NEW YORK.-In an innovative partnership, Sessions Online School of Design, accredited by the DETC (Distance Education and Training Council), recently sponsored a student design competition to support the work of the DETC by redesigning the DETC Web site. The Web site was last designed by Sessions in 2001.
Acknowledging the importance of continuing and expanding DETC’s global image and growing reputation, Sessions sponsored a student competition among its 2,000 students to redesign the DETC Web site so that it would better reflect the enhanced stature and acceptance of DETC around the world.
Reaching out to non-profit organizations with worthy goals and limited design budgets, Sessions frequently offers its talented student designers real-world work experience and exposure through design competitions on projects that meet these organizations’ urgent communications needs.
“Our student designers always enthusiastically support and participate in our competitions,” said Doris Granatowski, Sessions’ CEO. “While the competitions provide a wonderful forum for students to showcase their work, it’s clear that their true motivation is to contribute in a meaningful way to the work of organizations such as the DETC. This was particularly satisfying to us, as the work of the DETC promotes and protects the outstanding qualities of our own field, distance education.”
DETC Executive Director Mike Lambert’s objective was to present the global outlook of the organization through the site redesign, placing visual emphasis on interdisciplinary student achievements and using technology to make information more accessible to students and institutions. The site also had the dual task of showcasing the DETC’s illustrious history while reflecting its modern outlook.
"The outcome of this unique student competition epitomizes success for us: a student from one of our accredited schools using the skills he has learned there to redesign and refurbish the DETC’s online image," said Mr. Lambert. “Everyone benefits.”
The winner was Mark Logan, a Ft. Lauderdale-based web design student and professional, whose work was chosen for its successful use of technology to communicate DETC’s message with a modern look and an accessible, human focus.
As an adult learner, Mark juggled the demands of a full time job, his online studies, and the challenge of a competition. “In spite of my concerns of the demands on my schedule from entering this competition, I had a great time,” he said. “I worked hard, made sure to pay attention to every detail, and researched competitors’ work to know what I was up against. This project has enhanced my position as a professional Web designer with my current employer.”
The new DETC Web site should be operational by February 2007.
