TDK Awards '18

Bentzion Goldman — @bentziong

New York, USA

Parsons School of Design

Daniela’s pick: Bentzion work shows a deep understanding of layouts and hierarchy through a young and refreshing behaviour approach. I appreciate how Goldmann plays around a classic basis but always adding a twist that merges into a perfect brand system. Also, I love the care and detailed presentation of the work.

Denzel Boyd — @____denz

Los Angeles, USA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Daniela’s pick: Denzel show us how graphic design can be translated into the physical world beyond stationery, packaging or other common formats. I enjoyed looking with detail all the textures and explorations around Boyd work. I consider this portfolio is the result of design curiosity, that is exactly what this industry needs. Good for Boyd!

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Soo Jin Lee  — @emptytacoshell

Seoul, Korea

Seoul National University

Daniela’s pick: Soo Jin’s book made me look twice at every piece of work in it. I like the design that makes you see twice, not because is only beautiful but memorable. I find Soo Jin’s work intriguing and refreshing. I see a fearless attitude that doesn’t mind breaking a couple of rules to do some experimentation graphic design. Really happy to see refreshing aesthetics proposals around.

Maximilian Mauracher — @mxmlnmrchr

Berlin, Germany

University of Applied Arts Vienna

Jesper’s pick: A very cool portfolio. Very much Maximillian seems to have a very good eye on details. His work is very current and “du jour”,  but still in a way timeless, respecting graphic design heritage. This portfolio actually made me think: “I wish I had done this!”

Shambhavi Ojha — @shambhaviojha.work

New Delhi, India

National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

Caroline + Sohee’s pick: We really appreciated Shambhavi’s unique and sophisticated approach to editorial design. Their project “Food and Culture” shows a thoughtful consideration for typography and playful use of the grid. We were really drawn to the dramatic use of whitespace. 

Liam Hamill — @lliamhamill

Dublin, Ireland

Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT)

Caroline + Sohee’s pick: Liam’s portfolio overall shows that they are master of many disciplines, including typeface, packaging, and editorial design. We were particularly drawn to their “Pandemonium film festival packaging” with its clever use of materials. We’re excited to see what Liam makes next. 

Carl Hampus Vallin — @carlhampusvallin

San Francisco, USA

Academy of Art University

Wade & Leta’s pick: One folio ready to go! Strong colour, composition and art direction skills paired with knowledge of some complicated production methods with the lovely Mohawk Maker. 

Kate Peebles — @kitto_katsu

Brisbane, AUS

University of the Arts, London

Jeremy’s pick: Absolutely loved this folio and left me wanting to see more! Kate’s work is really on trend, but at the same time exploring some new territory aesthetically where I can see her developing her unique voice. I really loved her use of geometry without being too rigid. Add in a deft touch for unique textures, as well as her playful takes on some of the saucier subject matter, and you have a winning combination. Looking forward to seeing where she takes her emerging folio!

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Cassie Stevens — @SoggySavoy

Melbourne, AUS

Monash University

Jeremy’s pick: Hard to go past the deep well of Australiana that Cassie has mined for her work, definitely hits the mark for me! Cassie is definitely taking a fearless approach to her folio – both in terms of subject matter, but also how she is exploring a wide variety of mediums in addition to traditional illustration. From her sculptures to wall art, there’s a unifying and imperfect aesthetic that is really captivating. It’s obviously hitting the mark for others as well, as her commissioned work shows as well. Definitely going to keep an eye on this home-grown talent.

Aley Hanson — @aley.hanson

San Francisco, USA

Rhode Island School of Design

Jeremy’s pick: I was immediately drawn to Aley’s work, and not just because it was at the top of my list, Alphabetically! She’s absolutely tapped into something very contemporary in the state of illustration, and while some of the pieces can look a bit crude on the surface, the underlying compositions and use of colour display an underlying mastery at work. While I can already see a wide variety of application for this work but I know if she keeps pushing this aesthetic she’ll end up in some really new and exciting territory!

Eva Cremers — @evacremers

Groningen, the Netherlands

Minerva Art Academy

Wade & Leta’s pick: A strong example of simple, playful ideas created in varied styles with care and clarity of execution. 

Hannah Small — @

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Wade & Leta’s pick: We are suckers for some beautifully organised illegibility. Interlock is a great example of a graphic designer exploring their fields namesake. 

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Jill Senft — @jill_senft

Berlin, Germany

Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin

Toby’s pick: I just loved all of her images. Unique, Hilarious, thoughtful and beautiful.

Ana Abreu — @studiohumana

Lisbon, Portugal

University of Évora, Portugal

Toby’s pick: Loved this restrained work and her idea of reducing the scales of justice down to their purist form. It was a welcome breath of fresh air minimalism in a sea of extremely vibrant zingy folio submissions.

Olivia Park — @theoliviapark

Boston, USA

Rhode Island School of Design

Toby’s pick: This folio felt rich with original, meaningful experimental content – like a great student folio should! Liked the slightly unfinished edge to it all.

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Carlos Bocai — @carlosbocai

Brooklyn, New York

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Jupio’s Pick: Very versatile and full of ideas! He looks like the kind of person whose brain can’t stop thinking about design. The use of colors in his projects really stand out (we can see some Brazilian influence here), and he manages to mix them in a very balanced way. It’s very refreshing to see and understand his vision in every project. He has a point and proves it through design.

