judge said the magazine got stronger and better as she turned the page. The classnotes section drew attention with bold fonts and clever organization.

 

University of Michigan School of Public Health - Findings, Spring/Summer 2009 - One judge said the cover-full of colorful and appetizing food arranged in a grid pattern-looked so delicious he could eat it. And the frothy drink on the back cover provided the perfect end to the magazine-and the meal within, The content of the magazine is helpful and compelling, and the design aims to help readers eat healthier and learn more about public health issues, keeping the reader's interest throughout. Text is often tied to charts and other visuals to help readers understand stories and information. Photos often bleed off the page in this magazine, making the design even more interesting and inviting.

 

Silver Award

Denison University, Denison Magazine, Summer 2009 - This magazine with a summer theme is filled with strong photography that invites readers to dig deeper. Photos depict lawn mowing and tanning, for example. Each story has its own theme, but the magazine somehow still feels cohesive. Judges said this entry was gorgeous and mixed text and visuals well. However, the classnotes look template-like and feature boring head portraits. This area could be organized better, judges said.

 

Bronze Award

University of Missouri-Columbia - Illumination, Fall 2009 - The inside of this magazine presented some of the most powerful and compelling photos that the judges saw during their review session. Each story has its own interesting theme that pulled readers into the story, but the magazine was tied together with consistent typography. Photos dominated entire pages and grabbed the reader's attention. A cow stared at readers on one page, and a darkened brain on another intrigued readers. However, the judges thought that the cover was uninviting and didn't entice them to open the magazine. Judges said the photo of the siding of houses was too dark.

 

 

Calendars (11)

  

Overall category: The entries for this category ranged from beautiful art calendars and a functional performing arts calendar in brochure form to run-of-the mill calendars with pages that looked like "bad ads," as one judge put it. The two winners we chose were the most functional, most consistent, and thoughtfully designed throughout.

  

Gold Award

Ringling College of Art and Design - 2010 Admissions Calendar - This artful wall calendar showcased student art and separated the art from the calendar so that you can choose which piece of art-from paintings to digital illustration-to look at each month. In fact, the calendar definitely provides art that you'd want to frame. And the calendar is very legible, with plenty of room to write.

 

Silver Award

Roosevelt University - Music Conservatory Calendar Brochure for 2009-2010 Season - This brochure outlines a whole season of performances at a variety of locations, with great color and photos and a clean, easy-to-read grid. The center contains a removable fold-out calendar of all the events.  You'd definitely keep this brochure to refer to the whole season!

 

 

Covers (71)

Overall category: This was a competitive category with 71 entries. Stronger covers were simple and had engaging artwork that communicated a message without the need for many words to clutter the layout. Problem areas for other entries included layouts with too many design elements in competition for attention and dated nameplates that clashed with other cover elements. Judges also noted that a large number of covers featuring headshots could be improved through more compelling photography.

 

Gold Award

University of Maryland - Terp Spring 2009 Cover - This cover stood out as a gold award winner because of its clever design framed by a large amount of white space. The cover cleverly transforms a student's military dog tags into the shape of the terrapin mascot that tells the story of the man feature without the need for many words. Judges also appreciated the elegant and clean typography that gave the cover a high-quality impression.

 

Silver Awards

University of South Carolina - South Carolina Medicine Magazine, Winter 2009 - This cover stood out from others because of its bold, black photograph incased in a think white border around the edge of the cover. The scale of the photography is just right and the subjects fade perfectly into the solid black background. Overall, the cover is bold and eye catching

 

University of Toronto - U of T Magazine Cover, Autumn 2009 - The Iranian flag colors serve a purposeful and impactful role in the design of this cover. The cover has an artful blend of a photo and illustration that is well-executed with meaningful details. Only one headline is used and the cover lines at the top do not distract from the overall design. Judges appreciated the thorough design rationale and background information with the entry.

 

Bronze Awards

Tufts University - Tufts Nutrition, Fall 2009 Cover - The design of this cover engages and intrigues readers by capturing the essential elements of a complex article in a visually striking matter. Judges loved the creativity of the design and how well the photograph fits the subject matter. The photo of the cast iron griddle creates a simple monotone background that contrasts with the butter yellow for maximum impact. Copy on the cover is kept fairly simple and does not distract from the main photograph.

  

University of Central Florida - UCF Conservatory Theatre Playbill Covers - Judges were highly impressed with the creative artwork appearing on each playbill. The series of playbill covers features beautiful typography that mirrors the unique artwork of each cover. The layout of each cover is consistent and balanced. The playbills elegantly and clearly display the university's brand in a way that does not distract from the overall design.

 

University of Florida - Feast on This, The Florida Engineer, Summer 2009 - The unique photograph on this cover creatively illustrates the highlighted article. The cover is light on copy and the sans serif typography has bold clean lines. The cover features a simple, attractive layout with fun and quirky elements that attracts attention and interest.

  

University of Texas at Dallas - Annual Report 2008 - This annual report cover immediately stood out to judges because of its simplistic, bold orange coloring. The minimalist design is executed with excellence and with good attention to detail. The university's seal is the cover's dominate feature, but by using a subtle clear foil stamping technique, the seal does not throw off the balance of the layout. The cover is classic, elegant and its design communicates the prestige of its contents.

