Design student places first in National PSAid Competition

The Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) announced that Visual Communication Design junior Joseph Clay was chosen as this year’s First Place winner in the Print category for PSAid: Public Service Announcements for International Disasters. Clay was awarded $6,000 for his efforts.

The competition asked student filmmakers and graphic designers to create broadcast and print PSAs demonstrating the importance of monetary donations rather than in-kind donations in response to international disasters.

Clay’s entry—“Donation Facts”—uses the template of a nutritional ingredients label to tell the “facts” about disaster-relief giving. The entry was punctuated by photographs of needy children framing the “label.” The first place winner’s entry may have his PSA distributed nationally to newspapers and magazines.

“I am delighted and proud of Joe,” says Mookesh Patel, chair of the Department of Visual Communication Design. “He is a wonderful sensitive designer, and I believe he deserves the award. I would also like to thank every one at CIDI and USAID for organizing this wonderful award program. The department is committed to explore relevant, inspirational, and appropriate communication messages for the community at large. This program provides the perfect opportunity for all our students to learn through this project. We plan to integrate PSAid contest in our curriculum again next spring.”

The entries from students across the country were reduced to five finalists per category, which were chosen by public vote through the PSAid.org website. The winning PSAs will be used to educate the public about appropriate donation response during international disasters.

“Cash does not clog supply channels like in-kind donations, cash is always socially appropriate, and cash can be used to buy the exact items needed in a disaster area while also giving the local economy a much needed boost,” Kate Houston, media contact for CIDI explained in a press statement.

For more information about the students competition, see www.PSAid.org website.