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The Bartlett Center on Oklahoma State University's campus.

Graphic design students win first place, honorable mention at Graphex54 competition 

Friday, June 2, 2023

Media Contact: Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | egosney@okstate.edu

Nine graphic design students from the Department of Art, Graphic Design and Art History received first-place awards from the Graphex54 design competition on May 9. Three students were runners-up and received honorable mentions.  

Graphex54 is an annual competition hosted by the Art Directors Club of Tulsa (ADCT) that marks the end of the club’s season. The winning students entered their work to be judged in the identity, illustration, interactive, motion/video, packaging, photography, self-promotion and print categories.   

“I am proud to see the number of OSU design students winning Graphex awards,” said Nick Mendoza, assistant professor of graphic design at Oklahoma State University. “The awards validate their conceptual approach to design, and I hope they continue to challenge themselves to be great.”  

OSU junior Merrick Bayouth was awarded the ADCT spirit award, a recognition created to honor former ADCT member Scott Rafe and his passion for creative projects. Rafe died in 2011.   

“It is a surreal experience when the knowledge and effort you have poured into projects and coursework is awarded,” Bayouth said. “Graphex provided a platform for collaboration and connection where I had the opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals who shared a deep appreciation for the work everyone had done."  

Minjung Lee, a senior, brought home second place in the portfolio category and received an honorable mention for her print piece “The Hitchhiker’s Series.” The student portfolio category is the only one to award a cash prize to first-, second- and third-place winners.   

I am glad about the awards I received in the print and portfolio category in the Graphex54 competition,” Lee said. “I never expected to receive the second-place award in the portfolio category. This accomplishment encouraged me when I was not confident in my design work.”  

 

Full list of OSU winners and honorable mentions:  

Identity: Madissen Brannon (Senior) “Tulsa Zoo,” winner  

Identity: HyunJee Kim (Senior) “AquaPlanet,” honorable mention  

Illustration: Elena Staubus (Junior) “Visual Idioms,” winner  

Illustration: Emily Bandell, (Junior) “Cicada,” honorable mention  

Interactive: HyunJee Kim (Senior) “Floristry,” winner  

Motion/Video: Jessica Colvin (Senior) “A Good Girls Guide to Murder,” winner  

Packaging/Products: Stephen Matthews (Senior) “British Rails,” winner  

Photography: Sarah Briscoe (Junior) “Psyche,” winner  

Portfolio: Minjung Lee (Senior) 2nd place  

Print: Hyunjee Kim (Senior) “Autre Magazine,” winner  

Print: Mahshad Faridfar (2nd year MFA student) “Poetic Realism,” honorable mention  

Print: Minjung Lee (Senior) “The Hitchhiker’s Series,” honorable mention  

Self-Promotion: Sepideh Karimimansoub (1st year MFA student) “Turbulent Feelings,” winner  

ADCT Spirit Award: Merrick Bayouth (Junior) “Exploring Oklahoma: Wichita Mountains”  

 

Story By: Erin Milek, CAS Communications Coordinator | erin.milek@okstate.edu

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