For the second year in a row we have challenged students to use design to make a positive impact on their communities in Upstate New York. This year 85 students on eight teams from six high education institutions rose to the challenge and tackled diverse issues including animal welfare, strengthening the local economy, pronouns and gender identity, sustainability, recycling, food deserts, and mental illness. Each of these emerging designers have improved the quality of life in Upstate New York.

The eight projects submitted to the AIGA Upstate New York 2nd Annual Student Design Challenge will undergo two rounds of judging to determine which team will earn this year’s Design For Good Emerging Designers’ Award. Five designers from Upstate New York had the difficult task of judging the submissions using our evaluation rubric. Although the competition was fierce and the decision difficult, the judges were able to whittle the pack of eight down to three. The three finalists will be showcased and the champion announced on May 13 at Create Upstate where the final round of judging is placed on the shoulders of conference attendees. We are pleased to announce the finalists (in alphabetical order):

Building Prosperity: The Salvation Army Community Center in Binghamton, NY
Communication Design, School of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse University
Case Study (PDF) | Video Documentation (Vimeo)

Designed by Batool Akbar, Katie Alfonzetti, Kyle Baker, Halie Bonfiglio, Pat Buddhari, Jess Dischiave, Kyle Drumheller, Connie Flores, Jay Getman, Donye Harris, Alyssa Hernandez, Jade Hollenberg, Hallie Kanter, Helen Kim, Rachel Lindolm, Joey Marion, Kristen McNally, Martinique Mora, Nina Mullin, Meagan Rafferty, Maya Ransome, Annelis Rebecca Rivera, Easley Rivers, CJ Robinson, Jesse Ruben, Junia Ryan, Joy Scull, Diana Steimetz, Aimee Sy, Ruoxuan Tan, Kiersten Weiss, and Joyce Yoo under the mentorship of Michele Damato and Rod Martinez.

Changing the Statistics
S.I Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
Case Study (PDF) | Video Documentation (Vimeo)

Designed by Victoria Amoroso, Eliza Hsu Chen, Mara Corbett, Phillip Elgie, Dalerys Gonzalez, Kaitlin Grenier, Paula Hughes, Zhiye Jin, Jenna Koyama, Conner Lee, Christian Medina, Chloe Meister, Hope Meltser, Kelli Mosher, Lucy Naland, Shawna Rabbas, Jordana Rubin, Kun Hui Seem, Colleen Simms, Emily Stetzer, Dana Sulit, Yilin Zhou under the mentorship of  Bonnie Brunner, Dan Rose, David Miller, John Flores, Drew Jordan, Andrea Streeter and Renée Stevens.

Tap In
SUNY Oswego
Case Study (PDF) | Video Documentation (Vimeo)

Designed by Peterly-Jean Baptiste, Emily Hinckley, Brielle Jodeit, Alex Monachino, Thomas Pickett, Nick Lansbury, Lydia Thayer under the mentorship of Jamie Adams, Michael Lotito and Paul Mazzucca.

Although the remaining five entries will not be highlighted on the big screen at Create Upstate, they are each awesome contributions to Upstate New York and examples of the power of design. We are pleased to call all of these emerging designers members of our design community:

5K-9 Run & Cat Walk
Alfred University
Case Study (PDF) | Video Documentation (Vimeo)

Designed by Anna Burke, Courtney Ferrara, Rhianna Heinemann, Dylan Staniszewski, Colton Wilhelm and Leah Zimmerman in collaboration with The Hornell Area Human Society under the mentorship of Judy Livingston.

Permaculture Living Lab Mobile Application
SUNY Oswego
Case Study (PDF) | Video Documentation (Vimeo)

Designed by Lily Choi and Elijah Vary in collaboration with the SUNY Oswego Permaculture Living Lab under the mentorship of Cara Brewer Thompson.

The Pronoun Project
SUNY Fredonia
Case Study (PDF) | Video Documentation (Vimeo)

Designed by Alex Glazier and Jimmy Scamacca under the mentorship of Jason Dilworth.

Recycle, Compost and Trash Bin Redesign
Tompkins Cortland Community College
Case Study (PDF) | Video Documentation (Vimeo)

Designed by Josh Becker, Elizabeth Boeheim, Kim Cote, Nate Greene and Matthew Valvo under the mentorship of Christine J. Shanks.

10% Shift Campaign
Cazenovia College
Case Study (PDF) | Video Documentation (Vimeo)

Designed by Jorge Blass, Allison Buono, Alyssa Kisten, Braden Lee, Dwayne Kirkland, Samantha Marra, Morgan Ostrander, Kara Perno, Mackenzi Van Slyke in collaboration with SyracuseFirst under the mentorship of Tommy Lincoln.