Community Front-Page layout/design
Judge – Andrea Zagata, a page designer for the New York Times.
First: John Layton, Arizona Capitol Times
Comments: “A visual interesting way to show a story with what I can only assume was very limited art options.”
Second: Sam Gross, Arizona Daily Wildcat
Comments: “This page is visually interesting but would benefit from fewer elements, as there are lots of elements competing.”
Community non-deadline layout/design
Judge – Andrea Zagata, a page designer for the New York Times.
First: Sam Gross, Arizona Daily Wildcat
Comments: “An easy-to-follow timeline designed in an interesting way. This is something a reader will want to pick up and spend some time investigating.”
Second: John Layton, Arizona Capitol Times
Comments: “This has so much on it that it is hard to follow at times. It is extremely ambitious as a project and offers lots of different entry points for the reader, but is a little overwhelmingly and would benefit from some simplification of design elements.”
Statewide Page One layout/design
Judge – Matt Swaney, design director of The Denver Post
First Place: Alexa Hayes, Arizona Republic
Comments: “Cool concept and illustration to explain quickly a complex political topic.”
Second Place: Aviva Loeb, Arizona Republic
Comments: “A well-thought out photo edit. Smart choice for layout and headline structure to get important information in display type and conveyed to readers quickly.”
Third Place: Aviva Loeb, Arizona Republic
Comments: “A smart primer on Hannukah. Clever use of small icons that are all matching in style. A good choice to limit the color palette to help hold all the small elements together in a unified display.”
Statewide non-deadline layout/design
Judge – Matt Swaney, design director of The Denver Post
First Place: Aviva Loeb, Arizona Republic/ AZ Central Sports
Comments: “Wonderful illustration with a smart quiz. A fun and interesting way to preview the Olympics and overcome that challenges of trying to arrange studio shots for all the athletes or combining photos of different athletes and their events. Very smart and well executed.”
Second Place: Becca Gaujardo, AZ Central Sports
Comments: “Clever use of typography and various pullout information to create an informative and engaging display.”
No third place award was given in this category.
Statewide tabloid/magazine cover design
Judge – Matt Swaney, design director of The Denver Post
First Place: Tom Carlson, Phoenix New Times
Comments: “Well done photo illustration that works in sync with display type.”
Second Place: Becca Gaujardo, Arizona Republic
Comments: “Interesting photo illustration, combining elements of several images.”
No third place award was given in this category.
Statewide multi-page design
Judge – Frank Mina, design director for the Seattle Times
First: Maria Camou, Arizona Daily Star
Comments: “This entry’s consistent, clean design uses its visual elements to great effect. The package captures the differences and similarities of the cities along the U.S.-Mexican border using charts, photographs and maps which compliment the narrative.”
No second place or third place awards were given.
Statewide illustration, drawn
Judge – Frank Mina, design director for the Seattle Times
First: Tom Carlson, Phoenix New Times
Comments: “This illustration draws inspiration from 1950s pulp magazine covers which is a smart approach for a “scandalous” story like Sugar U. The artist captures the pulp style well with lurid colors and shocked/disapproving passersby watching the coed and sugar daddy with mouths agape.”
Second: Chiara Bautista, Arizona Daily Star
Comments: “It is the subtle touches in this illustration that really convey the point of the story. The small children are depicted as wide-eyed and carefree enjoying a read upon a brightly colored merry-go-round. Replacing the usual carousel horses with books is clever as is the pen nib as final to top the whole thing off. Well done.“
Third: Chiara Bautista, Arizona Daily Star
Comments: “The variation on the tiny cactus theme in these emojis is delightful. The Dia de los Muertos and Thanksgiving emojis are particular favorites. The addition of local landmarks like Hotel Congress and Fox Theater are nice touches.”
Statewide illustration, photo-based
Judge – Frank Mina, design director for the Seattle Times
First: Tom Carlson, Phoenix New Times
Comments: “The use of toy soldiers for this story was a creative solution that takes a visual cliche and makes it fresh by using the green soldiers as background and red and white soldiers to form the medic symbol.”
Second: Rachel van Blankenship, Arizona Republic
Comments: “This illustration goes beyond the handout images that come with theatrical reviews. Smart use of vintage newspages to create the industrial New York backdrop for the cast of the show. Simple and well executed.”
Third: Rachel van Blankenship, Arizona Republic
Comments: “A simple solution using an image of Shakespeare most people are familiar juxtoposed with the ghoulish image of a skull.”