Press Releases |
UNL GRAPHIC DESIGN GRADUATE STUDENT
WINS GOLD AIGA AWARD
 Samuel B. Rapien, cover art and DVD face design for "The Work of Sam Rapien." This marks the fifth consecutive year that students in UNL's graphic design program have garnered top-place medals at the Nebraska AIGA professional and student design show. The AIGA is the largest and oldest professional association for design in the U.S. "This is indeed a significant honor for Sam to have been judged by creative professional peers among all the student entries in the state," said Associate Professor of Art Ron Bartels. "As his design professor, I'm especially pleased to see recognition for his unique creative work, work which comments not only upon his visual design expertise, but also the sensitivity with which he juggles bold graphic statements juxtaposed to rhythmic motion pace, and enlivened sound sequence. He has taken graphic design commentary to a new level." Rapien won for his DVD entitled "The Work of Sam Rapien," which included his design work from the last five years. It contained a 20-minute video biography that Rapien narrated and composed music for that plays while showcasing his art work in print, multimedia and video. It also contained a written biographical statement and multimedia gallery that was a slideshow of his work. All of this was connected through interactive menus that Rapien animated. "I'm really quite honored and humbled to receive this distinction from AIGA," Rapien said. "What was exhibited and awarded was essentially a portfolio of my undergraduate work, so I really look at this as not just an accolade of my designs, but also a testament to the department here at UNL." Rapien received his BFA in studio art in this past summer from UNL. He is currently in his first year of graduate work in the MFA program. He does video production and graphic design for Diocese of Nebraska and for his own Steady Revolution Productions. He also has a graphic and web design firm called Cinemizzle in Lincoln. |
