CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Conestoga design students recognized with award, honourable mentions in national competition

A Conestoga design student was among 20 from across Canada to win top honours in the 2024 RGD Student Awards recognizing excellence in student communication design, and another 11 students received honourable mentions.

Bachelor of Design student Alexa Flikkema won the first-year student category in the 2024 RGD Student Awards for her calendar and postcards featuring illustrations of bugs.

More than 1,160 entries from 450 students from 40 post-secondary schools were received by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) for the competition hosted annually by the national professional association.

Bachelor of Design student Alexa Flikkema won the first-year student award for her calendar and postcards featuring illustrations of bugs that have a timeless feel with a blue monochromatic colour scheme.

Flikkema was honoured to receive the award as a new design student at Conestoga, which she credits for fostering a creative and supportive environment for students to thrive.

"This award is a personal achievement and reflects our college community's creative energy. I'm thrilled to be recognized and look forward to applying what I've learned to future projects," she said.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the support from my professors and peers. I'm excited to continue growing and contributing to the design field."

Student submissions spanning 18 categories in a range of disciplines and specialties were evaluated by design professionals for quality, creativity and strategic thinking, awarding winners with $1,000 in cash prizes provided by industry sponsors. Along with the winners, more than 70 students received honourable mentions for their outstanding entries, including 10 for Conestoga in various categories.

Honourable mentions went to Justin Pinheiro, Nicola Skelhorn, Natalie Zuk, Alli Thompson, team Vienne Seto and Jack Coulman, Linnea Moshkovith, Aidan Schlumkoski, Brooklyn Louis, Madeline Belford and Alli Thompson.

Flikkema created a 12-month bug calendar inspired by cyanotype printing and monochromatic tattoos, with the lovely artwork including the name of each bug illustrated. The calendar is also made to be convenient and functional in both size and format. The size compact size of 8.5 by 5.5 inches fits in many spaces, and the unique design with perforation allows pages to be repurposed as art prints or postcards.

Flikkema said the award is a validation of the hard work she put into her designs and motivation to keep pushing her creative limits. "I'm excited for what's next!"

Ryan Spies, professor in the Bachelor of Design program, called the win a considerable achievement for Flikkema and a testament to her ability and creativity.

"Alexa is a dedicated student who continues to push her ideas and designs, reflective of her knowledge in the design field and the growth of her skillset. Throughout her first year in the Bachelor of Design program, Alexa experimented with media, both traditional and digital."

Spies' class project required students to design a unique calendar that showcased their Adobe InDesign capabilities, as well as illustration and construction skills.

"Alexa's design is unique, functional, and exceptionally well constructed with consideration to paper choice, printing method and binding."

Conestoga's Bachelor of Design program is a four-year degree in visual design with a complement of courses in entrepreneurship, marketing and management. It is unique in Ontario, offering students an interprofessional perspective that blends visual design, entrepreneurship, and liberal studies courses with co-op opportunities, enhanced studio space, and access to advanced technology. A project-based learning approach addresses design and entrepreneurship skills, as well as a variety of current issues including accessibility, sustainability, and corporate and social responsibility.