Seven students and a professor bring home design awards

Senior Jacob Cooper took home two awards. "When I saw that my pieces had gotten put up on the wall, I was dumbfounded," said Cooper. "The other work on display was phenomenal and it was pretty amazing how much work Concordia got in."

Paul Berkbigler, assistant professor of art, was pleased, but not surprised. "Our student work held its own against the other student work on display," said Berkbigler. "It shows how hard our students are working to produce excellent pieces." Berkbigler himself took home four awards in the professional category, including three silver. "It is an honor to have work held up in this circle," he said. "Many of the professional pieces in the show have been recently recognized by national publications, so not just the judges from this show are noticing the good work in Nebraska."

The annual show is judged by professionals from across the country. This year's judges included Klindt Parker, design director for Starbucks Global Creative in Seattle, Wash.; Jennifer Visocky O'Grady, co-founder of Enspace, A Creative Think Tank in Cleveland, Ohio; and Victor Rodriguez, owner of Eurie Creative in Las Vegas, Nev. As an organization, AIGA includes working professionals, educators and students in 55 chapters and more than 200 student groups.

Concordia's art department encourages participation in such competitions to expose students to different critiques of their work and as a step toward becoming professional artists and designers.

Senior Megan Zabel sees the upside of entering competitions for future employment as well. "It's important to get your name out there as early as possible, especially if it means other designers and maybe future employers will see the pieces you are most proud of," said Zabel. "It also means Concordia's art department will be recognized for the sophisticated, high quality work we do here."

"This show is a good way to make connections in my field as well as being an excellent reference on my resume," said senior Laura Knibbe, who also took home an award in 2006. "I've enjoyed the variety of quality work that has come out of the show and wanted to be part of it again."

Junior Heidi Bartlett was a first-timer. "I didn't think I was ready to enter this competition last year, and I wanted to see how my work would be received with another year of experience," said Bartlett. "I was excited that three of my works were chosen by the AIGA!"

Concordia's award winners:

Student Gold Award

• "Kyoto Travel Poster" (poster) Madelyn Lorenzen, senior, Cedar Bluffs, Neb.
• "Unreadable Readable Type: Bebo Norman and Audio Adrenaline" (poster) Tannon Osten, senior, Columbus, Neb.

• "H. Perlman's Ad Series" (advertising - print/outdoor) Heidi Bartlett, junior, Lincoln, Neb.

• "The Golden Bird" (illustration) Meagan Zabel, Senior, Newberg, Ore.
• "Glissando" (packaging) Heidi Bartlett, junior, Lincoln, Neb.
• "Jean Luc Godard" (illustration) Jacob Cooper, senior, St. Peters, Mo.
• "The Gods Must Be Crazy" (poster) Charlotte Kaeding, junior, Westminster, Colo.
• "One Eighty Victoria" (advertising - print/outdoor) Laura Knibbe, senior, Omaha, Neb.
• "Princess Mononoke" (poster) Heidi Bartlett, junior, Lincoln, Neb.
• "Self Portrait" (illustration) Jacob Cooper, senior, St. Peters, Mo.

• "CHOSEN Identity and Collateral Suite" (logo/identity)
• "CHOSEN Banner and Environmental Graphics" (advertising - print/outdoor)
• "Typographic Cowboys Letterpress Prints" (poster)

• "CHOSEN Promotional Apparel" (wearable)

Concordia's 2007 AIGA student award winners pose with some of their winning work. From left to right: Madelyn Lorenzen, Tannon Osten, Meagan Zabel, Heidi Bartlett, Charlotte Kaeding, Jacob Cooper and Laura Knibbe.