Thirst | Communication Design Practice

College for Creative Studies BFA Recruitment

The College of Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit approached Rick Valicenti to hold an undistorted mirror up to their school experience. Thirst insisted that all messaging and art work be about and by the students, faculty, and alumni. CCS communication materials would be as entirely honest and transparent as possible.

Valicenti directed an internal team of three CCS design students to conceive, illustrate, typeset, and design all aspects of this new brand presence for the school.

The view book became a package of five books each focused on a distinctive message: student portfolios, Detroit, the investment the college makes in the students, alumni and their achievements, and making applications. And, to amplify authenticity, every image and word was created by the CCS students and coordinated with the CCS faculty!

The student portfolio book die-cut cover and inside is truly worldclass.

Once the perforation is torn into, the student who created the work is visible along with examples of their work from their freshman, sophomore, and junior years, and an example of their high school portfolio they originally submitted.

The student portfolio book includes images of students’ work, with their portraits on the inside of the open end binding.

The information book features stats about the college and the student body.

CCS investments and campus statistics are presented through information graphics and straight-forward text in a separate book targeted to the parents.

Making an application to CCS is spelled out in the most easy manner even though it takes 16 pages to do so.

Detroit was made easy and inviting in a small handbook. The messaging was drawn from an intranet survey.

Client: College for Creative Studies

Service: Art Direction; Print

Process

Our objective was to deliver the next-generation view book. What we received far exceeded extraordinary. For the students working on the view book, this was an an extraordinary experience they will leverage as they embark on their careers and continue to shape the design community. - Katie Kunesh, CCS Design Director on the BFA Viewbooks

They look fantastic! The subtle paper differences and relationships between the sections, the portfolio spreads and the way each message is set all add to their beauty. We are indeed happy campers over here! - Katie Kunesh, CCS Design Director on the MFA viewbooks

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