Greg Daake presentation on April 30th

Greg Daake, of the Daake design firm, will attend the Spring 2009 VCD senior show as visiting designer, and will speak on Thursday, May 30th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building room 313.

Eight (8) VCD students selected for Addy Awards

The department has received a note confirming that eight UNK VCD students have earned awards in the latest Nebraska Addy Contest. Winners are Brian Margheim, Silver -  Psychic Duck, Silver -  Dracula, The Musical; Nate Eskra, Silver – ANWR; Cassi Ellenwood, Gold – Artisan Tea Advertisement, Silver - Artisan Tea Packaging; Andrea Trew, Silver – Mondavi Wine; Amanda Erickson, Gold – Sasquuatch Paper, Silver – Board Threads Clothing Company, Brandy Nichols, Gold – The Big Show, Silver – Elvis Biograhy; Steve Wolf, Special Judges Citation/Gold – Bird Poster; and Anne McGovern, Silver – The Good Life Marathon.
Congratulations designers. The awards will be presented on February 7, 2009 at the Rococo Theatre, in Lincoln. Your invitation to the event will arrive soon.

Daake’s provide VCD scholarship

Greg ’96 and Lisa (Schwartzkopf) ’95 Daake have provided a $10,000 gift to the NU Foundation for Visual Communication and Design scholarships to assist students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Daake’s are owners and founders of the create design firm Daake located in Omaha.

10 VCD seniors exhibit in Walker Gallery

Ten Visual Communication and Design seniors are exhibiting works in Walker Art Gallery in November 2008. Tina Mieth, Roberto Montiel, Andrea Trew, Holly Walton, and Aaron Williams are participating in the first Show underway now until November 14th. Their reception will be held on Friday, November 14th between 4–6 p.m. at the Gallery.
Blair Bauer, Cassi Ellenwood, Amanda Erickson, Jaime Flores, and Drew Gourley, will exhibit in a second Senior Show between November 17–25th, with a reception on November 21st between 4–6 p.m.
The public is invited to attend both receptions and join the department in congratulating those Design students who plan to graduate this fall.

UNK VCD Students win 3 National ADDY Awards

(update) Eric Nyffeler received gold at the National ADDY Award for his Hydra Black Powder Fireworks posters, Brandon Oltman won a National Silver Award for his Kung Pow Paper Co. Paper Sample Book, and Joe Szczepaniak also picked up a Silver ADDY Award for Rette & Ravette Denim Limited tags in the student category. The three were honored, along with other 2008 National ADDY Winners at a celebration in Atlanta, Georgia in June. The ADDY Awards, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, is the world’s largest advertising competition with over 50,000 entries annually. Congratulations Eric, Brandon, and Joe.

Ryan Quincy wins Emmy Award

Former UNK design student, Ryan Quincy, is Director of Animation for Comedy Central’s SOUTH PARK. Quincy recently won an Emmy Award for his work for that TV series and was honored by friends at the Nebraska Coast Connection. The Holdrege native worked on animated shorts for MAD TV in Hollywood, before joining Trey Parker and Matt Stone at SOUTH PARK.

Eleven UNK VCD Students pick up Brass Ring Awards

Three UNK VCD student works were selected for “Best of Show” honors at the 2008 Brass Ring Awards. Anne McGovern won the 2nd place (Silver) Best of Show, for her Sweet Pea tags, Nathan Hansen took 3rd place (Bronze) Best of Show for his Counter Clothing tags, and Brandon Oltman was awarded a 6th place (Honorable Mention) Best of Show for his Kung Pow Paper Sample Book.  Other 2008 Brass Ring Award winners from UNK are Blair Bauer, merit for logo application Stalwart tags; Brook Carpenter, merit for poster design Refuse to be a Target; Nate Eskra, bronze for poster design Little Shop of Horrors; Drew Gourley, merit for logotype 16 Tons; Brandy Nichols, bronze for poster design Little Shop of Horrors; Drake Sauer, gold for poster design Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde; Ashley Stuhr, silver for brochure/annual report Cypress Paper Sample Book; and Adam Torpin, merit for brochure Swiss Army Knife Instructions.

This is UNK’s largest number of awards from the Brass Rings design competition and the VCD program’s highest placement in the “Best of Show” category. Congratulation designers.

Congatulations ADDY Award Winners (Update)

UNK VCD student won several awards at the recent Nebraska ADDY Awards. 2007 Graduate, Eric Nyffeler, captured Best of Show plus 2 golds. Brook Carpenter-silver, Cassi Ellenwood-silver, Anne McGovern-2 silvers, Brandon Oltman-2 golds and 6 silvers, Drake Sauer-silver, Ashley Stuhr-2 golds and silver, Joe Szczepaniak-gold and 3 silvers, Adam Torpin won 3 silver awards.

