March 8, 2024

Four Columbus State University students brought home silver and gold American Advertising Federation ADDY Awards from the Montgomery Chapter’s recent 65th Annual Awards Gala. The chapter’s local awards phase is the first part of the ADDYs’ three-tier national competition.

The quartet of students—mentored by Department of Art Assistant Professor Samantha Yoo—returned with one Silver ADDY and four Gold ADDYs, as well as two Judge’s Choice Awards for their work created on behalf of business and nonprofit clients. The Judge’s Choice Awards are the highest prize an entry can receive. Columbus State claimed two of the four awarded this year. Their submissions were created in conjunction their studies toward bachelor of fine art (BFA) degrees, with specialties including graphic design and animation.

“Our students’ success not only brings honor to Columbus State University, but also inspires our students and our faculty alike to continue fostering creativity and excellence within our community,” Yoo said.

“Having an ADDY award shows that my work is recognized by industry professionals outside the academic setting,” ShuLin “Serena” Zheng, a senior specializing in graphic design, affirmed. “It can act as evidence of my creativity and commitment to excellence. It also illustrates my ability to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and respond to feedback, which are all valuable skills.

Ian Dooley credits the mentoring he received while designing his projects, as well as preparing his ADDY submissions.

“When I began working on [my projects], I had a difficult time getting my ideas across, and many of my early drafts didn't quite capture the spirit of the business I was trying to represent,” explained Dooley, who completed his degree with a focus on graphic design and animation in December 2023. “Fortunately, Professor Yoo helped me discern which parts of the design I should keep, and which might be unnecessary. With this in mind, I was able to arrive at the finished logo after a few more drafts.”

ENHANCING THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

ADDYs, or more formally, the American Advertising Awards, are renowned as the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition—annually drawing in more than 25,000 entries nationally from local American Advertising Federation (AAF) club competitions. Entries are judged by a panel of visiting creative professionals, with the winners receiving gold and silver trophies in a variety of categories.

After the initial local round of judging, winners of silver and gold awards compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. 

“Engaging in awards programs is integral to the academic journey,” Yoo explained. “It not only recognizes students' achievements but also motivates them, fosters skill development through preparation, facilitates networking, boosts their resumes, and nurtures personal growth by instilling resilience and a growth mindset.”

Dooley credited the in-class constructive criticism he received from his classmates throughout the creative process as preparing him for the client feedback he’s now receiving as a freelance designer.

“[Project critiques] helped prepare us for working with clients in the real-world. Each project had at least two critiques, which gave us a chance to receive input from our peers before submitting our final projects,” he recalled. “I really valued the honesty that came from those; I imagine that it emulates a real-world scenario, where you may need to redo major components of a project after realizing it doesn't quite fit the client's vision.”

Zheng said the competitive process strengthened skills she’ll need now as a student and in the future as a design professional.

“Preparing for a competition [like the ADDYs] allows me to practice both soft and hard skills that are highly transferable to the professional world—such as problem-solving and the ability to accept and incorporate feedback,” she said. “It also pushed me to refine my work and learn how to present my project clearly and compellingly. Having those skills will serve me well in any professional setting.”

“Submitting work for the ADDYs was a glimpse into how the professional world will work,” added Cristhel Corpeno, a junior also focusing her studies on graphic design. “A vital part of this process was ensuring that my designs and submissions were accurate. Additionally, it reminded me of the intense competition in the field of graphic design and the significance of being prepared for it to advance in my career.”

‘REAL-WORLD’ WORK FOR ‘REAL-WORLD’ CLIENTS

For many creative arts students like senior Nyah Avila, who is specializing in graphic design, internships provided a transition from classroom-based projects and experience to delivering real-world work for real-world clients.

“I am one of those students who often is afraid to share their work, but with [Yoo’s guidance], I was able to put myself out there not only for the competition, but for internship opportunities as well. I was able to land two internships and gain that experience,” explained Nyah Avila, a senior specializing in graphic design. “I also received amazing encouragement from [Bo Bartlett Center Director] Michael McFalls, for whom I also intern. He has given me many great projects for my portfolio and taught me some valuable lessons in being direct with my projects.”

Student award winners (left to right) Nyah Avila, Ian Dooley, ShuLin "Serena" Zheng and Cristhel Corpeno, with Assistant Professor Samantha Yoo.

Those classroom and internship projects become the ingredients for awards programs like the ADDYs—as was the case for Avila’s work with local nonprofit Dragonfly Trails Network. Her Gold ADDY Award-winning project found her re-envisioning the organization’s brand standards and creating a line of branded merchandise Dragonfly Trails inspired by its newest “Spirit of the Chattahoochee” Riverwalk mural, which it will sell through its website.

“As a result of the project, Dragonfly [Trails] received cost-effective, high-quality designs,” explained Executive Director Becca Zajac. “Perhaps more meaningful though is the relationship we have built with [Columbus State’s graphic design] students. Over the course of several months, Dragonfly Trails staff visited the class to provide feedback and guidance—helping them gain experience working with a client. Likewise, Dragonfly Trails built relationships with several students that will provide us with a pipeline of talent for future design projects.”

Some of the branded items Nyah Avila designed for the Dragonfly Trails Network.

That level of collaboration was invaluable, according to Avila, as she now has that experience as part of her portfolio and an award that speaks to her design excellence.

“I was able to receive feedback and constructive criticism from [the Dragonfly Trails team] and apply it to my work. I often appreciate feedback as it helps me move forward with designs and feels collaborative,” she said. “This experience also helped me with networking and my portfolio. I think this will help when talking to real world clients and showing them what their brand potential can truly be.”

Zajac pointed out that partnering with the Department of Art specifically— and the university’s other academic programs more broadly—offers business, nonprofit and community leaders a wealth of advantages.

“Columbus State places a high value on experiential learning—encouraging professors to design programs that allow students to take the material they are learning inside the classroom and put it into action in the real world,” she observed. “These art students are an untapped resource of overflowing creativity not utilized by the community nearly enough. Partnering with Columbus State has been mutually beneficial, as college students are much more well-versed in current design trends, emerging technologies and consumer preferences.”

STUDYING ART AT COLUMBUS STATE

Art students at Columbus State can earn a bachelor of arts degree or a bachelor of fine arts. A BA provides students with a broad immersion in the field of art and allows them to explore various media while pursuing a liberal arts degree. In contrast, a BFA program focuses on preparing students for professional careers as artists or further education in graduate school. It includes a concentrated curriculum with a focus on studio courses and culminating in a final exhibition. Students can specialize their studies in specific mediums, including assemblage and collage, ceramics and pottery, digital art, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

Along with these degree programs in the Department of Art, students can also pursue a bachelor’s degree or minor in art history, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education. Student and alumni artwork is featured in university galleries, where students also have access to studios dedicated to their artistic focus, as well as in public murals and other locations throughout Columbus.

The Department of Art website includes additional information on the department’s academic programs, scholarships and facilities.

COLUMBUS STATE AWARDS:

Silver ADDY:

• • Vilar Performing Arts Center Brochure, Cristhel Corpeno

Gold ADDYs:

• • Dragonfly Trails Merchandise, Nyah Avila
  • Lamp & Lens Stationery Package, Ian Dooley
  • Charles Bukowski Series Dust Jacket, Ian Dooley
  • The Bell Ringers Picture Book, ShuLin "Serena" Zheng

Judge's Choice:

• • Charles Bukowski Series Dust Jacket, Ian Dooley
  • The Bell Ringers Picture Book, ShuLin "Serena" Zheng

Media contact:
Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu