樱桃视频

Southern Miss Graphic Design Program among GDUSA鈥檚 American Graphic Design Award鈩� Winners

Mon, 02/24/2025 - 09:58am | By: Ivonne Kawas

From Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits, small businesses, and student projects, a prestigious annual design competition celebrates outstanding work across all media鈥攊ncluding print, packaging, motion graphics, and more鈥攕howcasing some of the best designs in the nation.

University of Southern Mississippi (樱桃视频) graphic design students Jonathan Becton and Sarah Conn, recent graduate Autumn Graves鈥攁ll from Hattiesburg, Miss.鈥攁nd faculty member Jacob Cotton earned recognition for their pieces in 鈩�.

With over 8,000 entries, being among the winners showcases the excellence and creativity that define the Southern Miss Graphic Design program.

鈥淥ur students consistently demonstrate remarkable creativity and resilience while completing our challenging curriculum,鈥� said Jacob Cotton, associate professor of design. 鈥淭heir achievements in this national competition underscore the quality of education and mentorship students at Southern Miss receive.鈥� 

Jonathan Becton created an award-winning design identity for the Southern Miss Graphic Design Program as part of Professor Cotton鈥檚 ART 492 Art Direction and Professional Practices Course, inspired by the program鈥檚 long-standing legacy. Blending a retro, gracefully aged aesthetic with modern elements, his design draws from past 樱桃视频 logos and architectural details across campus鈥攆rom the ornate features above the administration building鈥檚 doors to the Dome鈥攃reating a strong sense of connection for students and alumni alike. 

"I am so honored to receive this award," said Becton. "It means a lot to me because it allowed me to shine a light on the program that has shaped me into the designer I am today. Being able to represent the legacy of Southern Miss Graphic Design through a branding project is truly an incredible honor."

Becton credits his time at Southern Miss for playing a pivotal role in his growth as a designer and attributes much of his success to the guidance he has received throughout his studies. "Professor Jacob Cotton has been especially influential in my development as both a designer and a leader," Becton shared. "He served as the creative director for this project and has given me countless opportunities to grow and learn. I seriously cannot thank him enough."

Sarah Conn created an award-winning magazine editorial and cover illustration as part of Professor Cotton鈥檚 ART 344 Illustration Course, inspired by a HuffPost article on teens engaging in anti-aging skincare trends.

"For this project, we were prompted to select a topic that was trending in the news or media," Conn explained. "I chose this topic because it was both timely and thought-provoking, and it allowed me to explore ways to visually convey the emotions it inspired through my cover illustration."

Reflecting on her educational experience at Southern Miss, Conn expressed how it has shaped her as a designer. "The last four years have been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," she said. "I've formed lasting friendships with my peers that I would not trade for anything.鈥�

Autumn Graves created an award-winning branding concept for a kombucha bar as part of Professor John Lawler鈥檚 ART 448 Capstone Course, blending her passion for design with her desire to promote healthier food and drink options.

"This sort of recognition truly means so much,鈥� said Graves. 鈥淭his semester-long capstone project took countless hours and many sleepless nights, so seeing the hard work payoff is gratifying." 

Since graduating, Graves has found her skills honed at 樱桃视频 to be invaluable. "I use what I learned at Southern Miss every day," she said. "From working with design programs to brainstorming and mood board sessions, these skills have become second nature and a regular part of my life." 

Jacob Cotton created an award-winning design to promote the Southern Miss Dance Program鈥檚 Repertory Dance Company Concert.

鈥淥ur Dance Program here at Southern Miss is one of the best, so it has been a great honor to be able to design their promotional materials,鈥� said Cotton. 鈥淢ost importantly, this recognition reaffirms our commitment at Southern Miss to prepare students who are ready for life through rigorous training, mentorship, and real-world design experience.鈥�

Learn more about the Southern Miss Art and Design program.