Graphic Design Making Its Mark

Published: February 23, 2004 | Author: Renee Ballenger | Read Time: 2 minutes

Nine graphic design students of Southern Utah University attended the design conference, “TDCTJHTBIPC,” aka "the design conference that just happens to be in Park City," earlier this month. In spite of its tongue-in-cheek and "lets get some skiing in between presentations" image, the conference is one of the oldest and most respected in the country.

During the conference, professional members of the American Institute of Graphics Arts (AIGA) juried more than 30 poster entries by students from SUU, Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, Utah State University and Weber State. The judging was preliminary to the AIGA student portfolio review event which will take place in late March.

Two SUU students made it to the final round--Dustin Gladwell, a senior graphics design major from St. George, UT, and Brandon Brown, a senior art major from Richfield, UT.

Both student-artist posters were considered top entries; the jurors debated between the two for awhile. Finally, Dustin was awarded First Place and Brandon's, the close runner- up. Dustin's poster will be printed and used as the announcement/invitation piece for the Student Portfolio Review event. The Top 10 posters will be on display at the Rose Wagner Performing Center during the Review.

While at the Park City conference, students had their portfolios critiqued by professionals in the advertising and graphic design fields. Students also had the opportunity to sit in on an education panel discussion about current strategies to get jobs. SUU graphic design major, Greg Clark, a senior from Las Vegas, NV, gave a flash presentation on SUU, and Henry Brimmer, SUU assistant professor of graphic design, gave a presentation on the process of learning, i.e. how his students will apply the skills acquired at the conference upon their arrival back to the Cedar City campus.

Brimmer explains that the nature of the industry is rapid advancement every year with radical changes in technique and technology, the norm. “The information students receive at this conference, firsthand from practicing professionals was very enlightening, and on the cutting edge,” Brimmer reveals. “It is a challenge for them to incorporate it into their work daily. It keeps our learning in the classroom fresh and very current.”

---

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
Contact the Office of Marketing Communication