Academy of Art University Graphic Design Students Secure 19 Awards in 2026 GDUSA Competition

In December 2025, the School of Graphic Design at Academy of Art University achieved significant recognition by receiving nineteen awards at the 2026 GDUSA Design Awards. This national student competition highlights exceptional work across multiple design disciplines including branding, typography, environmental design, and visual storytelling. The awards acknowledge both the institution's industry-oriented approach and the individual creative talents of its students. Among hundreds of submissions, projects from the Academy stood out for their conceptual depth and technical execution. The honored works encompass a diverse range of themes such as music festivals, sustainability efforts, lifestyle brands, film, and consumer products. Each award represents a distinct creative process that blends skill with innovative thinking. The winning students and their instructors include Jasmine Chang (instructed by John Nettleton) for projects titled Type & Expression and Craft & Legacy, Evelyn Kim (instructed by Troy Alders and Hannah Coward) for Reconnxt Music Festival and Defunkify, Zack Jacobson (instructed by Thomas McNulty and Troy Alders) for Vignelli Sustainable Paints and 1840 Music Festival, and Ariana Davies (instructed by Laurie Makela) for Walk Amongst the Flowers. Other recipients are Amy Burke (Second Stitch, instructor Fiona Blankenship), Goodness Okoro (Getto Life, instructor Hunter Wimmer), Sol Stern (Happy Brand System, instructor Thomas McNulty), Ursula McCarthy (Rocky Horror Picture Show, instructor John Nettleton), Svetlana Shubina (Disarmed, instructor John Nettleton), Craig Fowler (Marebella Fish Co., instructor Anna Villano), Brenda Barrera (Ashes & Diamonds, instructor Thomas McNulty), Shivom Patel (Base Note, instructor Irena Milev), Gavin Wong (Tokyo Math Rock Festival, instructor Thomas McNulty), Fei Wang (Nori Noir, instructor David Blankenship), Ningyi Xu (Hu Kitchen Chocolate, instructor Thomas McNulty), and Jin Young Jang (Rem Koolhaas Exhibit, instructor John Nettleton). Notable projects described include Disarmed by Svetlana Shubina, which explores vulnerability through charcoal drawings and editorial design; Tokyo Math Rock Festival by Gavin Wong, featuring a visual identity that merges typography with architectural and musical elements using a red and black palette; and Nori Noir by Fei Wang, a brand identity inspired by film noir aesthetics with elegant typography and moody imagery. The GDUSA awards serve as a platform for emerging designers and demonstrate how academic guidance can foster developing talent, emphasizing the creative journeys behind the recognized works.