E-NEWSLETTER DESIGN WORK BEGINS.(from left to right) Stephanie Herrera, Kelly Cuenca, Laura Hudson, Terry DeBrule, Elias Jimenez, and Chazz Jogiepose with the First Place Design created by the student teamfrom New
Jersey City University for Hearts & Crafts Counseling at the 2009 ADCNJ Design Derby. [Photo by Susan Pedersen]

Congratulations to all!

Best Design Concept: Team 4
New Jersey City University

Design Concept, Second Place: Team 12
Sussex County Community College

Design Concept, Third Place: Team 18
The College of New Jersey

Best Presentation: Team 17
The College of New Jersey

Teamwork in Action at the 2009 ADCNJ Design Derby!
Design Students Generate Ideas for Hearts & Crafts Counseling

Each year the Art Directors Club of New Jersey (ADCNJ) organizes a statewide competition that is open to all design students enrolled at New Jersey colleges and universities. Hosted by Seton Hall University on October 31st, the 2009 ADCNJ Design Derby welcomed a total of 102 students who formed 17 teams for an intensive competition of creative minds. Student teams participated from The College of New Jersey, County College of Morris, Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College, Seton Hall University, and Sussex County Community College.

The challenge for these student teams this year was to do the design work on a quarterly e-newsletter for a nonprofit organization called Hearts & Crafts Counseling. Using the organization’s existing logo and colorway, student teams focused on making the e-newsletter appealing and user-friendly to the target audience (ages 4 to 94), as well as ease of use to produce each issue of this e-newsletter. Hearts & Crafts Counseling provides a safe and caring environment for individuals and families to work through the healing process relating to the loss of a loved one. For more information, visit www.heartsandcraftscounseling.org

Following a 3-hour work session using paper and markers (no computer-generated work allowed in this competition), each team presented their designs for peer review and judging by the leadership of Hearts & Crafts Counseling. Judging resulted in a ranking of the top design concepts and the best presentation.

A team from New Jersey City University was selected as creating the top design for Hearts & Crafts Counseling. A team from Sussex County Community College received second place for their design ideas, and a team from The College of New Jersey received third place for their design ideas. Another team from The College of New Jersey received recognition for the best presentation of their design concept.

“We are so pleased with the creative energy that these teams brought to this assignment, helping this nonprofit organization move forward,” said Christine Krus, Chair of the ADCNJ Education Council.

“Our talented New Jersey design students have done it again—everybody did a great job today,” stated ADCNJ Education Council Member Nikki Pedersen, who created the ADCNJ Design Derby and has served a leadership role for all 15 ADCNJ Design Derby competitions to date. “

We saw great teamwork in all of these student teams,” said James Smith, who volunteers his time serving on the ADCNJ Education Council and the ADCNJ Board of Trustees. “Not only do these students have the opportunity to showcase their design talents to their peers from other New Jersey colleges and universities through this Design Derby, but they are making an important contribution to help a nonprofit organization in our state.”

“Every team did something that caught our eye,” said Laura Hudson from Hearts & Crafts Counseling who along with Terry DeBrule from Hearts & Crafts Counseling served as judges for this event. “We appreciate all the hard work these students did in generating such creative ideas for Hearts & Crafts Counseling during this competition.”

Special thanks to ADCNJ Member Jose Suarez (who introduced this nonprofit organization as a client for the 2009 ADCNJ Design Derby), Christine Krus, Nikki Pedersen, and James Smith, along with photographer Susan Pedersen, for volunteering their time to make the 2009 ADCNJ Design Derby a remarkable success! Back to top

For more info call the ADCNJ office at (201) 997-1212