Spotlight on our alumni - Jessica Mena and Ana Paula Reyes, LaSalle College Vancouver

JESSICA MENA AND ANA PAULA REYES

Two recent graphic design alumni from LaSalle College Vancouver (LCV) have been selected for the national RGD 2017 Student Awards last August. Congratulations to Jessica Mena for winning the RGD 2017 Student Award in the Haft2 Award for Use of Colour category with her project "LA TAPITA". Congratulations also to Ana Paula Reyes for being selected finalist in the same category with "MAISON MAGNIFIQUE".

THE RGD STUDENT AWARDS

The RGD Student Awards have been organized yearly since 1999 by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), which represents over 3,500 design practitioners, including firm owners, freelancers, managers, educators and students. This year, over 640 projects were submitted from design students across Canada for the RGD awards, and the winning work was selected by a judge body composed of award-winning creative professionals from across Canada. RGD distributed twenty-one $1,000 awards this year between different categories including branding, print, packaging, digital product design (Awards of Specialty) as well as color, strategy, typography and user experience (National Awards of Excellence). Through RGD, Canadian designers exchange ideas, educate and inspire, set professional standards and build a strong, supportive community dedicated to advocating for the value of design.

ALUMNI IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Jessica Mena is a graphic designer and illustrator originally from Mexico, living in Vancouver. She graduated from LaSalle College Vancouver (formerly The Art Institute of Vancouver) during the Spring 2017 quarter. Jessica’s project – La Tapita – is the winner of the RGD 2017 National Award of Excellence in the Haft2 Award for Use of Colour category. This submission was originally a project from LCV's Dimensional Design class, where she designed the packaging and labelling for a Spanish tapas-making food kit. Jessica’s winning project will be featured in a printed catalogue of winners, on the RGD website, as well as in a digital display at DesignThinkers 2017 TO, which will be held in Toronto on Nov 7-8, 2017.

Ana Paula Reyes is a multidisciplinary graphic designer living in Vancouver, who is passionate about all things creative and inspired by nature and the vibrant colours of her Mexican culture. She also graduated from LaSalle College Vancouver (formerly The Art Institute of Vancouver) in the Spring quarter of 2017. Ana Paula’s submission – Maison Magnifique – was selected as a finalist in the RGD 2017 Haft2 Award for Use of Colour category for its brilliant use of colours and muted tones and its adequate link to the brand theme and products.