In addition to a strong showing in student categories, UNK VCD alumni picked up their own honors:Eric Nyffeler (VCD 2007) won three silver awards for Nebraska Book Co., Gabe Re (VCD 2006) took 1 silver for Scorr Marketing, Janelle Reed (VCD 2006) had 2 silver for Scorr Marketing, Curtis Puchunka (VCD 2004) received 2 silvers for the Nebraska Book Co., and Karen Koch (VCD 2003) won a silver for Webster Design.

Joel Kreutzer (VCD 2003) had a good evening with 3 gold and 17 silver awards for Archrival, as did Jontue Hollingsworth (VCD 2002), who also picked up two special judges citations along with Best of Show honors for Archrival. Michelle Sukup (VCD 2004) had 1 silver for Bailey Lauerman-Omaha, Ben Rowe (VCD 2003) won 2 silvers for Scorr Marketing, Dave Markes (VCD 2004) took 3 gold and 7 silver award in addition to a special judges citation for Bailey Lauerman-Lincoln, while Randall Myers (VCD 2000) took a gold and silver for Bailey Lauerman_Omaha.

Cindi Coulter (VCD 1998) won 1 silver for Swanson Russell-Lincoln, Randy Teet (VCD 1994) received 2 gold and 4 silver awards for Ayres Kahler, Lisa Teet (VCD 1994) took a silver for Swanson Russell-Omaha. Sean Faden (CA 1989) received 2 gold and six silver awards, Ron Sack (CA 1988) took 2 gold and 31 silver awards, and James Strange (CA 1987) won 3 gold and 33 silver awards for Bailey Lauerman-Lincoln. Joe McQuire (?) was awarded a silver for Swanson Russell-Lincoln, Greg Daake (CA 1996) received 2 silver awards for Daake Design in Omaha.

Congratulations to all.

VCD students and alumni win design awards at AIGA Nebraska

Students in the visual communications and design program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney took home Best of Show and several other awards at the 2006 AIGA Nebraska show in November.

The America Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) is a professional association for communication design. The Nebraska chapter of AIGA sponsors the annual design competition for practicing artists and designers and students. Each year, the Nebraska AIGA chapter selects three design judges from across the United States to juror the competition.

Casey Stokes won Best of Show honors for his Spoils of War: Desolation poster and for his interactive World War II video. Three other posters in his Spoils of War poster series; Annihilation, Invasion, and Oppression received silver awards. A fifth poster entitled Opposition took bronze.

University of Nebraska students received four gold awards. Adam Torpin took two gold honors for his Rock Star Clothing Tag System (packaging) and for his San Fermin Festival poster. Andrea Maly won gold for her VCD Senior Show System (misc). Gabriello Re took gold for his Arcadia Organic Tea (packaging).

In addition to the three silver awards picked up by Casey Stokes, the following UNK students won silver: Ashley Stuhr for Adam & Eve Clothing Tags (packaging), Dawn Wallinger for her Elan Clothing (packaging), and Gabriello Re for his Fleas Navidog (invitation/announcement).

Adam Torpin won two bronze awards for pieces entitled My Show Don’t Stink (poster) and Pike Place Fish Market (logo/identity). Bob Heiden was awarded a bronze for Pacific Venture (packaging), Dawn Wallinger took bronze for Pike Place Fish Market (logo/identity), and Gabriello Re received a bronze for Plug Coffee (packaging).

In the professional category, a bronze went to UNK faculty, Mark Hartman, for the Platte Valley Brewery (logo/identity).

UNK VCD Alumni picked up several awards at the AIGA Nebraska 2006 show. Curtis Pachunka and Karen Koch of Sidekick picked up the Best of Show award and several other honors. Gold winners included Rebecca Liebentritt, Curtis Pachunka, and Karen Koch. Silver award winners included Joel Kreutzer, Randall Meyers, Donovan Beery, Curtis Pachunka and Karen Koch, while Joel Kreutzer (4), Dave Markes (2), Nathan Voss (4) Donovan Beery (3), Matthew Delaney, Jontue Hollingsworth (2), Curtis Pachunka and Karen Koch (4)(3), were among the bronze award winners.

Alumni Also Win Awards

UNK VCD Alumni picked up several awards at the AIGA Nebraska 2006 show. Curtis Pachunka and Karen Koch of Sidekick picked up the Best of Show award and several other honors. Gold winners included Rebecca Liebentritt, Curtis Pachunka, and Karen Koch. Silver award winners included Joel Kreutzer, Randall Meyers, Donovan Beery, Curtis Pachunka and Karen Koch, while Joel Kreutzer (4), Dave Markes (2), Nathan Voss (4) Donovan Beery (3), Matthew Delaney, Jontue Hollingsworth (2), Curtis Pachunka and Karen Koch (4)&(3), were among the bronze award winners.

Congratulations to all!