BS in Visual Communication Design

College

Kanbar College of Design, Engineering & Commerce

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Campus

East Falls

Format

On Campus

Credits

121

Duration

4 Years

Contact Information

Program

Name: Beth Shirrell
Position: Program Director & Associate Professor, Visual Communication Design
Contact Number(s):

Contact Admissions

Contact Number(s):

Student Awards

GDUSA’s 2023 Top Graphic Design Schools

GDUSA Students to Watch 2023

AIGA Locally Sourced

Locally sourced is a digital publication initiative from AIGA Philadelphia showcasing student creative work from the mid-atlantic region. View work here.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Tessa Peña (22)
  • Jen Spencer (22)
  • Anya Ritter (23)

Selected for Inclusion:

  • 2022: Anna Belfont, Tessa Peña, Jen Spencer
  • 2023: Anna Ritter, Megan Miller 
  • 2024: Ashley Anousaya, Matthew Bayer, Jordan Bethea, Daymond Chan, Emma Maddaluna, Nicole Mambuscay, Erika Sheehan, Sienna Viera, Aidan Roe, Kayla Brown
  • 2025: Joelle Klouda, Emma Prushan, Annika Zitto

UCDA Design Award, Award of Excellence

Brandon Bittner (22), Antonia Milas (22), Tessa Pena (22), and Anya Ritter (23)


Graphis New Talent Annual 2022

Visit Graphis Competition Site

Silver

Honorable Mention

C2—Creativity And Collaboration Pechakucha

Antonia Milas, Inclusive Design Collaboration:
Rethinking a Cookbook for Individuals with Intellectual Disability

Graphic Design USA Students to Watch 2022

GDUSA’s 2021 Top Graphic Design Schools

Graphis New Talent Annual 2021

Silver

Graphic Design USA Students to Watch 2021

GDUSA’s 2021 Top Graphic Design Schools

Graphis New Talent Annual 2020

Gold

Silver

Honorable Mention

2020 New England Graphic Medicine Conference

MCPHS University, Boston
March 27, 2020

Presentation and Panel Discussion: Fresh Trajectories
Seniors, Sara Maguire, Eli Marburger & Jack McIntyre were accepted to present a group project from their Systems Design Integration course. The project prompt asked them to create a design system that would improve health literacy among Philadelphians.

SPACE ADVENTURES: A Trilogy

Graphic books offer a way to teach emotional literacy to elementary school kids.

While mental health is becoming a more socially acceptable topic, it is still often not openly discussed with elementary school aged children. To address this gap, we developed a book series to teach kids basic emotional literacy through the three most common emotions they learn first. Through researching the Alexander Adaire School, an elementary school in Philadelphia, we found that parents lacked a language for communicating emotional literacy, specifically mental health, to children before they hit puberty. These books allow kids to gain a better understanding of both themselves and how people react based on their emotions. The book series provides an engaging and tactile way for children to understand common emotions as they encounter angry, happy, and sad through three main characters. We used universal media throughout the project—watercolor, ink, and pen—that any child can relate to and start creating themselves. In the future, these books could be used in other elementary schools, and other emotions could be added to the series. The talk described their motivation, aims, methods, media, and implications.

Graphic Design USA Students to Watch 2020

GDUSA’s 2020 Top Graphic Design Schools

2019 AIGA Philadelphia Design Awards

  • Community Health Needs Report
    Matt Zepp, Rebecca Lutterschmidt, Gianna DeWitt, Charlotte Rymar, Liza Marino, Katie Witmer, Amy Bachhuber, Zack Faust, Paige Graff, Matthew Maisano, Laina Healy, Devon Strine, Liz Wissman, Anna Mucci
  • Graphic Design USA Students to Watch 2019
    Stephen Andreo, Abbey Pitzer

GDUSA’s 2019 Top Graphic Design Schools

Adobe Design Achievement Awards Top Talent

The Library of Shandong University of Art & Design and  Beijing Art A&B Co., International Exhibit

Selected Works:

  • Professors: Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel, Beth Shirrell, Renee Walker,
    & Frank Baseman
  • Students: Stefano Notarianni, Ronnie Alley, Claire Zellin,
    & Stephen Andreo

