A team of five recent graduates from Northern Kentucky University’s Visual Communication Design program have won the student experiential design category at the 2024 Cincinnati Design Awards for their work with the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky.
Ash Coleman, Leah Hulsman, Tabitha Phelps, Em Sanning and Sarah Weimar’s award-winning project was the result of collaboration with the emergency shelter, where the team developed wayfinding, signage and environmental graphics for the shelter’s facility in Covington.
The students’ design was inspired by Covington’s architectural history and vibrant mosaic art, resulting in a signage system and large-scale wall murals to aid visitors in navigating the shelter’s space. This experience with the emergency shelter allowed students to operate like a design firm and tackle a real-world design project for a real client, equipping them with applicable skills for successful careers after graduation.
“We had an incredible experience collaborating with the NKU students to infuse our new space with vibrant, impactful art,” said Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky Executive Director Kim Webb. “Watching them deepen their understanding of homelessness while expressing their creativity and honing their design skills was truly inspiring. Our newly adorned wall murals and wayfinding signage have already garnered widespread praise from shelter guests and visitors alike.”
The students, now alumni, will be recognized for their work and creative vision at the Cincinnati Design Awards. The Cincinnati Design Awards is an annual event that celebrates the finest in built design across disciplines such as architecture, interior design, landscape design, and experiential design, with entries submitted by leading firms in the Cincinnati region.