Lisa Apers — @frosnapers

Copenhagen, Denmark

SuperHi

Jesper’s pick: What caught my eye with this portfolio is how it manages to cross boundaries between graphic design and arts. The work is very experimental and I would love to see more of this kind of work in commercial settings. 

Élise Rigollet — @eliserigollet

Glasgow, UK

École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs

Chris’s pick: I don’t usually gravitate towards graphic design that bleeds into the area of visual art but this really caught my attention. There is a beautiful balance of intensity and restraint. It’s evident that a great deal of consideration, craft and care has gone into every element. The playful yet structured typography creates a fantastic energy. I especially like the University of Oregon posters, would happily have any one of them hanging on my wall, a great example of contemporary graphic design that is enduring. Really great work!

Giordano Zatta — @giordanozatta

Wellington, New Zealand

Massey University

Chris’s pick: I’m a sucker for monochromatic design and typography, especially when it is executed so well. Honest, sophisticated, intelligent, bold, minimalist, expressive, these are all the words that spring to mind. Giordano clearly has a natural eye for composition and typography, not to mention a name that is destined for fame.

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Ronaldo Vidal — @ronaldoav

São Paulo, Brazil

Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing (ESPM)

Chris’s pick: I would call this ‘graphic designers design’. There is some really nice Swiss influence here. A solid focus on hierarchy, structure and clarity. Some really smart thinking along with highly crafted execution. Love the bubble wrap poster, so good!  

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Daphna Awadish — @daphna_awadish

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The School of Fine Arts and Design | St.Joost (AKV|St.Joost)

Jupio’s pick: Really loved her illustration, there`s some nostalgia in there. Her character design skills are very refreshing, the way she manages to portrait the personalities in her characters, the use of colors and spontaneity and honesty of her stories, really captured my attention.

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Miguel Anonimo — @miguelanonimo.xyz

Barcelona, Spain

ELISAVA | Barcelona School of Design and Engineering

Jesper’s pick: Graphic design is also about the control of elements. This portfolio is an excellent example of a nicely fine-tuned, coherent ensemble, that is very much in control. Nice looking stuff – I like!

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Christopher Edwards — @_c_edwards

London, UK

De Montfort University

Caroline + Sohee’s pick: We really loved his Practical Printer editorial pieces that were inspired by Japanese gardens. We can tell that Chris is an experimental maker with a strong sense of form and typography. We could get lost in all the little details inside of this booklet.

Shyanne Trutwein — @shyannetrutweindesign

Brisbane, AUS

Billy Blue College of Design

Oliver’s pick: A portfolio with a super balance. It’s handling of typography, illustration, composition and colour are very good and it’s surprising when it takes the concepts to different disciplines (Brand, packaging, digital, visual communications). Her work shows branding system capabilities.

Julia GR — @g.r_julia

Montreal, Canada

L'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

Oliver’s pick: I loved her style. Her illustrations are an abstraction of reality to simple forms full of feeling and innocence. Her illustrations don’t just stay on paper but can become a product, they make you imagine hundreds of possibilities with her graphic.

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Zenobia Ahmed — @zenobiaahmed

Melbourne, AUS

RMIT University

Oliver’s pick: Very good editorial work! The sensitivity she has with typography, composition and hierarchization assure me that she can bring good design to all disciplines. I’m looking forward to seeing her design applied to more disciplines other than editorial.

TDK Interview Coming Soon!

Jennifer Yoo — @jenkyoo

New York, USA

Shillington College

Jessica’s pick: Unexpected, fun and experimental, I love how different each project was. The colour palette of the ‘Lovely SPAM’ project, the illustrations, copy writing and mystical quality to ‘Fete de la Foret’, a luxury pet brand, to the playful experimental typography for ‘KANPAI!’, a drink delivery service. Jennifer’s folio is well executed, and she shows off each brand nicely without over doing it. Well done.

Leticia Ortín — @ara_estudio

Barcelona, Spain

ELISAVA | Barcelona School of Design and Engineering

Jessica’s pick: I noticed Leticia’s work straight away, she’s incredibly talented within the editorial space and shows an amazing range of styles within each publication. I loved the packaging project too for Mandra Flowershop, great colour palette, quiet but confidant. ‘Malta, Details’ the publication was my favourite – rooted in the past, but contemporary at the same time. Congrats Leticia!

Susannah O’hUadhaigh — @sueowhoo

Dublin, Ireland

Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT)

Jessica’s pick: I loved the ‘SUE O’WHO?!’ self branding, fun and easier to remember. Each project was very conceptual, but with a high level of execution. #NOMEANS was my favourite project, an activist group tacking the issue of consent from a female perspective, which looks and feels like club posters. It also uses real experiences from clubs to create relatable content for the audience. Special mention for the last project, a bible with a contemporary twist exploring the word ‘fuck’ from the 1400s to present day. Well done Sue!

Justyna Procak — @justprocak

London, UK

Shillington College

Jupio’s pick: First, she talks about Mad Men, twice, in the first page. Second, she has a talent to say things in a way that you feel connected. I really like how she mixed her design skills with some funny and clever messages. Very playful and conceptual at the same time. Third, the fact that she wants to focus her role as a designer in a social movement is really great.