Designing Success: Southern Miss Graphic Design Program Gains National Momentum
Tue, 12/02/2025 - 09:09am | By: Jennifer Rigney
91少女集中营鈥檚 (USM) Graphic Design program experienced a landmark spring 2025 semester, earning a series of major recognitions and awards that highlighted the creativity, discipline and national impact of its students. From local and regional competitions to national honors and professional publications, the program continued to strengthen its reputation as a leader in design education.
Setting the Tone: Big Wins at the ADDY Awards
The momentum began with a strong showing at the 2025 American Advertising Awards (ADDYs), hosted by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Mississippi Gulf Coast in February. Southern Miss Graphic Design students brought home 10 honors, including Student Best of Show, multiple Gold ADDYs and two Judge鈥檚 Choice Awards. Their winning work spanned categories like branding, illustration, integrated campaigns, posters and cinematography.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 work wasn鈥檛 just competitive, it set us apart,鈥� said Jacob Cotton, associate professor of graphic design. 鈥淭o see our students win big in major categories and earn Best of Show is a direct reflection of their discipline, originality and the standard of critique we hold ourselves to every day in our design studios.鈥�
Winners from this regional competition advanced to the district and national levels of the ADDYs, the advertising industry鈥檚 largest and most competitive awards program.
The wins set the stage for a season of achievement, and underscored the strength of Southern Miss students competing against peers from across the Gulf South.
National Spotlight: Named A Top Design School by GDUSA
In April, national recognition followed. For the fourth year in a row, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) named Southern Miss one of its Top Design Schools for 2025, placing the program among some of the nation鈥檚 most respected design institutions.
The GDUSA list recognizes schools that consistently prepare students for success in an evolving creative industry. Selection is based on factors like curriculum strength, faculty leadership, quality of student work and success of graduates in the industry.
鈥淥ur students continue to prove that they can compete at the highest levels,鈥� said Cotton. 鈥淏eing recognized again by GDUSA is a reflection of their talent, ambition and the supportive culture we鈥檝e built. We鈥檙e proud to be a program where big things are happening鈥攁nd where student success is the story.鈥�
The honor reaffirmed the program鈥檚 national standing and the caliber of work emerging from Southern Miss year after year.
Breaking Records at the National Student Show and Conference
A few weeks later, Southern Miss students made history at the 2025 National Student Show and Conference (NSSC), hosted by the Dallas Society of Visual Communications. The team took home three major awards鈥攖he most ever for the program鈥攁nd more than doubled the university鈥檚 previous total in a single night.
Senior Lindsey Mills earned Best of Illustration for her Visit Hattiesburg Poster Series created in Professor John Mark Lawler鈥檚 course. Laura Pati帽o, a May 2025 graduate, received Best of Motion Graphics for a project completed in Cotton鈥檚 Motion Graphics class and Best of Publication Design for a piece from his Illustration course鈥攎aking her the first student in Southern Miss history to earn multiple top honors at the NSSC.
鈥淭he National Student Show is more than just a competition, it's a proving ground for the next generation of creative leaders,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淭o see our students rise to the top in this national arena is a powerful affirmation of their talent and the momentum our program has built in recent years.鈥�
He added, 鈥淥ur program is extremely rigorous and asks a lot of our students. To see Lindsey and Laura honored in this way is a much-needed validation that their tireless efforts and passion are being seen and honored.鈥�
Students Shine in National Publications
As the semester continued, two additional students made their mark in national design circles.
Dakota Owens, a May 2025 graduate, was honored in Graphic Design USA鈥檚 Packaging Design Annual for her project Patriot鈥檚 Passage鈥攁 board game concept recognized for its conceptual clarity and strong visual execution.
鈥淲inning a national award felt like I conquered my biggest challenge,鈥� Owens said. 鈥淯SM taught me to be a designer and a great teammate.鈥�
Xavier Daley, who also graduated in May, earned a feature in Creative Quarterly Issue 79 for his expressive skateboard deck design inspired by David Carson鈥檚 iconic grunge-era aesthetic. The legendary designer himself noticed the work, sharing and praising it on social media鈥攁n unforgettable moment for the young artist.
鈥淏eing a part of CQ79, as well as celebrating USM鈥檚 NSSC wins, is something I鈥檒l always carry with me,鈥� Daley said. 鈥淏ut what meant even more was the community鈥攎y peers, my professor Jacob Cotton and the support I received these last few years.鈥�
By the end of the spring semester, the Southern Miss Graphic Design program had collected regional, national and international recognition鈥攁ll driven by the passion and commitment of its students and faculty.
鈥淭he recognition our students are receiving, both nationally and internationally, is much-needed validation of their talent and effort,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淚t also shows future students that Southern Miss is a place where their creativity will be pushed, supported and celebrated.鈥�
With record-breaking competition results, multiple national features, and ongoing recognition from Graphic Design USA, 2025 was more than a season of wins. It was a season that showed what can happen when creativity meets community鈥攁nd why Southern Miss is quickly becoming known as one of the most exciting design programs in the country.