Graphic Design students win Gold and Silver awards at 2023 ADDY competition

Cincinnati State Graphic Design students won the only Gold awards given to student entries in the 2023 Cincinnati American Advertising Awards (ADDYs), maintaining Cincinnati State’s long history of top achievements in this prestigious competition.

Awards were presented to professional and student entries at an event on March 3, 2023. (Scroll down to the bottom of this article to see the award-winning projects.)

Graphic Design Program Co-Chair Joel Kneuven said, “It’s the raw talent and hard work of our Cincinnati State students that allows them to produce work of award-worthy quality, even when they’re competing with design students from 4-year schools. I’m proud of their accomplishments.”

• Varvara Alexseeva won a Gold Student Award in the Packaging category for a logo for the fictional company “Foamy Cosmetics.” The logo was created in the Typography class taught by Professor Knueven.
  • Varvara said, “Frankly, I didn’t expect to win, because many worthy designers took part. But I am certainly pleased that the judges appreciated my work– it’s an honor.”
• Blake Lipper (on left in photo) won a Gold Student Award in the Logo Design category for a logo for the fictional company “Studio Eleven11.” The logo was created as part of the Graphic Design Portfolio Review class directed by Professor Knueven.
  • Blake commented, “It’s truly motivating to be recognized and receive this award, and it’s an honor to be able to represent Cincinnati State.”
• Emalia (Ema) Hinton (on right in photo) won a Silver Student Award in the Illustration category for a poster about the Optima typeface. Her project was created for Professor Kneuven’s Typography class.
  • Ema said, “It felt igniting to have the opportunity to receive recognition for my work. Cincinnati State has provided me with an abundance of support, confidence, and resources that I’m very grateful for.”

Students from Northern Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash also won Silver awards. One of the students, Vatthana (“V”) Long, is a Cincinnati State Graphic Design graduate who was recognized for a Typeface Design project he completed at NKU.

The student Best of Show award went to an animation project created by a UC Blue Ash student.

Cincinnati competition entries were evaluated by a team of advertising professionals from agencies in Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans, and New York.

All Gold and Silver award winners from the local student competition will be forwarded to the District level, which includes entries from students in accredited colleges and universities throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

ADDY winners from 15 District competitions throughout the U.S. will advance to the National ADDY competition, with winners announced in June. 

Cincinnati State Graphic Design students have won National Gold ADDY awards three times: Julia Kennedy in 2020, Dallas Ford in 2017 and Alli Bacon-Davis in 2008.