I have two goals. The first is that everything I do as a designer must have an idea [concept]: it cannot just look nice.
PAUL RAND • famed graphic designer, author, and educatorSince 1963, GDUSA has been a news source for graphic designers nationwide, and this year, it is celebrating its 60th anniversary. GDUSA is an active publication headquartered on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York. Covering industry news, people, trends, technology, and more. Their national design competitions culminate in showcases of the best in Graphic Design, Package Design, Web Design, In-house design, and Health + Wellness Design. For education, they are strong advocates for the next generation of graphic designers.
GDUSA will always have a special place in my heart. Since I was a graphic design student, I have been submitting my work to design competitions. Now, as a design educator and graphic design practitioner, it hasn’t been different; ever since teaching at Texas State, I have encouraged my students to enter every renowned design competition. Notably, Hayley Buckner’s Muscarceo logo was recognized in several design competitions, although GDUSA first recognized it. In sum, it was the first time I experienced the joy of having a student under my mentorship win a design competition.
As an educator, all student successes, failures, worries, and joys also become mine, which is an indescribable feeling! Furthermore, witnessing my students’ growth at school and later in their professional careers has been an enormous blessing.
In the fall of 2023, the story is repeating in similar ways. It is my first semester teaching graphic design at Baylor University, my first time teaching Digital Imaging, the first time my Baylor students entered a graphic design competition, and like five years ago, our first recognition at Baylor University by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA). The same publication that honored one of my first students back in 2018.
The following Baylor’s Graphic Design students got recognized for the first time by Graphic Design USA:
- Katherine Bedewi | It’s Sic ’EM Poster Digital Imaging • Professor Genaro Solis Rivero
- Maci Burnett | Iconic Architecture Central Park Poster Typography and Conceptual Development • Professor Virginia Green
- Sophia Collins | Koality Cuisine Identity Identity Design • Professor Genaro Solis Rivero
- Ashley Lillian | Narnia Book Publication Design • Professor Amy McCauley
- Abriella Patti | Poppa’s Pasta Identity Identity Design • Professor Genaro Solis Rivero
- Abigail Sanders | Baylor University Roach Billboard Billboard Digital Imaging • Professor Genaro Solis Rivero
- Kate Sudderth | Howdy Cakes Identity Identity Design • Professor Genaro Solis Rivero
- Alyssa Virnau | Not Your Grandma’s Annual Report Studio Topics in Graphic Design • Professor Virginia Green
Design competitions are my happy place. They are fantastic for promoting the students’ work, course outcomes, design programs, and institutions’ reputations. Therefore, I highly encourage design competitions among my students. They validate their work, build confidence, develop pride, promote camaraderie, and change their lives. It has been an overwhelming joy to witness the positive impact of competitions on all my students.
Kudos to my outstanding students, graphic design colleague, and Baylor University mentor, Professor Virginia Green.
Sic ’Em Bears!
All my student successes, failures, worries, and joys become my own, and I love this indescribable feeling.
Genaro Solis Rivero • Designer and Educator
