More than a dozen alumni and students from OSU Institute of Technology’s School of Visual Communications were recently recognized with awards at Graphex 47, an annual design, advertising and marketing competition.
Graphex is presented by the Art Directors Club of Tulsa, a nonprofit professional organization for those in the visual communications field.
This year, three students and 11 alumni were awarded Graphex prizes at the ceremony held May 26, 2016, at Fassler Hall in Tulsa.
Abby Hogle, who just graduated from OSUIT with an Associate in Applied Science in Graphic Design in April, was awarded with an honorable mention in the Student Identity category and the bronze award in Student Portfolio category.
“Winning an award at Graphex was an exciting and humbling experience. I had worked really hard on my portfolio my final semester of school, so to be recognized for my hard work was an honor,” said Hogle, who now works as a UI/UX designer for YouVersion. “This was my first time to enter Graphex, and I am so glad that I did.”
Mary Miller, an instructor at the School of Visual Communications, said it’s important that students enter competitions like Graphex while they are still in school.
“They can see how their work compares with their peers. You never know what judges might select, so they should enter several competitions. It can be a confidence booster and something for their resume if they win,” Miller said.
Hogle said she was encouraged by her instructors to enter Graphex, but she was skeptical, thinking she would never win.
“I went ahead and entered thinking I really had nothing to lose. The experience as a whole was so delightful, I wish I would have entered in previous years,” she said. “Entering as a student helped me recognize that my education has set me up for success.”
David Hoffer is creative director of environmental graphics at Walsh Branding in Tulsa and an OSUIT alumnus who won two Graphex awards this year. He said he understands students’ reluctance to enter the competition arena, but it’s so important for their budding careers.
“It’s how you get noticed. I was scared to do that when I was that age, but you’re marketing yourself,” Hoffer said. “It’s a great avenue to get your name and your work out there.”
It was also rewarding to see so many alumni, like Hoffer, take home honors, Miller said.
“It only confirms what clients and employers have known for decades— that our graduates are very talented, creative artists who produce great work for their clients,” she said.
Hoffer agrees.
“OSUIT gave me a great foundation to work with. I see it with the graduates I’ve worked with here or seen their work in public or at competitions,” he said. “There are a lot of OSUIT graduates out there, and they’re at the top of their game. They come out of school well-rounded both in design knowledge and just as people.”
Seeing so many professionals’ best creative work on display at Graphex was encouraging for Hogle.
“It was wildly inspiring. I enjoyed seeing how they handled their projects with creativity and passion,” she said.
For Miller, the awards are points of pride, but she’s more satisfied that students and alumni are succeeding in their careers thanks to the foundation they learned at OSUIT.
“It’s a very positive reflection on the School of Visual Communications, that our students and alumni were recognized at Graphex 47, but it’s even more important and meaningful that our graduates are a vital part of the global economy,” she said. “Our creative alumni are working all over the U.S. and internationally in advertising agencies, studios, corporate marketing and art departments. They conceptualize and create the dynamic brands, ads, marketing materials, images and communications for tens of thousands of companies who cannot compete without the help of design professionals.”
Graphex 47 Winning OSUIT Alumni & Students
Dimensional
- Name: Darshan Phillips
- Company: PowerPlay
- Product: PowerPlay Compression Pump
- Place: Graphex Award
- Name: Barry Miller
- Company: Walsh Branding
- Product: PSO Truck
- Place: Honorable Mention
Direct Mail
- Name: Ryan Gimlin
- Company: Wenzel Creative + Strategy
- Client: River Spirit Casino
- Place: Honorable Mention
Environmental
- Name: David Hoffer & Barry Miller
- Company: Walsh Branding
- Client: American Parking
- Place: Graphex Award
- Name: David Hoffer
- Company: Eslick Design
- Client: Macau Studio City
- Place: Graphex Award
- Name: Todd Pyland
- Company: Talmadge Powell Creative
- Client: Red Ribbon Gala 2016
- Place: Honorable Mention
In-House
- Name: Cody Johnson
- Company: Tulsa Area United Way
- Product: 2015 Tulsa Area United Way Campaign
- Place: Graphex Award
- Name: Stephanie Pinkston & Dan Mink
- Company: Cherokee Nation Businesses
- Product: Cherokee National Holiday
- Place: Graphex Award
Miscellaneous
- Name: Jordan Coon
- Company: Walsh Branding
- Client: Graphex 46 Awards
- Place: Honorable Mention
Interactive
- Name: Jordan Coon
- Company: Walsh Branding
- Client: TYPROS
- Place: Honorable Mention
Photography
- Name: Cheyenne Butcher
- Company: Melissa Lukenbaugh Photography
- Product: Native Artisans - The Traditionalists
- Place: Graphex Award
- Name: John Amatucci
- Company: Amatucci Photography
- Client: Avalon Waterways
- Place: Graphex Award
Motion Graphics
- Name: John Amatucci
- Company: Amatucci Photography
- Client: Avalon Waterways
- Place: Graphex Award
Advertising (Student)
- Name: Jayme Cochrane
- Company: OSU Institute of Technology
- Product: Shasta Ad #stayclassy
- Place: Honorable Mention
Identity (Student)
- Name: Abigail Hogle
- Company: OSU Institute of Technology
- Client: Mosaic Academy
- Place: Honorable Mention
Motion Graphics (Student)
- Name: Jordan Newman
- Company: OSU Institute of Technology
- Client: Jordan Newman
- Place: Graphex Award
Portfolio (Student)
- Name: Abigail Hogle
- Company: OSU Institute of Technology
- Product: Student Portfolio
- Place: Bronze Graphex Award