Excellence in Communications Awards

Woody Batts is a versatile designer with over a decade of experience in the industry. His expertise spans branding, identity design, user experience, and interface design. In addition to his role as a designer, Woody is an exhibiting artist, speaker, and educator. His work has garnered multiple awards and accolades, including three Webby Awards and recognition from the AIGA.

With decades of experience on industry-leading design teams at Netflix, Dropbox, Etsy, and The New York Times, Kim Bost brings a wealth of expertise to the table. As a design leader, Kim focuses on strategy, nurturing senior talent, and steering design to deliver innovative and impactful solutions at scale. Known for managing large, cross-functional, and distributed teams, Kim is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments that can swiftly adapt to evolving demands.

Curt Kotula serves as the Creative Director and managing partner of the Baltimore-based design firm, Fastspot. Holding a BFA in graphic design from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Curt brings a rich background to his work. He has been a visiting artist in the MFA in Graphic Design program and has taught undergraduate classes on web design and typography for the screen.

A comprehensive document summarizing an organization’s activities, financial performance, and achievements over the past year. Typically includes financial statements, highlights, and future goals.

A visually appealing brochure or booklet used to showcase campus life, programs, and facilities. It aims to attract prospective students.

Recognition for outstanding social media campaigns or strategies. This award acknowledges creativity, engagement, and impact across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Honors exceptional marketing efforts across various media channels (print, digital, TV, radio). Judges consider creativity, effectiveness, and alignment with the brand’s message.

Celebrates well-crafted video content, whether it’s a TV commercial, online ad, or promotional video. Judges evaluate storytelling, visuals, and overall impact.

Recognizes excellence in web design and user experience. The award focuses on aesthetics, functionality, navigation, and responsiveness.

Acknowledges outstanding print ads in magazines, newspapers, or billboards. Judges assess creativity, clarity, and effectiveness in conveying the message.

Commends exceptional journalism or storytelling. Feature stories often delve into human interest, culture, or in-depth reporting beyond news headlines.

An open-ended category that allows for unconventional or innovative entries. It could include anything from guerrilla marketing to unique content campaigns.