Columbus College of Art & Design students and recent graduates, alongside the CCAD Student Agency, a student-staffed, in-house design agency, took home 17 awards at the 53rd annual Columbus Society of Communicating Arts Creative Best 2023 awards, including a number of “Best of Category” recognitions.
The annual awards competition recognizes outstanding work from professionals and students alike in central Ohio. CCAD students represented academic programs including Animation, Graphic Design, and Illustration. Special thanks to CCAD faculty and mentors Brice Bunner, Elliott Cennamo, Eunice Delaquis, Ruedy Leeman, Kangmin Lim, Faculty Emeritus Jim Lutz, Mohammad Mansoor, Evangelia Philippidis, and Jamarr Threatt, who provided instruction for the award-winning student work. The late David Schirtzinger, longtime adjunct faculty at CCAD, supported several of the winning student entries and was recognized at the event for his extensive contributions to the CSCA and the graphic design community.
Read on for a full list of CCAD student recognition, and learn more about CCAD’s Animation, Graphic Design, and Illustration programs or apply at ccad.edu.
CCAD students took home 17 awards at the annual CSCA Creative Best 2023 awards
Category – Student Photography
Gracie Calla (Graphic Design, 2024) – Urban Outfitters - Product Photography, Best of Category Award Tatyanna Oglesby (Graphic Design, 2024) – SPDSTR Automotive Photography Series, Excellence Award
Category – Student Illustration
Haejung Lee (Illustration, 2024) – Travel to Seoul Magazine Cover, Best of Category Award Benjamin Decker (Graphic Design, 2026) – Exodus, Excellence Award
Category – Student Video
Lindsey Katon (Animation, 2023) – Contrabandz, Best of Category Award Ben Ervin (Animation, 2023) – Hell Hounds, Excellence Award
Category – Student Print
Amy Orecchio (Graphic Design, 2024) – Natures Root, Merit Award Eli Gamble (Graphic Design, 2025) – Fashion Editorial, Merit Award Hailey Ware (Graphic Design, 2024) – Pure Roots Fashion Show Brochure, Merit Award
Category – Student Digital Media
Samuel Fletcher (Graphic Design, 2025) – You. Fragrance, Merit Award
Category – Student Campaign
Merari Solano (Graphic Design, 2025) – Chase Financial Literacy _ Best of Category Brooke Winegardner (Graphic Design, 2025) – Creature Crunchers, Excellence Award Cassidy James (Graphic Design, 2026) – Deli Promotional Assets, Merit Award Paul Kwon (Graphic Design, 2024) – Stack Attack Card Game, Merit Award
Category – Print Short-Form
CCAD Student Agency – Constellation Invitation, Best of Category Award
Category – Print Long-Form
CCAD Student Agency – Viewbook Lite, Best of Category Award
Category – Interactive
CCAD Student Agency – Constellation Digital Program, Best of Category Award
About Columbus College of Art & Design
Columbus College of Art & Design teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the midst of a thriving creative community in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private, nonprofit art and design colleges in the United States. CCAD offers 11 BFA programs, two Master of Professional Studies programs (Retail Design and User Experience Design), and a Master of Fine Arts that produce graduates equipped to shape culture and business at the highest level. For more information, visit ccad.edu.
