From the Nominator

This was an exciting year for NC State magazine. After conducting a study on how to expand our magazine distribution, and with an investment from our university advancement team, we expanded our audience from 25,000 to 62,000 households. We aimed to wow that audience with engaging content and the magnificent design eye of Art Director Vickie Cumbee. That effort was aided by our coverage of the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which both advanced to their respective Final Fours. At that point, though, we had already finalized our spring issue content, so we had to be responsive with our design—at the last minute, we added an eight-page photo feature showcasing the basketball teams’ success. In our autumn 2024 issue, we had to tell the story of outgoing Chancellor Randy Woodson. To increase interest and personalize what could have been a rigid institutional piece, we told the story heavily through illustration and design. In addition to these memorable features, we continue to make design the spirit and backbone of NC State magazine. We deliberately break up longer narratives with smaller components, use bold typography, and mix serious stories with fun stories. Both our spring and autumn covers show that back and forth: The spring design shows an earthy background to a firefly hiding in plain sight, and the autumn cover playfully illustrates the signature developments on campus during Chancellor Randy Woodson’s tenure at NC State.

From the Judges

Both magazine covers capture the eye, making an impact from the start. The contrast of full-page photos to spreads that use heavy white space creates a beautiful balance throughout these pieces. Customized illustrations add a personal touch and make the layouts feel inviting. The compositions were well constructed and the magazines well-designed.