RU graphic design students bring home the awards

Photo of Dietrich and Smith

Sandra Deitrich and Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Ken Smith.

During the Fall 2013 semester, Sandi Deitrich stood in the doorway to the Radford University Department of Art’s graphic design office. She was in search of a life-sized deer target for her senior design project.

On Feb. 22, at the Roanoke American Advertising Awards, it became clear that this deer quest was fulfilled when Deitrich, a December 2013 RU graphic design graduate, won the Judges’ Choice Award for her product packaging campaign called “Lickety Britches,” based on a fictional brewing company. Its logo features an illustration of an anthropomorphic deer target wearing human pants.

On winning the Judges’ Choice Award, Deitrich said, “After seeing some of the other packaging projects at the ADDYs I wasn't really sure that I was going to get anything! I was over the moon with the Gold award 'Lickety Britches' received and the Judges Choice Award had not even crossed my mind.”

Photo of Lickety Britches ad campaign

"Lickety Britches," the fictional brand developed by Deitrich took home a Gold award and a Special Judges' Award at the Roanoke American Advertising Awards.

The American Advertising Awards program is the new name for the ADDY Awards, hosted by the American Advertising Federation. It is a two-tier competitive program that recognizes both student and professional work related to advertising.

The February event, held at the Patrick Henry Ballroom in Roanoke, was a district competition. From there all those who won Gold awards automatically go on to a national competition and those with Silver awards can choose to compete but must pay an entry fee.

In addition to her Judges’ Choice and Gold awards, Deitrich won a Silver for her “The 24 Hour Hipster Ration Kit.” This award-winning RU graduate is currently employed as a graphic designer with the Bolt Group in Charlotte, N.C.

This year's RU Gold winners were:

  • Derick Anies, "Personal Promotion"
  • Sandra Deitrich, "Lickety Britches"
  • Shawna Hession, "Chocolate"
  • Ashley Marlowe, "Tentacle Monocled Sir"
  • Joseph Smith, "The Tempest"

This year's RU Silver winners were:

  • Derick Anies, "mewithoutYou"
  • Zachary Brodie, "Full Throttle 2"
  • Cameron Browder, "Shoot Better Groups Spread"
  • Haley Conrad, "Pa"
  • Rachel DeBusk, "The First Cut"
  • Sandra Deitrich, "The 2 Hour Hipster Ration Kit"
  • Elizabeth Dreher, "Sequoyah Birthplace Museum"
  • Jacob Hardbower, "The Last Supper"
  • Ashley Marlowe, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and "Arcadia"
  • Katie Sickman, "PUNtuation"

 

Photo of students at the American Advertising Awards

RU graphic design students and professors John O'Connor and Ken Smith attended the American Advertising Awards on Feb. 22.

“Our students must be self-motivated to enter this competition, which unfortunately coincides with our winter break," said Ken Smith, assistant professor of graphic design. "It is up to them to choose their entries, compile their materials and of course pay for it all.”

Smith and fellow graphic design professor John O’Connor offer assistance and wisdom throughout the entry process.

 “We are very proud of all the RU-related winners of the American Advertising Awards. These awards are proof positive of our reputation for having a strong graphic design program,” said Joseph Scartelli, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

To learn more about the award-winning RU graphic design program, please visit the Department of Art website.

Mar 4, 2014