Guest post by Alliance staffer Courtney Buckland
Design is one of my favorite categories, and it is sadly underrepresented in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. While I was studying graphic design, my dream was to design product packaging and book covers. The design of a product can be the one factor that makes me buy one product over another. Almost every time I grab a bar of chocolate, it is the design of the package that will grab my attention and get me to buy it. The same thing applies to my book purchases. I can’t even imagine how many good books I have passed over because the cover didn’t catch my eye.
Some of the most interesting design submissions I saw for the 2012 Scholastic Awards were handmade toys, beautiful stationary, calendars, and movie posters. Two of my favorites from this year are You Do Dolls by Cagney Krzywosinski (above) and a stationary set by Emily Collins (below). There are so many things we use every day that need to be designed, making this category so much fun!
One of my favorite design websites, Lovely Package, is a great source of inspiration for me. Another design site I love is Booooooom‘s design section.
Just think about what went into the design of the bed you sleep in every night, or the pillow you lay your head on when you dream up your next submission. Everything you use in your day-to-day life had to be designed. With all of these options, this category should be full of innovative, smart, and creative submissions!
To view more 2012 Scholastic Award-winning pieces in the design category, visit our online gallery, select “Art”, and choose the “Design” category.
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About the Design Category
Design includes artwork that has a clearly defined purpose such as advertising, communications or product fabrication. For example, magazine layouts, advertising, posters, book covers, greeting cards, fonts, letterhead, business cards, calendars, textiles. Design may also include plans, models, or proposals for products such as electronic devices, transportation (cars, bicycles, skateboards, etc.) furniture, toys, or other new and innovative products. Jurors look for originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal vision. Students can submit their work to the 2013 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards beginning September 17, 2012. To learn how to submit, visit: http://www.artandwriting.org/Awards/HowTo