Woodbury University Graphic Design Student and Alum Earn National Recognition in 2015 American Graphic Design Awards

    LOS ANGELES, CA, September 30, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- It's a new academic year, but one of the things that hasn't changed is Woodbury University's knack for top-level recognition in Graphic Design.

Graphic Design student Trevor McHugh and alumnus Courtney Wolf have both won Graphic Design USA's American Graphic Design Awards for 2015, the university announced today. For five decades, Graphic Design USA has sponsored competitions to spotlight areas of excellence and opportunity for creative professionals. Nearly 10,000 entries were submitted for the 2015 competition, from which a highly selective 15 percent were recognized. McHugh's and Wolf's work will be published in the 2015 Graphic Design USA annual and on the GDUSA website.

During 2014-2015, Woodbury's Graphic Design Department experienced a record year, awards-wise. As the spring semester drew to a close, the total number of awards conferred on students enrolled in the university's Graphic Design program since 2009 topped out at more than 60.

Wolf (http://www.cwolfdesign.com/portfolio/) was recognized for her Package Design & Advertising work on behalf of the fictitious Bodhi Brewing Company, produced during her third year of study in the program. McHugh (http://www.tmcreative.co/identity/) was cited for his Branding & Identity work, undertaken for Los Angeles educational nonprofit Helping Young People Excel (HYPE). HYPE Los Angeles provides talented low-income middle school students with the guidance and resources to get into, and succeed, at select independent high schools in the Los Angeles area.

"Whether it's focusing on brand identity, creative packaging or any other design discipline, the Graphic Design USA competition celebrates the power and importance of blending technique and talent in the service of real-world requirements," said Cate Roman, Acting Chair of Woodbury's Graphic Design Department. "This high-level recognition provides further evidence of the caliber of students who are attracted to our Graphic Design program."

"We are immensely proud of both Courtney and Trevor, whose creativity and dedication to mastering their craft bring recognition to themselves and to Woodbury University," said Sue Vessella, M.F.A., dean of Woodbury's School of Media, Culture and Design. "Competitions such as this one attest to the proven ability of Woodbury students and grads to compete for top jobs in the Graphic Arts field."

The program grants a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which is included in the university's accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The BFA is a professional degree, which translates to a top education resulting in strong, competitive student portfolios that stand out in the graphic design industry. Woodbury students consistently win international and national design awards, and have achieved recognition in entertainment design, web design, advertising design, package design, photography, identity design and environmental graphics.

Small class size allows individual attention from the professional faculty and educational experiences both inside and outside of the classroom, which provides students with the ability to create effective and engaging visual communication solutions. The program has gained a reputation for graduating top quality designers ready to take their place in the profession.

About Woodbury University
Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. It offers bachelor's degrees from the School of Architecture, School of Business, School of Media, Culture & Design, and College of Transdisciplinarity, along with a Master of Arts in Media for Social Justice, Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Interior Architecture (MIA), Master of Science in Architecture (MSArch), and Master of Leadership. The San Diego campus offers Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees, as well as an MSArch degree with concentrations in Real Estate Development and Landscape + Urbanism. DesignIntelligence has ranked the Interior Architecture BFA #2 in the West. Woodbury ranks 15th among the nation's "25 Colleges That Add the Most Value," according to Money Magazine and is a 2014-2015 College of Distinction. Visit woodbury.edu for more information.

Media Contact:
Ken Greenberg
Edge Communications, Inc.
(323) 469-3397
[email protected]

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