 

  

Books (12)

  

Overall category: Entries included coffee table books, fact booklets, and historical books that featured strong ties to history and tradition. Judges thought some entries were not at all unusual and didn't stand out from the pack. Entries that won awards were cleverly designed for the general public.

 

Gold Award

Barnard College - I Majored in Unafraid: 2009 Viewbook - When the books were laid out on a table, nearly all of the judges tried to grab this book at the same time. The cover was unusual: black, soft, and felt-like. It was obvious this book stood out from the rest. The cover was sophisticated yet fun, and the theme of being unafraid and taking risks was carried throughout. The shiny pages and spot varnishing added to the elegance of this book. One judge said this book was an overall knockout because of strong stories, photos, and design. Judges couldn't find a place where the book went wrong and said that it was obvious much effort and sweat was poured into this piece. The magazine-like publication was not afraid to entertain, either. For example, it featured comics and speech bubbles. At other times the magazine was informative, featuring easy-to-read subway maps and a calendar.

 

Silver Award

Carnegie Mellon University - The Little Brag Book - Although it can be a challenge to fit so many facts into such a small format, designers created this piece to be fun and manageable. The text is easily digestible in this 56-page book detailing the university's innovations. The book is very portable, and it uses understandable, simple, and approachable language. However, some judges said that teasers in the opening pages with one word on each page did not work well. Judges said readers are opening the pages at that point, so the individual words are confusing, but others thought the juxtaposition of the tiny words "THE LITTLE BRAG BOOK" on the cover with the large words, "of" "big" "ideas" on the first three pages was quite clever.

 

  

Posters (37)

  

Overall category: There were 37 entries in this category with several strong designs. Strong posters featured creative and attention grabbing themes. Many attractive designs also featured beautiful typography and artistic visuals. Problem areas for other entries included layouts with too much copy and too many design elements in competition for attention.

 

Silver Award

University of Central Florida - Brother-to-Brother Program Entry - Imagery representing racial diversity can be challenging, but the University of Central Florida successfully and creatively accomplished communicating "diversity" in the design of this poster. Bold colored silhouettes jump out from the poster's layout and are accompanied by brief statements with clean type. Judges liked how the brush strokes make the poster feel personal and emotional.

 

Bronze Awards

Boston University - Statement Poster Series - These posters use consistently applied photography, numbers and typography in order to communicate the university's brand to a wide audience. Each oversized poster tells a quick story through a vibrant image and grabs the attention of passersby. Overall, the judges liked the open, modern layout of each poster and the well-executed brand strategy of the poster series.

 

University of Central Florida - Pegasus Poster - This poster uses a simple two-color design to deliver a strong and prideful message that positions the university as a place that will move you ahead. The silhouettes of the horses and Pegasus are bold and instill a sense of pride in the university. The overall design is well-branded, bold and inspiring. Judges also appreciated how this poster had a "life" beyond print.

 

 

Editorial Design (94)

  

Overall Category: There were 94 entries in this highly competitive category. Winning entries were set apart by their attention to details, engaging visuals, and uncluttered layouts. Additionally, entries that stood out to judges had creative and original artwork that engaged the reader. Problem areas of other entries included poorly designed layouts cluttered with copy and visuals and poor uses of typography. Judges noted that many entries can be significantly improved by paying close attention to details, such as alignment and spacing.

 

Gold Awards

Ohio University -Perspectives Magazine, "Birth Pangs", Spring/Summer 2009 - The contrast of visuals immediately grabs reader's attention - interpretations of the photo of the baby could be crying or yawning and the visual of the needle could represent pain or pain relief. The article's headline is beautifully and creatively incorporated into the design. Ample white space in the spread makes the design impactful. Judges appreciated this intriguing concept.

 

University of Missouri -Illumination, "Society Man", Fall 2009 - Judges were drawn to the crisp, open layout and stunning full-page photo illustration. The gray scale layout is punctuated by a single headline of magenta text and the author's name is creatively incorporated into the spread's artwork. The spread is attention grabbing and generates plenty of curiosity.

 

Silver Awards

Stanford Alumni Association - Stanford, "Sleuth or Dare" - The creative use of photography and typography emulates a pulp-era design theme. The colors and interesting angular layout also reinforce the spread's overall theme. Simple, sans serif type leads readers into the story.

 

University of Missouri-Columbia - MIZZOU "Spoon Fed" - Excellent original photography and clean typography make this spread attractive and interesting. The visual of the twisted spoon is creative and stands out against the start white space. The use of color is subtle and well applied throughout the spread. Judges also appreciated the small details, such as the unique page number illustrations and the small spoon icons separating the headline copy.

 

Washington State University - WSU Magazine, "You Must Remember This" - Judges were drawn to the beautiful artistry of the spread's illustration. The illustration is powerful and intriguing with a simple headline that leads readers to discover more. Balancing the illustration is a healthy amount of white space with elegant serif type.

