The Visual Arts Press, the in-house design studio of the School of Visual Arts (SVA), has brought home multiple awards in leading annual design competitions for recent publications produced for the College. The honors include Gold and Silver Awards in Graphis: The International Journal of Visual Communication; an International LERN Award from the Learning Resources Network; and Gold Awards from the University and College Designers Association.

The Visual Arts Press received five Gold Awards in the Graphis Design Annual 2010, which features outstanding design work from studios around the world. The winning projects from the Visual Arts Press were: Issue #3 of Dear Dave, magazine, a tri-annual publication by the BFA Photography Department; a subway poster designed by faculty member Mirko Ilic; the portfolio from the BFA Photography class of 2007; the 2009 - 2010 undergraduate catalog; and Thunderstruck, the Cartooning Portfolio from the BFA Illustration and Cartooning Department. With five Gold awards, the Visual Arts Press joined Apple and the international design studio Pentagram in the Graphis Top 2010, a list of 10 studios whose work won the most awards. In separate Graphis competitions, the Visual Arts Press also won a Gold Award for a poster for Where the Truth Lies: A Symposium on Propaganda Today and a Silver Award for SVA’s 2008 annual report.

The most recent print publication to receive accolades was Proof, the 2010 - 2011 undergraduate catalog, which earned a 2010 International LERN Award by the Learning Resource Network (LERN) in the Catalog/Brochure/Schedule category. “Starting with the high-quality work our students create, we had an advantage from the beginning,” says Michael J. Walsh, the art director at the Press and Proof’s lead designer. “I think the catalog really captures what makes SVA special.” Walsh accepted the award at the LERN Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia on November 20. LERN recognizes excellence in lifelong learning programming, marketing and practice.

The latest honors follow five Gold Awards earned by the Visual Arts Press at the University and College Designers Association’s (UCDA) annual design competition, which recognizes design work done to promote educational institutions. Of the16 awards given by the UCDA, five went to the Visual Arts Press: two for the 2009 - 2010 undergraduate catalog; one each for the fall 2008 and spring 2009 issues of the Visual Arts Journal, the College’s semi-annual magazine; and one for the Visual Arts Journal Web site. Additionally, from among the 1,300 entries received by the UCDA, another dozen works from the Visual Arts Press earned Excellence Awards.

As the design studio for the School of Visual Arts, the Visual Arts Press produces the College's printed publications, Web site, environmental graphics and promotional products, including many publications that highlight student work. The most visible creations from the Press over the past 50 years are the posters that appear on subway platforms throughout New York City and have featured the work of renowned designers and artists such as Gail Anderson, Marshall Arisman, Paul Davis, Milton Glaser, Tony Palladino, Paula Scher, George Tscherny, James Victore and Robert Weaver.

School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City is an established leader and innovator in the education of artists. From its inception in 1947, the College has instituted numerous educational innovations, including the selection of professionals working in the arts and art-related fields as instructors. SVA provides an environment that nurtures creativity, inventiveness and experimentation, enabling students to develop a strong sense of identity and a clear direction of purpose.

Media Contact:  For more information, please contact Alia Dalal at 212.592.2985 or e-mail adalal@sva.edu.