Graphic Design Winners Announced

Watkins’ annual juried graphic design student exhibition, Split & Twisted, presented honors to eight students during the opening night reception on October 25 in the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Gallery.

Pictured are Holly Carden (illustration series and faculty choice), Tyler Zenk (poster and publication design), Sara Strese (advertising), Courtney Spencer (multimedia), John Whitman (collateral brochure and faculty choice), and Rex Runyeon (best of show). 

Split & Twisted is on display in the Currey Gallery through November 9.

All Watkins Graphic Design majors are eligible to submit student projects (created since September 2011) in ten categories: Advertising, Books & Jackets, Identity, Illustration, Illustration Series, Package Design, Poster/Design, Publication Design, Multimedia, and Miscellaneous/Design.

Jurors for Split & Twisted 2012 were Katie Bean De Souza, associate creative director at Redpepper and a Watkins alumna; designer Elizabeth Williams of Emma, and owner/designer Jeff Perky of Perky Bros LLC.

Sponsors and in-kind donors of Split & Twisted 2012 included Plaza Art Supply, Anderson Design Group, Isle of Printing, Kangaroo Press and Third Man Records.

Watkins Graphic Design students and alumni are consistently among the most honored in the country through their submissions to regional, national and international advertising design competitions, particularly in the student and professional categories of the ADDY Awards (hosted by the American Advertising Federation). At the 2012 Nashville Student ADDYs, Watkins won more top-level awards than any other school competing, claiming nine Golds (two more than last year) and two (of the four) Judges’ Choice Awards. Seventy percent of Watkins students who entered received awards, and 17 pieces, including eight Silver award winners, advanced to the district competition.

Watkins students continue to blanket Nashville and the region with their intelligence, visual wit and creativity through unique opportunities with several beloved Nashville community events. In the past year, their talents have been chosen to promote signature happenings such as the American Artisan Festival, the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, Music City Hot Chicken Festival, Nashville Sister Cities Program, Nashville Symphony and Nashville Opera performances, and Murfreesboro’s JazzFest, among others.

Currey Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m.  (The school will be closed Nov. 21-22 for the Thanksgiving holiday.) Admission is free.  Watkins is located at 2298 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard in MetroCenter and free parking is available in the campus lot. 

 

Split & Twisted 2012 Awards

 

Best of Show: dayz Pamphlet by Rex Runyeon

 

 

Advertising: Tame the Mane for Barbasol by Sara Strese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Books & Jackets: Aldous Huxley Series by Samuel Solorzano

 

Poster Design: 2012 ADDY Poster by Tyler Zenk

Publication Design: Hike Magazine by Tyler Zenk

 

 

 

 

Illustration Series: Cock Robin Series by Holly Carden

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miscellaneous: Pareidolia Animation by Eric Andre

 

 

Multimedia: Portfolio Website by Courtney Spencer

 

 

 

 

Collateral Brochure: Henry Darger Exhibition Catalogue by John Whitman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faculty Choice 1: 
A Report to an Academy by Holly Carden

Faculty Choice 2:
Henry Darger Exhibition Catalogue by John Whitman        

Faculty Choice 3:
Godard Paper Sample Book by John Whitman

 

Pictured at the Split & Twisted 2012 opening are show participants and Graphic Design Faculty: (kneeling)  department chair Dan Brawner, Holly Carden, Sara Strese, John Whitman, associate professor Steve Wilkison, (standing) Kristen Fowler, Tyler Zenk, Courtney Spencer, Xavier Payne, Rex Runyeon and assistant professor Judith Sweeney-O’Bryan.