Mercer University’s graphic design students have achieved a five-year winning streak at the American Graphic Design Awards, earning nine awards in the 2025 competition organized by Graphic Design USA. The awards recognize excellence in work submitted from more than 6,000 entries nationwide, with only the top 10% of submissions being selected as winners.
Tennille Shuster, chair and professor of art and design at Mercer, commented on the achievement: “Our students’ talent and dedication continue to shine on a national stage, earning an impressive nine GD USA 2025 Graphic Design Awards. This recognition celebrates their exceptional creativity and the strength of our design program.”
The American Graphic Design Awards honor outstanding contributions across various media categories. These include design firms, creative agencies, in-house designers, freelancers, educational institutions, government entities, and students.
Mercer’s recognized students for 2025 are William Dietrich (Class of 2025), Gracen Bohling (Class of 2025), Alexis Taylor (Class of 2025), Abby Milam (Class of 2025) for their OneMacon Brand Manual project; William Dietrich for OneMacon Stationery System; Caroline Wood (Class of 2027) for Social Issue Typeface Design and Newspaper Layout and Repackaging for Sustainability; Gray Law (Class of 2026) for Kinetic Typography and Redesigned Packaging for Sustainability; Josh Bishop (Class of 2025) for Kinetic Typography; William Dietrich again for Social Issue Typeface Design and Newspaper Layout; Eryn Chenault (Class of 2027) for Exhibition Brochure; and Elle Eley (Class of 2027) for Type Specimen Poster.
Junior Caroline Wood reflected on the recognition: “Sometimes it can be hard to know if you’re growing as an artist since graphic design is so subjective. So being recognized by GDUSA is incredibly exciting. I wouldn’t be where I am as a designer without feedback from my peers and professors. Design really is at its best when you can collaborate with others, and Mercer’s graphic design program does a great job of encouraging that.”
