Student wins graphic design contest
By Lauren Highfill
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Student Kong Cheong with his winning T-shirt design. Photo by Cheryl Anderson Brown |
Kong Cheong is a “badass designer.”
“Badass designer” was the theme of the 2008 T-shirt design competition hosted by the American Institute of Graphic Arts Atlanta chapter. AIGA Atlanta announced Kennesaw State student Cheong as the winner at their event last month. “I was incredibly surprised,” he said. “I had never won anything for my graphic design before and many of the other entries were from people from KSU who I thought were going to win.” However, says Cheong, “I’m proud and happy to have won.”
The specifications of AIGA Atlanta’s project required that students use only words and typography in their design to represent the “badass” theme. “My design was inspired by gangster films,” said Cheong. “Medieval-style typography and block lettering is really popular so I integrated that into my design.”
The senior art major gives credit to Associate Professor Jeanne Sperry for bringing the project to his attention and helping him while he was creating the design. “She helped all along. She is always asking us to think more outside of the box: this isn’t just a word—explore it.”
Part of what Cheong believes the judges liked about his work is the duality of the words. The yellowish-gold colored letters are positioned on the shirt in the shape of a necklace linked together by a chain-like design. Also, the word “designer” hangs off of the chain “like a medallion,” says Cheong.
As Cheong completes his degree at KSU and enters the job market, he’s appreciative of the fact that he has a winning design to include in his “badass” portfolio.