Spokane American Advertising Federation holds annual award ceremony, recognizes student work
NIC’s Graphic Design students took gold and silver in the Spokane American Advertising Federation’s ADDY awards.
This event holds great significance in the advertising community because it provides students with the chance to get their name out to major companies, and it gives those companies a place to find the best of the best.
Ashley Chaffin took first in graphic design, web design, and second in desktop publishing this year at the state Business Professionals of America competition.
The NIC design team plans to continue on to the national Business Professionals of America competition in Chicago to defend their title.
This year’s award ceremony was held in the Spokane Masonic Center. Tickets were $55 each, and “business casual” attire, which ranged anywhere from jeans and collared shirts to tuxedos, was expected. During the awards, the lights were dimmed and the room was lit mainly by soft red lights and candles on the tables.
There were some technical difficulties with the microphone cutting on and off, so some awards ended up being yelled out, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind. On the contrary, the room seemed to buzz with nervous energy as people waited for their or their friends’ names to be called.
When the event concluded, a party bus, blasting hip-hop music and flashing with neon lights, picked up party-goers and ferried them to an after-party being held at the A Club in downtown Spokane.
Spokane is actually a secret hub for the advertising industry in the Northwest. Companies such as AT&T, the NFL and even the Grammies have locations in Spokane. Businesses pay attention to this event in order to scout out new, motivated individuals to join their conglomerations.
“In order to graduate from this program, you have to have an internship and be an active member of some piece of the industry out there; actually get your feet wet,” said Anderas Barunlich, graphic design.
With this as a requirement for graduation, students are given a major leg up in the industry. Students that do well at the ADDYs are then recognized by major companies.
“Those students are mingling with professionals that probably will hire them tomorrow,” said Phillipe Vale, graphic design instructor for NIC.
NIC’s graphic design department has done such things as the poster for the drama club’s play “Third,” the NJCAA National Wrestling Tournament animation and logo, a local school logo for KTEC and regularly produces the ASNIC cover.
“In the world of graphic design, you’re going to keep learning,” Vale said. “Why? Because we use technology.”
The graphic design team recently moved from its old location on the main NIC campus, to a new, larger facility in the Riverbend Commerce Park in Post Falls. The new location is directly across the street from NIC’s Post Falls workforce training center. This building features a movie-making room with one of the only built-in green screen systems around.
Students of the graphic design department are highly dedicated, sometimes staying at the office all night so as to be ready to present their work. Some projects must be completed with only one or two days’ notice. For the students, building a strong portfolio is what will ultimately get them a job.
“That’s the kind of dedication that companies and places around here are looking for,” Chaffin said. “You really have to build up your portfolio.”
