Cincy State Graphic Design students swept 2025 ADDY Awards competition

Academics, Faculty & Staff, Students, Success Stories

Apr 2, 2025

Graphic Design students at 2025 Cincinnati ADDY Awards — Graphic Design students celebrated at the 2025 Cincinnati ADDY Awards

Cincinnati State Graphic Design students made a clean sweep of the student awards in the 2025 American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) competition hosted by AdClub Cincinnati, winning the Student Best of Show Award, two Gold ADDY Awards, and four Silver ADDY Awards.

The sweep of the 2025 awards maintains Cincinnati State’s decades-long history of top achievements in this prestigious competition.

Four Cincinnati State students were recognized at the awards ceremony on February 28, 2025.

Yulia Wimp - ADDY 2025 Student Best of Show poster

Yulia Wimp received the Student Best of Show Award and a Gold ADDY for a poster designed for a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra concert. Yulia also earned two Silver ADDY Awards in the Logo Design category, with logos for Alley Cat Rescue and for Rustic Bakery. (See photos below)

All of Yulia’s projects were created as part of activities for the course GRD 200, Portfolio Review, taught by Professor Joel Knueven.

Yulia said, “Winning these awards is an incredible honor, and I’m grateful to be recognized alongside so many other talented designers. Seeing my work resonate with the judges motivates me to keep growing as a designer. I appreciate the support from my professors, my wonderful classmates, and everyone who has been part of this journey!”
Peyton Clawson received a Gold ADDY Award in the Book Design category, for a cover for The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. This project was created as part of the Portfolio Review course. (See photo below)

Professor Knueven said, “We’re proud of our students who worked hard to create award-winning pieces. Yulia and Peyton showed a lot of initiative and dedication as they perfected the entries they created independently, outside of classroom assignments, while they prepared for the Portfolio Review required to qualify for courses in the second year of the Graphic Design program.”
Alana Blankenship earned a Silver ADDY Award for a Poster about the typeface Bodoni. The project was created in GRD 150, Typography, taught by Joel Knueven. (See photo below)
Brittani Booker received a Silver ADDY Award in the Packaging category for labeling and promotional materials for a beverage, Nectar. The project was created in GRD 240, Packaging Design, taught by Oliver Meinerding. (See photo below)

Meinerding said, “It’s exciting to see our students recognized for their great work. As an instructor, it’s rewarding to see our students focusing on details needed to bring their work to the next level, and have that effort pay off.”

Peyton Clawson - 2025 Gold ADDY Award project - Book cover — **Peyton Clawson – Gold ADDY**

Peyton Clawson & Yulia Wimp — **Peyton Clawson – Gold ADDY**

ADDY 2025 - Brittani Booker packaging design project — **Brittani Booker – Silver ADDY**

ADDY 2025 - Brittani Booker & Alana Blankenship - 2-28-25 — **Brittani Booker – Silver ADDY**

Yulia Wimp – Silver ADDY

Background

Cincinnati ADDY competition entries were evaluated by a team of advertising professionals from U.S. companies in New York City, Los Angeles, and Arizona, and international companies headquartered in France and Spain.

All Gold and Silver award winners from the local student competition (all of the Cincinnati State entries) will be forwarded to the District level, which includes entries from students in accredited colleges and universities throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
ADDY winners from 15 District competitions throughout the U.S. will advance to the National ADDY competition, with winners announced in June.
Cincinnati State Graphic Design students have won National Gold ADDY awards three times: Julia Kennedy in 2020, Dallas Ford in 2017 and Alli Bacon-Davis in 2008.

(Photos provided by Kathy Freed. Images of entries provided by Joel Knueven.)