From creative vision to award-winning design reality, two recent Durham College Graphic Design graduates were among 15 award recipients recognized for their creative achievements in graphic design at the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) of Ontario’s 2012 Student Awards.

Selected by a jury of 36 award-winning creative professionals from across Ontario, the awards recognized Alexandra Tanner and Earvin Fanfair for their creative work. All winners were awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

“Durham College Graphic Design students have the creative skills and technical know-how to put their ideas together,” said Stuart Ellis, program co-ordinator.. “They work hard on their design portfolios and it shows when they are competing against others. It’s a competitive field that they’re in and they do excel.”

Tanner received the Cinnamon Toast Award for Eastern Ontario in recognition of her branding, editorial, and packaging designs. She created a logo and stationary for fictional farmers’ market Eclectic Hand for her branding design; a vintage coffee- table book, PinUps, for her editorial design; and a high-end specialty lotion and soap packaging for her final design.

“When I received the e-mail that I won an RGD Student Award of Excellence I was shocked and extremely happy,” said Tanner. “Once my work is published it will open up so many new doors and I can’t wait.” 

Fanfair, recipient of the Lucidia Award for Web, took his designs in a different direction with his Swiftblob submission, an online magazine about innovative design in business,, investments, technology, and more. He provided a computer screen snapshot and app preview of the magazine, showcasing his technological know-how acquired through his studies.

“My time at Durham College was amazing. I learned a lot of things about design, and how to approach it,” said Fanfair. “Winning this award was great. Great exposure, an amazing set of panellists reviewing your work, and RGD is an amazing organization with great initiatives for young designers.”

In addition Tanner and Fanfair, along with the other award recipients, will see their work profiled in a custom booklet featured in the November/December 2012 issue of DesignEdge Magazine.