Design work for In The Round wins four Addy Awards from American Advertising Federation of Toledo

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Bringing presence and visibility to Native American creatives, In The Round at BGSU recently was recognized with four Addy Awards by the American Advertising Federation of Toledo. Two BGSU graphic design students also won Addy honors at the event.

In The Round won four Addy Awards: Best in Show, a Mosaic Award, a Gold Addy and a Silver Addy.

In The Round was created in order to move Bowling Green State University's land acknowledgment statement, which recognizes Indigenous communities' rights to territories seized by colonial powers, from words into meaningful action. 

This semester's In The Round event takes place on Friday, March 24 and features Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal, author and Illustrator of the children's book "Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story." The lecture is free and open to the public and takes place at 5:30 p.m. in Olscamp 101. A second public event, including book signings, with the author and illustrator will be at Wood County District Public Library at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 25. Free copies of "Fry Bread" will be distributed by WBGU-PBS and OHIO Learns 360 to the first 100 families to attend the event.

"We are grateful to the fantastic list of Native American creatives who accepted the invitation to come to BGSU and support this inaugural series," said In The Round co-creator Jenn Stucker, associate professor and division chair of Graphic Design at BGSU. "The artists in this series are engaged in critical examination and exploration of issues facing Native and Indigenous Americans, including, but not limited to, sovereignty, representation, ecology, historical narratives and present perceptions through a variety of artistic and expressive means." 

The design work for In The Round was multifaceted with digital screens, a webpage, email blasts, posters for each speaking event, land acknowledgment statement poster, fall and spring series posters, custom enamel pins, special thank you notes, promotional postcards, bookmarks, slide decks and Instagram, which included more than 50 uniquely designed posts to promote the 2022 events. 

The work of two BGSU graphic design students also won Addy awards.

Sophia Llamas, who graduated last spring, won a Gold Addy award for her senior thesis project, Plant Wise, in the ART4070 course. Associate Professor Lori Young was her advisor.

Kiley Sabo, a graphic design senior, won a Bronze Addy for her ARTD 4030 rebrand for Alaska Airlines. Her instructor was Assistant Teaching Professor Peter Lusch.

In The Round was also recently recognized with a Design Incubation Award. The organization is a reputable and respected platform in the graphic design field.