UA graphic design student earns silver award in national competition

Quinn Smith, a University of Akron senior graphic design major, has earned a national honor from the American Advertising Federation (AAF) for a class project he completed in the Myers School of Art.

Smith's project, a conceptual design for a nonprofit, received a silver at the national American Advertising Awards, known as the Addys, in the student Consumer Campaign category. Smith attended the award ceremony in Austin, Texas, in May.

A student from Columbus, Ohio, Smith's campaign earned a gold student Addy and Best in Show in AAF-District 5, which represents 10 affiliate professional advertising federations in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. His campaign was named a Judge's Choice winner and won a gold Addy from AAF-Akron.

Smith's conceptual campaign was an assignment for his Typography III class taught by UA Professor of Practice Brittyn Murdock. Students were tasked with creating a multimedia campaign related to something about which they are passionate. The inspiration for Smith's campaign was the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), which is based in Madison, Wis. The campaign included magazine ads, posters, a website mock-up, social media posts, a flyer and an animation for a digital display on the side of a bus stop.

"The concept behind the design was to inform the general public of the importance of the separation of church and state," Smith said. "By using the $100 bill and the face of Benjamin Franklin as if he is almost staring at the viewer, I was able to create a strong visual that confronts the viewer about my message. I am glad that this message was able to reach many different audiences, as it is something that I am very passionate about."

In addition to his coursework at UA, Smith is the president of the Student Design Society in the Myers School of Art.
Smith is also a graphic design intern at Recess Creative, an agency in Cleveland, and works as a brand and content coordinator for Brandon Jones '16, whose company Swatch Four color-grades footage for commercials and films.

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