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UCOP Communications wins several prestigious national design awards

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The results for this year’s UCDA Design Awards (University & College Designers Association) were announced earlier this week, and UCOP Communications was represented in several categories. These awards recognize the best in design and creative work produced by communication professionals who promote educational institutions across the U.S. This year, judges evaluated 950 entries and awarded a total of 220 honors: 25 Gold, 63 Silver and 132 Awards of Excellence, along with 102 Honorable Mentions.

UCOP secured nine accolades: one Gold, two Silver, three Excellence awards and three Honorable Mentions. The full list of winners can be found below.

“I am incredibly proud of the ER&C team for dedicating their time and talents toward these creative projects on behalf of our university,” said Associate Vice President of Communications Jorge Silva. “Thanks to their efforts, more people throughout the country are learning about the groundbreaking research and commitment to public service that the University of California delivers every day.”

Check out the winning projects using the links, images and videos below.

Gold Award: Why video games reduce anxiety — according to science

Category: Animation and Motion Graphics 

Team members:

  • Jessica Wheelock, Director of Multimedia
  • Zak Long, Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Stephen McNally, Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Robyn Schelenz, Web Editor
  • Hecter Herrera, Animation
  • Pazit Cahlon, Animation

Silver Award: Fig. 1

Watch example videos throughout this article and check out all Fig. 1 videos at youtube.com/@fig1.

Category: Video Series

Team members:

  • Jessica Wheelock, Director of Multimedia
  • Zak Long, Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Stephen McNally, Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Carolyn McMillan, Editorial Director
  • Julia Busiek, Content Strategist/Writer
  • Robyn Schelenz, Web Editor

Silver Award: Using solar panels like THIS is a no-brainer! California’s doing it

Category: Video

Participating team members:

  • Zak Long / Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Jessica Wheelock / Director of Multimedia
  • Stephen McNally / Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Robyn Schelenz / Web Editor

Excellence Award: From farmworker to astronaut: The true story behind ‘A Million Miles Away’

Category: Video in Social Media Campaign

Team members:

  • Zak Long, Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Stephen McNally, Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Jessica Wheelock, Director of Multimedia
  • Maria Garcia, Voiceover

Excellence Award: Spanish Language Financial Aid Video

Category: Video

Team members:

  • Stephen McNally, Senior Multimedia Producer
  • Jessica Wheelock, Director of Multimedia
  • Zak Long, Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Apollonia Morrill, Senior Content Strategist/Writer
  • Carolyn McMillan, Editorial Director
  • Raphaelle Steinzig, Content Strategist

Excellence Award: UC Impact website

Female college students dancing and smiling

Category: Other Digital

Team members:

  • Erin Greenfield, Director of Digital Strategy
  • Sarah Oldenburg, Senior UX Designer
  • Jason Schupp, Senior Web Developer
  • Carolyn McMillan, Editorial Director
  • Apollonia Morrill, Senior Content Strategist/Writer
  • Julia Busiek, Content Strategist/Writer

Honorable Mention: Systemwide campus photography

Photos of various UC locations

Category: Photography

Team members:

  • Elena Zhukova, Photographer
  • Masha Kechaeva, Photography Assistant
  • Matt Glass, Creative & Digital Director
  • Jose Pantoja, Designer
  • Carolyn McMillan, Editorial Director
  • Tanna Tucker, Administrative Assistant

Honorable Mention: Spanish wordmark / UC Mexico event materials

Jorge Silva speaks in front of a background filled with a Spanish-language version of the UC wordmark.

Category: Special Event – Collateral 

Team members:

  • Matt Glass, Creative & Digital Director
  • Jose Pantoja, Designer
  • Albert Liu, Administrative Officer
  • Patricia Châu Nguyễn, Director Systemwide Alumni Engagement

Honorable Mention: UC’s year-in-review – Top stories in 90 seconds

Category: Video

Team members:

  • Stephen McNally, Senior Multimedia Strategist/Video Producer
  • Jessica Wheelock, Director of Multimedia
  • Kate Moser, Executive Communications Specialist
  • Michelle Simone, Communications Manager


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