INA, Ill. (February 13, 2023) — Jacy Crews, a Visual Communications Design major at Rend Lake College (RLC), recently won the “Fighting Cancer Today” T-Shirt Design Contest. The contest was part of a class assignment for Production Prepress class, and it provided students with the opportunity to gain real-world experience, and exposure to potential career opportunities.
For Jacy, the contest held a deeper meaning. Her family has been greatly impacted by cancer, and fought hard against the disease. Jacy recognizes the important work being done by Fighting Cancer Today, an organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
Jacy Crews, a student at Rend Lake College, designed the winning t-shirt for Fighting Cancer Today.
Her winning design is a tribute to her family and all those who have been affectec by cancer. It represents hope, inclusiveness, and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. The design showcases her creativity, problem-solving skills, and design knowledge, and it is a testament to her commitment to making a positive impact in the world.
“Getting the opportunity to create something that represents people like my family is a win for me," Jacy said. Her victory in the contest is a powerful step along her journey, and a tribute to her family and all those who have been affected by cancer.
"Her design was fantastic," said Fighting Cancer Today's CEO & Founder Cierra Johnson. "We try to show that we create a community. Even with different capabilities, we want people to know they are not alone. This design is a way to help boost support for walkers and runners. The image of the people symbolize the different phases of their battles. It shows we are all supportive and have the capacity to finish."
"In design, limitations can encourage problem solving and creativity," said Jennifer Tarantino-Linsin, RLC's Visual Communication Design Professor. "Often the perception of design is making something look appealing. However, what is often overlooked is how function may play an even larger role in design. Having a working knowledge of the production prepress side of a design helps ensure the end result as it is intended and save cost while meeting the desires of the client. This project was an opportunity for students to take a concept they created, implement restrictions, and address limitations they may not have utilized if given free-reign. Projects like these become real world scenarios that students will continue to encounter throughout their career that help them design smarter and develop their skills when working with clients.
This project was assigned to second semester freshmen. At this stage, students are just beginning to put concepts together with applications, rework ideas for improvement, asking questions about how will this be utilized, etc. Working on projects like a t-shirt design for Fighting Cancer Today allows students to see that their work in design is not just about selling a product but can be used in promoting a cause, a movement, and making an impact for the greater good."
For more information about Rend Lake College's Visual Communication Design program, visit rlc.edu/VCD.
