NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

4/20/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University Assistant Professor of Art Anthony Watkins was named the 2007 American Inhouse Design Award winner, presented by Graphic Design USA Magazine, for a poster design promoting the 2006 School of Creative and Performing Arts Christmas Gala. Watkins was recognizes as the creative director and design for the project. The work will be published in the magazine's July 2007 Awards issue, a 300-page special edition, that will be seen by Graphic Design USA's national audience of nearly 100,000 design professionals and creative management. It will also be distributed at designer events and shows all year.

"Regarding the design, we really got started with a color palette," said Watkins, discussing his inspiration for the winning design. "Remembering the flocked white Christmas trees at Sears as a child--we thought the cool blues combined with the rich browns created a nice winter feel. We also felt that doing something that differed from the expected red/green would add to the uniqueness of the event, allowing Gala to really stand apart from other Christmas season events."

The dove, which figures prominently in the deisgn, is not only a reference to peace, but also unity and togetherness, and a kind of offering gesture to all participants, Watkins explained.

"We really wanted to raise awareness of the event in our community and the region. In addition to producing the poster, we also designed the event program, T-shirts, and button/pins. The buttons were very popular. They only referenced the Gala event by color and image, no words," Watkins said. "We hoped this would generate curiosity and questions about what the buttons were for, thereby promoting word of mouth advertising for the event. This type of conversation is priceless. I think we were successful."

Watkins graduated from Northwestern with a BA in 1994 at earned an MA in 2001. He completed MFA coursework at the University of Tennessee in 2004.

"The American Inhouse Design Awards has emerged as the premier showcase for outstanding work by inhouse designers. It is a unique opportunity for inhouse design, marketing and communications departments within corporations, publishing houses, non-profits, universities and government agencies to be recognized for their creativity, for the special challenges they face and for their contributions to their businesses and institutions," according to Graphic Design USA, now in its 43rd year of publication. The magazine is the creative professional's monthly news, people, projects and opinion magazine.

Past winners include the University of Florida, University of Illinois, University of Chicago, Yale University, Auburn University, Harvard University, Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, Habitat for Humanity, Boeing, Apple and the Boston Celtics.

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