And Graphic Design USA gave us the honor of winning not one, not two, but THREE awards! Holy moly, guacamole!

From 8,000+ entries, less than 10 percent are recognized as a winner. After nearly 20 years in the business of branding, awards have never been my driving force for what I do, but goshdarn, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel pretty great to be recognized, especially by such a prestigious organization.

According to their website, “For 60 years — since 1963 to be exact — Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) has been a source of news and information for graphic designers and the broader creative community. We are located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan NYC, on the same famed avenue and just a few blocks down from where the first edition was conceived and produced.

GDUSA covers news, people, project, trends, technology, products, and services. In addition to the print magazine, the brand now encompasses a 110,000 visitor-a-month website, a monthly e-newsletter, a digital edition of the magazine, and several national design competitions that culminate in showcases of the best in Graphic Design, Package Design, Web Design, Inhouse Design, and Health+Wellness Design.”

We won in 3 categories for 3 projects and 3 clients:

• Award Category: Branding + Identity Programs
  • Client: Harvard Business School & The Nova Collective
  • Project: Harvard Business School + Nova Connected Community Series Branding

• Award Category: Sales Promotion + Self Promotion
  • Client: Northwest Side Solidarity Network
  • Project: Northwest Side Solidarity Fundraising T-shirt Design

• Award Category: Posters
  • Client: Sinag – Filipino-American Artists of Greater Chicago
  • Project: Sining Sa Silangan Poster

Huge thanks goes to the following awesome people:

Elmarie Jara – For making me aware of this competition and encouraging me to enter for Font Infusions in 2022 (which we won!).

The Nova Collective – For partnering with me to craft the branding for Harvard Business School (!!!) for their multi-year, multi-audience, and multi-topic DEI learning program.

Becca Glodoski & Northwest Side Solidarity – For thinking of me as the person to bring your vision to life.

Geraldine Martinez Benz, founder and president of Sinag – For trusting me to design the poster for your event full of culture and creativity.

Tara Gardiner – For encouraging me to sing my own anthem and rise above my tendencies to self-limit.

Eve Coviello – For doing all of the hard things for the business so I can do the fun things.

Gordon Kaye & Sasha Kaye-Walsh – GDUSA publisher and awards director, as well as the GDUSA team, for the honor of this recognition.