Wilson School of Design students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) have come up big in the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) 2023 student awards.
Graphic Design for Marketing students won two top awards and 11 honourable mentions. Ellie Kim, a fourth-year student, won the Haft2 Award for Colour, while Rachel De Freitas, who graduated in the spring, won the SLD Award for Retail Design.
Kim’s winning project for colour “Brewed in Tune Series,” is a beer mixer pack that caters to music and beer enthusiasts, celebrating the strong connection between the two. The box and can design features bold, vibrant colours, retro graphics, and reminiscent of the 1970s. Each flavour draws inspiration from a music genre, reflected in its colour combination.
“Gestures Coffeehouse” is De Freitas’s winning design in the retail category. This imagined coffee shop empowers the deaf and hard of hearing by offering employment opportunities while promoting the use of sign language. The visual identity strikes a balance between playfulness and seriousness, with a focus on hand imagery to emphasize that the staff not only serves with hands but also communicates with hands.
Wilson School of Design students submitted projects from a variety of courses to the annual competition from RGD, Canada’s largest professional association for graphic designers. RGD received over 1,150 entries from students across Canada. Winners receive $1,000 prizes.
Honourable Mentions from KPU:
- Rachel De Freitas, Arnold Street Media Award for Logo Design, Gravity Award for Social Good Design, and Zulu Alpha Kilo Award for Advertising Design
- Matteo Ferralasco, Context Award for Storytelling
- Bella Sanchez, Context Award for Storytelling, Intent Award for Accessible Design, and the Garden Award for Strategic Design
- Cali Martin, Entro Award for Placemaking Design and SLD Award for Packaging Design
- Elias Lemke, Forge Media Award for UX Design
- Camille Clores, q30 design Award for Brand Design
The Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design for Marketing at KPU is a four-year degree program offered through the university’s Wilson School of Design that prepares graduates for a wide range of entry-level graphic design positions.
The work and creativity of students has also been recognized with a variety of other awards.