Frederique Constant Campaign collateral advertising materials, designed by Natsuki Tonuma. (Yes, these are illustrations and not photographs.)
Four graphic communications majors and one recent Truckee Meadows Community College graduate accepted 11 gold and silver local ADDYs at the annual American Advertising Awards held on Friday, March 11 by Reno’s chapter of the American Advertising Federation.
“The students were excited to be a part of this event,” said Dan Bouweraerts, TMCC Graphic Communications Professor and Chair of Visual and Performing Arts. “Graphic Communications students work hard to create the best possible solution to a design project. The ADDY Awards affirms and recognize this great work, as well as gives students a positive addition to their resume when they graduate and go out looking for that important first job.”
Tucker Monticelli took home a gold award for his magazine ad promoting tourism to Iceland, and a silver for a special event holiday card. Before attending TMCC, he graduated from Reno High School.
“At home, our computer wasn’t connected to the internet and the only thing on the computer was Photoshop,” he said. “So I played with the four pictures that came with Windows XP using the smudge tool to manipulate the photos, and I also created logos. At Reno High, I took computer art and then graphic design at Washoe High. Then I knew I wanted to go to TMCC for the graphics program.”
Monticelli will soon begin an internship with Design On Edge, a local firm providing creative services in branding and strategic marketing.
Ashleigh Porterfield also attended Reno High School. She was awarded gold for packaging design, and silvers for her social injustice poster and guerilla marketing snowboard design.
“I started in the culinary program in high school, but I really like taking pictures and creating things, so I switched to graphics,” she said. “I work as a full-time production artist at Custom Ink and am taking classes at TMCC part-time. I like where I am at work — it’s very hands-on and there’s a lot of variety. I see the designs on the shirt once they’re printed.”
Natalie Lumbo also enjoys her career and said it is very rewarding to work for the City of Reno. She is originally from Oak Harber, Washington before relocating to Nevada.
“At first, I was going to go into architecture and then became interested in Web design and took that in high school,” she said. “I landed a City of Reno internship in graphic design. My supervisor told me about the program at TMCC. … My favorite part of the program is illustration.”
Lumbo received gold honors for her poster “Australia, Land of Adventure,” and silver awards for two illustration entries. She takes classes part-time, and in May became a permanent full-time employee with the City.
“After I graduate, I’d like to continue at the City of Reno,” she said. “I’d also like to keep taking classes and expanding my skills.”
Two award winners are international students
Kiwako Miura grew up near Tokyo, Japan. She took the Intensive English Language Center (IELC) training at the University of Nevada, Reno. She then enrolled at TMCC, and in May completed her Associate of Applied Science degree in Graphic Communications.
“IELC is the program where you learn more English, and then I took classes at TMCC,” she said. “My mom is a fashion designer, and I enjoy the artistic expression, so I came to the graphic design program at TMCC.”
Miura enjoyed both her graphics projects and getting involved in the Student Government Association (SGA). Miura served as Vice President of SGA for the 2014-2015 academic year.
“I like to see my graphics work printed when I’m out — it makes me feel good to see the completed work, like the poster for AIGA events, or the posters I did for the SGA at TMCC,” she said.
Miura has translated her community involvement to being on the board of directors of the local chapter for American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA), Reno-Tahoe.
“I just did an internship at KPS|3 and am on the board of AIGA,” she said. “Soon, I’ll be going to Japan and will continue my career as a graphic designer there.”
Miura was awarded golds for her packaging concept and an environmental issue brochure about dam removal with its effect on the environment.
Natsuki Tonuma, a fellow international student, won a gold award for her photo-realistic advertising campaign showcasing wristwatches.
“Kiwako and I both went to the same school in Tokyo that prepares international students for study abroad, but we didn’t know each other then — we only got to know each other here,” she said.
“Before I came to TMCC, I took fine art classes at UNR for one year and then heard about the graphics program at TMCC and the good GRC professors here,” she said. “TMCC is also less expensive. I’ll be graduating in Graphic Communications in May.”
Her favorite part of the program is illustration, especially creating characters for infographics that can be used to complement information and data on the Web.
“I’d like to travel for a year after graduating and then go back to Japan and work as a graphic designer,” she said. “I did an internship in Tokyo over the winter. I liked it and learned a lot.”
About the ADDY Awards
The American Advertising Federation, AAF Reno is a professional association for advertising, marketing and design professionals. Students can join at a reduced membership fee.
The organization’s goals include providing scholarships for students and networking opportunities for professionals. Guest speakers from the advertising industry present specialized workshops at regularly scheduled luncheon meetings.
AAF Reno held the annual American Advertising Awards celebration on March 11 at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino’s EDGE Nightspot. Gold and silver honors were presented for entries representing work produced in 2015. There were both professional and student categories, judged by a panel of three independent jurists from the San Francisco Bay Area and Colorado.
Gold and silver awardees will progress to the regional competition.
TMCC offers programs in Graphic Communications
The graphics program at TMCC is performance-based instruction; students build a portfolio of work as they learn design principles, the critiquing process and software techniques.
More information about the Certificate of Achievement and A.A.S. degree programs can be found on the Graphic Communications Web pages, or by contacting Dan Bouweraerts.