Indigo Design Award

Gianna Dewitt, Juiced
Silver for Branding

Interactive Package Design published by Design Media Publishing (UK) Limited

Gabi Stahley
Paige Graff

Graphis New Talent: Merit Award Student

Paige Graff

Graphic Design USA Students to Watch 2018

Peter Aston, Zachary Faust

Adobe Design Achievement Awards Semifinalist

  • Stephen Andreo, OLOGY
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Stephen Andreo, The Sea-Hare children’s book
    Category: Fine Art - Illustration
  • Stephen Andreo | Chelsey Glidden, A&S Bagels ReBrand
    Category: Fine Art - Graphic Design / Print
  • Devon Strine, 1872 Shoe Packaging
    Category: Commercial - Packaging Design
  • Devon Strine, Jefferson Community Health Report: Substance Abuse
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Devon Strine, Brighter Blue
    Category: Social Impact - Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic
  • Tabitha Porter, Disconnect to Connect
    Category: Social Impact - Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic
  • Claire Zellin, Kulturnatten 2018 Identity
    Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Joelle Rush, Paracosm Album Redesign
    Category: Commercial - Packaging Design
  • Derek Schimmenti, Zim Zari
    Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Derek Schimmenti, CenterStage
    Social Impact - Web / App / Game Design
  • Leah Pellegrino, To Do Before I Do
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Gabi Stahley, TOOR
    Category: Commercial - Web / App / Game Design
  • Alyssa Adoni, With The Band: Brand Identity System
    Category: Social Impact - Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic
  • Patrice Sakalosky, Volstead
    Category: Fine Art - Graphic Design / Print
  • Patrice Sakalosky, Tadpole Children’s TV Station
    Category: Fine Art - Graphic Design / Print
  • Amy Bachhuber, Science Seekers
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Grieve Me Alone, Amy Bachhuber
    Category: Social Impact - Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic
  • Trump’s Travel Ban, Charlotte Rymar
    Category: Social Impact - Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic
  • Paige Graff, Bonafide
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Leah Pellegrino, The Raw Truth
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Alyssa Adoni, A Blast to Beer's Past
    Category: Fine Art - Graphic Design / Print
  • Myra Lloyd, This American Life Illustrations & Alt Web Design
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Leah Pellegrino | Devon Strine | Alyssa Adoni | Devin La'Shelle Broughton, Play it Cool: Industry Sponsored Brand Identity System
    Category: Social Impact - Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic

AIGA Philadelphia Fresh Award

Ali Doucett

Graphic Design USA Student to Watch 2017

Lauren King

Graphis New Talent Annual Merit Award:

Ronnie Alley, Versa Magazine

GDUSA Package Design Award student

Katelyn Witmer

Adobe Design Achievement Awards Semifinalist:

  • Aubrey Kohl | Lauren King | Shannon Gahagan, Stop, Drop, & Grow
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Aubrey Kohl, Sabi Tea
    Category: Commercial - Package Design
  • Laina Healy, Vinyl Collection Catalog
    Category: Fine Art- Graphic Design / Print
  • Leah Pellegrino, The Body
    Category: Fine Art - Photography
  • Leah Pellegrino, Philadelphia University Day of Giving ReBrand
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Gabi Stahley, Life Beyond Earth Symposium Poster
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Gabi Stahley, Gotham Typeface Specimen
    Category: Fine Art - Graphic Design / Print
  • Gabi Stahley, LP Redesign: Jagged Little Pill
    Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Myra Lloyd, IRL TV Station Identity
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Myra Lloyd, Day of Giving Event Identity
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration

 

Innovator Expo Entrepreneurship Award

Chess at 3 Project: Veronica Llamas, Nicole Meyer, Caroline Noebels

Graphic Design USA Students to Watch 2016 

Nicole Meyer, Caroline Noebels

Adobe Design Achievement Awards Semifinalist:

  • Veronica Llamas, America's Election Headquarters
    Category: Social Impact
  • Veronica Llamas, Fork in the Road
    Category: Commercial Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Veronica Llamas, King Fischer and King Spassky Chess Set
    Category: Commercial - Packaging Design
  • Veronica Llamas, Doggone It
    Commercial - Category: Packaging Design
  • Veronica Llamas, God Save the Queen
    Category: Social Impact - Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic
  • Nicole Meyer, National Constitution Center Voting Campaign
    Category: Commercial Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Emily Hennegan, Gnarly Neptune's Surfwax
    Category: Commercial Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Emily Hennegan, The Hero's Guide Books
    Category: Fine Art - Graphic Design / Print
  • Kristian Bocage, "Athena"
    Category: Fine Art - Illustration
  • Ronnie Alley, Versa Mag
    Category: Social Impact Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic
  • Ronnie Alley, National Constitution Center's Exposé Lecture Series
    Category: Commercial Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Ronnie Alley, Toro Y Moi - Causers of This
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Jenna Granville, National Constitution Center + Game Night
    Category: Commercial Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Jenna Granville, Magic Belly
    Category: Commercial - Packaging Design
  • Victoria Apeland, King Fischer & King Spassky Chess Set
    Category: Commercial Packaging
  • Colin Hyland, Street + Cycle
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Colin Hyland, National Constitution Center Design Collaboration
    Category: Social Impact - Photography / Print / Illustration / Graphic
  • Kendra Stepp-Daivs, Changing Tides
    Category: Fine Art - Graphic Design / Print
  • Kendra Stepp-Davis, National Constitution Center: Electoral College
    Category: Commercial - Print / Graphic / Illustration
  • Stephen Andreo, Neon Spades
    Category: Fine Art - Illustration
  • Myra Lloyd, Sun 101 Information Graphic
    Category: Fine Art - Graphic Design / Print

Adobe Design Achievement Awards Semifinalist:

  • Lindsay Birch, Dream App + Publication + Ad Campaign
    Category: Print Communications
  • Lindsay Birch, Fair Food Poster Series + Web Design
    Category: Print Communications
  • Jessica Eversmeyer, BRØD Danish Cafe
    Category: Print Communications
  • Sarah Driban, National Constitution Center Civic Holidays
    Category: Print Communications
  • Liz Dell, Couch Tomato Rebrand
    Category: Print Communications
  • Graphic Design USA Students to Watch 2015
    Sarah Driban, Jessica Eversmeyer

2015 Collab Student Design Competition: Selfie

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Molly Coleman, First Honorable Mention; Ghadeer Helal, People’s Choice

2015 American Graphic Design Awards

Certificates of Excellence (2), 2015 American Graphic Design Awards, GD USA Magazine

Tabitha Ahnert, Sarah Driban, Jessica Eversmeyer, Julie Johnson, Bunley Lim for Kanbar Selects, volume 1 Publication and Website

2015 American Graphic Design Awards

Certificate of Excellence, 2015 American Graphic Design Awards, GD USA Magazine

Sarah Bui, Brianna DiPietro, Vicki Ewing, Elissa Flanigan, Eric Lacy, Kelly McHugh, Samantha Miller, Franklin Overstreet, Nadin Radwan for Powered To… PhilaU Title IX Awareness Campaign Against Sexual Violence on Campus, for Overall Campaign and Identity

2015 University and College Designers Association

45th Annual Design Competition

Gold Award

Tabitha Ahnert, Sarah Driban, Jessica Eversmeyer, Bunley Lim for Kanbar Selects, volume 1 Publication

2015 University and College Designers Association

45th Annual Design Competition

Silver Award and Award of Excellence

Julie Johnson for Kanbar Selects, volume 1 Website

2015 University and College Designers Association

45th Annual Design Competition

Sarah Bui and Nadin Radwan for Powered To… PhilaU Title IX Awareness Campaign Against Sexual Violence on Campus Posters, Awards of Excellence (2)

2015 University and College Designers Association

45th Annual Design Competition

Sarah Bui, Brianna DiPietro, Vicki Ewing, Elissa Flanigan, Eric Lacy, Kelly McHugh, Samantha Miller, Franklin Overstreet, Nadin Radwan for Powered To… PhilaU Title IX Awareness Campaign Against Sexual Violence on Campus, Awards of Excellence (2) for Overall Campaign and Identity

Merit Award, 2015 Graphis New Talent Design Annual

Sarah Bui, Brianna DiPietro, Vicki Ewing, Elissa Flanigan, Eric Lacy, Kelly McHugh, Samantha Miller, Franklin Overstreet, Nadin Radwan for Powered To… PhilaU Title IX Awareness Campaign Against Sexual Violence on Campus

Design for Good: AIGA Philadelphia Student T-shirt Design Competition

Awards of Merit: Kate DiGiovannantonio, Jessica Eversmeyer, Joel Hernandez, Jade Jarosz, Nicole Tuite, Kelsey Veurink, Laureen Wong

Graphic Design USA Student to Watch 2014

Kristine Maria Garcia

2014 Adobe Design Achievement Awards

Giovanni Frias, Semifinalist, Packaging category

2014 University & College Designers Association

44th Annual Design Competition

Rebecca Cox, Dan Dinsmore, Giovanni Frias and Krista Serianni, Awards of Excellence (2) for PhilaU Admissions Deck of Playing Cards

2014 University & College Designers Association

44th Annual Design Competition

John Alberto, Annelise Babula, Christina Minopoli and Lauren Yager, Award of Excellence for Single Bullet: Arlen Specter & the Warren Commission Investigation of the JFK Assassination

2014 How Magazine Self-Promotion Design Competition

Nadin Radwan, Merit Award, Student Work

Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation

Bruno Forcine, Henry Dunlap Trust Scholarship and Regis Delmontagne Scholarship

Flux 2013 AIGA Blue Ridge Student Design Competition

Carolina Barbosa, Honorable Mention, Publication category; Kristine Marie Garcia, Identity category; Kristine Marie Garcia, Publication category

2013 Adobe Design Achievement Awards

Carolina Barbosa, Semifinalist, Print Communication category;  Corey Danks, Semifinalist, Print Communication category; J'Nay Penn, Semifinalist, Packaging category

Creative Quarterly 32

Emma Claffy, Runner-Up Award, Creative Quarterly 32

2013 Philadelphia Design Awards, AIGA Philadelphia

Chris Ell, Matthew Goebner, Madeline LeSage, Jessica Lutcza and Tracey McCaffrey, for the Truth About Gangs in the Garden State Publication and Website

GD USA Magazine American Web Design Awards Competition

PhilaU GDC Blog, Award, Annual GD USA Magazine American Web Design Awards Competition

How Magazine Interactive Design Awards Competition

PhilaU GDC Blog, Merit Award, Fourteenth Annual How Interactive Design Awards Competition

GD USA Magazine: Students to Watch 2013

Annelise Babula and Jewell Richardson named “Students to Watch” and featured in Jan./Feb. 2013 issue of GD USA Magazine