 

Bronze Awards

Brigham Young University - Clark Memorandum, "Originalist Roots" - This distressed-style spread is simple and eye catching. The distressed theme carries throughout all the details, visual elements and typography. The layout of the spread is well-balanced and makes the subject of the article more intriguing. The font choice and subtle use of color adds to the spread's simple and eye catching design.

 

Colby College - Colby College Magazine, "Real NCIS: Tom Betro" Spring 2009 - This spread has a well-executed dramatic theme punctuated with bursts of yellow. The design incorporated a high level of drama using a duo-tone color palette, grunge textures and bold typography that is very appropriate for the subject matter. The overall layout is well-balanced with unique angles.

 

Stanford Alumni Association - Stanford, "Careful Cut" - This spread uses unique and creative details to illustrate the sensitive subject matter of the article - the university's budget cuts. Judges loved subtle grid background and the "cuts" created out of the headline typography. The monochromatic green color scheme is very well applied to the spread. Additionally, the illustration contains details with plenty of underlying symbolism.

 

Illustrations (35)

Overall Category:  This category had 35 diverse entries. An illustration that clearly met its objectives, had a high artistic value and engaged the viewer stood out to judges. Judges appreciated both simple and complex illustrations. Problem areas of other illustrations included lack of artistry (some illustrations were merely digital compositions of stock icons) and not clearly conveying intended meaning/objectives. Judges noted that the size of which many illustrations were displayed could be improved - small illustrations apart of larger layouts were easy to skip over and did not engage the viewer.

 

Gold Award

University of Maryland - 2010 Commencement Poster - This original illustration of the school mascot, the terrapin, is a unique and memorable piece of artwork that evokes the history of the university. The artwork creatively incorporates the letter "m" in the shell of the terrapin. Reaching upward, the mascot is symbolic of the future, individual achievements of young graduates. Judges loved discovering this beautiful illustration.

 

Silver Award

Brigham Young University - Out of Many, One Illustrations - Bright, harmonic colors tie each of these unique illustrations together. The art work is very interesting and communicated the topic in such a unique and artist way. Judges commented on how well the illustrations convey meaning to viewers.

 

Bronze Award

Brigham Young University - A Guide and a Sojourn Illustrations - These illustrations are a creative use of hybrid media that holds your attention and engages the viewer. Judges liked the beautiful use of lighting and color throughout the artwork. Superb execution and overall artistic value.

 

Invitations (23)

  

Overall category: This category had 23 entries. There entries were very strong - the judges enjoyed discovering all the quality work in this category and had a difficult time selecting only two winners! Strong entries included both simple and more complex designs with engaging and creative details. Additionally, entries that stood out to judges had well applied themes with close attention to typefaces, color, visuals, and paper selection. The few weak entries in this category had unengaging themes and poor typography. 

 

Gold Award

University of Washington - The University of Washington's 8^th Annual Recognition Gala Invitation Package - This invitation package is truly a standout with absolutely beautiful use of color, texture and typography. The invitation pieces have a feel of an old, worn book by using subtle textures, watermark type floor plans, historic feeling ephemeras and quill pen typeface. The nostalgic design is certain to catch the eye of the target audience and the invitation's special touches, such as the creative RSVP card and bookmark, create excitement. Judges loved discovering the creative details throughout the invitation and the application of the university's brand elements.

 

Silver Award

Massachusetts College of Art and Design - A Fashionable Night Celebrating Mary McFadden - This invitation incorporates elegant gold colors and graphic elements from the exhibition's designer, Mary McFadden, in a way that visually connected the designer to the college. A gold band features a McFadden quote about liquid gold to provide relevance and surrounds the invitation in order to provide a sense that the event is special and exclusive. Judges especially like the choice of elegant serif fonts, interesting pattern of the RSVP card and the inside photo.

  

 

Specialty Pieces (17)

 

Overall category: Entries included bus designs, brochures, cards, and dining sleeves. Some items in this category started with a theme that wasn't carried through the pieces. For instance, some items were too conservative and took a template-like approach. Entries that stood out were more creative and pushed the envelope. The winners chose colorful and dramatic designs.

 

Gold Award

Austin College - Peace Joy president's holiday card - This piece was not your typical holiday card. The transparent envelope teased judges into peering inside to look at the actual card. The large, dominating cover type intrigued judges further, and the minimal text inside the card made it easy to read. The piece is elegant, consistent, colorful, and clean throughout. The judges also praised the designers for using their budget wisely.

 

Silver Award

University of San Diego - Campus dining sleeve - The designer clearly reflected sustainability in the design and printing of this green-and-blue cup sleeve. The design is fun and incorporates nature and an aquatic theme depicting fish, frogs, birds, and more. Judges noted that the designer paid close attention to detailed illustrations. One judge said that the illustrations and fonts looked as if they were done by hand. The sleeve is printed on recycled paper using two inks, further showing the piece's commitment to sustainability.

 

Bronze Award

Indiana University - Run with the Wolves bus wrap - Judges thought this entry was fun and colorful. The bus design grabs attention with three-dimensional, life-size graphics. Judges said one image depicting a wolf's head felt like an intimidating athletics design. Another image showing a wolf's body looks like the wolf is missing a leg, however.