With the Olympic Games approaching, the West Virginia University Alumni Association kicked things off a little early by taking home the Gold Award for Best Calendar Design as part of the 2012 Magnum Opus Awards.
The member calendar perfectly matched the Magnum’s criteria for the award in its “informational and entertainment value, quality of writing and display copy, creative use of imagery typography, and consistency of color palette and style.”
“A lot of thought, creativity and effort go into the creation of this popular calendar every year, and each year it gets better and better,” said Steve Douglas, president & CEO, WVU Alumni Association. “It is wonderful to see our staff recognized for their great work.”
The calendar combined past and present photos of school traditions and areas around campus to show the history of the University, with each month alternating between old and new photos. The calendar also included an interactive monthly quiz called “Mountaineer Mensa” to test Mountaineers’ knowledge of WVU. The answers were then included on the WVU Alumni Association website. Quick Response Codes (known as QR codes) directing users to the Heritage Project site were also used to encourage alumni to share their stories and memories of their time at WVU.
The WVU Alumni Association’s member calendar succeeded in showcasing a “then and now” theme of WVU, appealing to all generations of alumni while promoting WVU’s Heritage Project. The 2012 calendar was designed to complement the project by showcasing the rich history and ever-changing landscape of WVU. Additionally, illustrations from various issues of The Monticola, a WVU yearbook used throughout much of the University’s history, make it more interesting and highlight the historic significance of the institution.
The calendar is produced annually for dues-paying members of the WVU Alumni Association. Each calendar is designed around a theme and includes photos submitted by alumni members.
The Magnum Opus Awards were funded in 2004 by McMurry, Inc., to honor excellence in corporate communications. In 2011, McMurry partnered with the Content Marketing Institute to help extend the reach of the program. Past winners of the awards include Procter & Gamble, The Walt Disney Company and GEICO, among others.
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CONTACT: Tara Curtis, WVU Alumni Association
304-293-0972, tecurtis@mail.wvu.edu
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