While interning with SDSU Athletics, my biggest project was designing graphics for the A.C.E. Awards, SDSU’s all-sport banquet. I created the announcement poster, social media assets, and presentation graphics. In early meetings, the team emphasized how disengaged athletes were the previous year due to unexciting visuals. With full creative control, I set out to change that. I brought in photography and gritty textures to reflect the perseverance it takes to compete at a high level. I also featured photos of each sport’s facilities—Snapdragon Stadium for football, Tony Gwynn Stadium for baseball, etc.—so athletes would instantly connect with what they saw. My goal was to make them feel celebrated and excited to be there.

For the poster, I explored several concepts, Hollywood tickets, outlined courts, but ultimately chose Snapdragon Stadium as the backdrop. Every sport is connected to it, making it a unifying visual. I used a black-and-white photo with a red overlay to make white text stand out and incorporated physical elements like a soccer ball and lacrosse stick. Limited to Aztec Bold and Futura PT Condensed Medium, I used shadows and glows to create visual hierarchy. Since it was printed, clarity and legibility from a distance were key.