October 24, 2024

CASE Selects UT Southwestern Projects for District Honors

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s District IV announced the winners of the Best of District IV Awards, and I was honored that my team at UT Southwestern Medical Center was recognized for work we designed for the institution.

Taking top honors for publication improvement was the team’s design of Pathways magazine. As the publication entered its third year of publication, the team looked for ways to further invest in editorial choices that had resonated with readers while evolving the design. The resulting issues published across 2023 demonstrated a more refined and cohesive publication that empowered writers and designers to leverage the power of storytelling and design to showcase philanthropy’s impact.

The team’s approach to rebranding UT Southwestern’s annual Alumni Reunion garnered praise in the environmental graphics category. Our strategy revisited all aspects of the event to create a unified design system. Combining creativity and logistics, we developed an immersive design that wove the institution’s identity into every element of the event from signage to decor.

Alumni Roundup, a new fall event for alumni was recognized as a model for single-day special events. Because many of UT Southwestern’s alumni remain in the North Texas area, we wanted to create a daytime event for local alumni that would serve as a counterpoint to our spring programming centered around a multi-day Alumni Reunion. The resulting family event combined a cookout lunch and afternoon of yard games and opportunities to reconnect with area alumni with a fun identity designed by the Development Communications team to feel like it had deep roots in the institution’s brand.

In the publications category, my team’s design for an endowment giving brochure also earned recognition. Crafted with plainspoken writing and features such as an example of how endowments work and a list of frequent questions were strategically included to empower donors to learn at their comfort level. Photos and examples on every spread showcased the myriad of endowment types while showcasing the real people who benefit from the perpetual impact of endowments at UT Southwestern.

CASE District IV represents more than 260 institutions spanning Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The annual awards exemplify the highest standards in alumni relations, communications, fundraising, marketing and advancement services.