From the Nominator

This piece introduces a multi-year strategic vision for Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. It was created for faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and academic peers. The 80-plus-page booklet balances creative storytelling with visual cohesion. The design was built using Duke's "Made for This" brand guidelines, with a layout that incorporates purposeful photography, modern typography, and intentional white space. We chose a clean, modular layout that adapts easily across formats, from the full-length booklet to our website. We also used design elements that could be adapted to leadership presentations, donor collateral, and digital features. The booklet debuted in 2025 at the Board of Visitors fall meeting, where it anchored a presentation by the dean and guided discussions on the future direction of our school. We also mailed it out to peer institutions for rankings and brand recognition. It has since been used at advancement meetings, leadership briefings, peer-outreach campaigns, and donor and recruitment events. While it was created only by a lean in-house team and one in-house designer, the booklet is a durable, high-utility piece that now serves as a model for departmental spinoffs.

From the Judges

This entry was recognized for its exceptional execution and its ability to translate complex institutional priorities into a compelling and highly accessible publication. Judges were particularly impressed by the strength of the writing, the cohesion of the design, and the seamless balance between visual storytelling and functional clarity. The piece succeeds in engaging a range of audiences, while serving as a unifying reference point across the institution. Thoughtfully conceived and beautifully delivered, it exemplifies how a strategic vision can be communicated with both precision and impact.