WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., March 21, 2024 – WLU’s graphic design students recently achieved remarkable success in a prestigious international poster competition, Poster For 24.
Under the guidance of Professor Moonjung Kang, students enrolled in the Advanced Graphic Design course participated in this competition project. Out of numerous designs crafted during the project, three were selected as the most innovative and conceptually strongest. Supported by department funding for submission fees, these designs were entered into the competition and achieved a remarkable feat, with all three designs being selected in various categories.
Poster For 24 annually explores four diverse themes, focusing on pressing social and environmental issues, cultural trends, or topics of societal significance. This year, the themes encompassed Category A: Conveying happiness and positive energy, B: UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), C: Coffee culture as a lifestyle, and D: cultural diversity. Among these, Morgan Howard and James Salvatori won the Rose Gold Award in Categories C and B respectively, (the Rose Gold being equivalent to first place following the grand prize), and Eliza Aguirre secured the Bronze in Category A (equivalent to third place).
This year, nearly 6,000 designs were submitted from over 40 countries, and the judging panel comprised 30 distinguished designers, artists, educators, and representatives from other renowned international poster competition organizers, gathering from 16 different countries.
“In visual communication, poster design stands as the most powerful medium. It must swiftly and effectively convey the intended message with just one sheet. In my classes, students practice countless design thinking exercises and learn how to create impactful conceptual designs through poster design. It’s truly gratifying as a teacher to see our students’ designs catch the attention of internationally renowned designers among the judging panel,” said Moonjung Kang, WLU professor of Visual Communication Design.
The winning students were honored with certificates from the organization. Their works will be prominently featured in a brochure and included in an exhibition tour spanning the United States and China, showcasing their remarkable achievements in their respective categories.
West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest public university and offers more than 70 undergraduate majors, and 12 graduate programs, both online and on campus. For more information, please visit westliberty.edu.