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New Maps Reflect Different Perspectives on Design

Jan Alms recently issued a challenge to his first year advertising and graphic design students: design a new campus map for McDowell Technical Community College that reflects new roads, buildings, and building names, and is user-friendly. Although most of the students had no graphic design training before August, by October the students were ready to accept Alms’ challenge.

Following the construction of a new entrance road into McDowell Tech during the last year and the closing of the old campus entrance, the landscape of the college had changed significantly over the last couple of years. Additionally, the MTCC Board of Trustees voted this fall to change the old system of using numbers to identify buildings, and renamed each of the buildings on the main campus using common tree types in this region. One other factor which warranted new maps was the creation of alternate parking areas to accommodate significant enrollment growth that had occurred in the last two years.

When drafts of the new maps were completed, a panel of judges selected the two best designs, suggested minor improvements to each one, and anticipated picking a new winner from among these semi-finalists. But when they came back together to review the completed projects, the judges decided that each map was too unique to declare one true winner.

“Each of these maps represents such a different perspective that we want to make them both available in different venues,” said Dr. Bryan Wilson, President of McDowell Tech. He and the other judges declared both students to be winners and each received an award certificate in recognition of his/her honor.

Reflecting on the contest, Wilson noted how proud he was of the quality of work from all of the students in this class. “These are students taking the first of four or five semesters of full-time work, and already they are producing quality pieces that I am proud to share with the public.”

Ruby Hollifield       Darrell Guffey

Ruby Hollifield and Darrell Guffey were the challenge winners. Hollifield’s design is more traditional, with straight lines and common fonts that should print easily on any printer. Guffey’s is more artistic, with non-linear typefaces and hand-drawn buildings. It is likely to appeal more to creative, artistic and younger students and college friends.

While there is no monetary award attached to the challenge, both Hollifield and Guffey are proud to have their work selected. Both suggested that it was an indication that they are well on their way to becoming a quality graphic artist/designer and they will be proud to include the honor on their resume when they graduate.

The completed maps are available on the college’s website for viewing or download at: http://www.mcdowelltech.edu/map.html.