2010 Maroon & Gold Award Recipients

The entries for the Maroon & Gold Awards this year were
inventive, innovative, and impressive. When the awards committee got done
spreading them out, they were struck with how INCREDIBLE we are as a group of professional communicators. It was an amazing array of examples of how, in the face of
budget cuts, layoffs, and the discouragement those realities have brought to us
all in the past year, we have not only persevered, we have exceeded ourselves.

Congratulations! And the winners are...

CATEGORY: CAMPAIGN SERIES

• GOLD
  Ampersand Campaign - Student Unions & Activities
• MAROON - INSTRUCTIONAL
  Minnesota Medical Foundation Corridor Newsletters - Minnesota Medical Foundation
• MAROON - PROMOTIONAL
  Game Day Party Promotional Materials - McNamara Alumni Center
  

CATEGORY: MULTIMEDIA

• GOLD
  Super Ball Drop on Facebook, Twitter... - Student Unions & Activities
  
• MAROON - WEBSITE
  Office of Admissions Website Redesign - Office of Admissions
• MAROON - VIDEO/DVD
  Big Question: Feast or Famine? - Institute On the Environment

CATEGORY: PRINT

• GOLD
  Momentum Magazine Fall 09 - Institute On the Environment
• MAROON - MULTI SHEET
  Make it Super! 2009 UMCF Conference - System Academic Administration
• MAROON - SINGLE SHEET
  Personalized University Calendar - Printing Services
• MAROON - CARD
  OIT Google Postcard - Office of Information Technology
  
• MAROON - POSTER
  Stravinsky in Paris - School of Music
• MAROON - MAGAZINE
  Medical Bulletin Spring 2009 - Minnesota Medical Foundation
  

CATEGORY: WRITING

• GOLD
  Voracious Vegitation Article - Minnesota Sea Grant
• MAROON - INSTRUCTIONAL
  Late Harvest Resources - CFANS Extension
• MAROON - SHORT FEATURE
  Maxine Hong Kingston Article - National Center on Educational Outcomes
  
• MAROON - LONG FEATURE
  Long-distance Learning - CFANS
• MAROON - PROMOTIONAL
  TCF Bank Stadium Donor Thank you Brochure - University of Minnesota Foundation
• MAROON - SCRIPT
  2009 Casey/Minnesota Awards Speech - School of Journalism & Mass Communication

CATEGORY: GREEN

Should I buy a hybrid car? - CFANS Extension

CATEGORY: MARGO

Renewable Energy Banner - CFANS Extension

CATEGORY: MIKE

Big Question: Feast or Famine? - Institute On the Environment

Getting the juices flowing

We've all experienced creative block--those dreaded moments when a deadline looms, but inspiration is nowhere to be found. 

Dennis Cass has some ideas for us. In an interview in this blog earlier this week, Cass promised to impart "a variety of metacognitive strategies for overcoming creative block" during his keynote speech at the May 13 UMCF Conference. I, for one, can't wait.

In the meantime, here's a roundup of advice from 25 designers, creatives, and thinkers--their best tips on how to get the juices flowing. 

What are some of your tips for overcoming creative block?

See you at the conference!

Interview: Center for Genome Engineering Web site redesign

This is the 19^th in a several-part series of interviews with communicators who have redesigned or updated their Web sites. If you have redesigned your site or have a site to suggest for these interviews, let us know.

In this edition: Liz Fedie on the Center for Genome Engineering Web site

What were your reasons for redesigning the site?
We had recently changed the name of our center and wanted to update our image, so we wanted our website to reflect that with a more modern appearance.

What kind of user research or user testing did you do?
We didn't do any research or testing, but I imagine our design team did, the campus group ByDesign, which I understand has lost its funding.

What factors went in to the organization of the site?
We wanted a modern, clean look, but with something a little different, an edge.

How did you think about the visual design of your site within the context of the University brand?
We found the University brand to be somewhat restrictive to the designs we had in mind, but ByDesign was able to bring it all together wonderfully.

What was the biggest challenge, and how did you get past it?
Probably the biggest challenge was incorporating the design with the University brand. Again, ByDesign was able to handle the issue seamlessly.

How did you manage the project and keep it on track?
ByDesign provided us with an excellent timeline and defined steps to move us forward.

What tips do you have for other units redesigning their Web sites?
I think it's important to have a web designer to keep the project on target and to incorporate important elements that the average person may overlook.

How are you evaluating the redesign's success?
From user's feedback and the general adaptability of the site to our changing needs. So far it has been a great success!

It's spring!

And our thoughts are turning to the Forum conference next Thursday--what a great break from all the hectic madness of spring semester.
And for another little break, here are some links to sites that have NOTHING to do with work:

http://mrs-o.org/
This is for anyone who loves fashion and how Michelle Obama has elevated it to height not seen in the White House since another Mrs. O who was then Mrs. K. (follow that?) A great site that I check in with about once a week or so.

http://www.illdoctrine.com/
A great video blog by Jay Smooth, host of the longest running hiphop radio program in New York, WBAI's Underground Railroad. Even if you don't like hiphop, this guy has a LOT to say and an incredibly self-effacing but sure-tongued way of saying it. Especially funny when you can watch his cat wandering around on the unmade bed behind him.

http://www.sbjf.org/sbjco/schmaltz/yiddish_phrases.htm
Because you never know when a Yiddish phrase might provide the perfect bon mot.

http://www.priorfatgirl.com/
If you've ever struggled with weight loss, but especially if you haven't, read this blog. Great writing.

Conference preview: Dennis Cass

The 2010 Communicators Forum conference, Back to Our Roots, is coming up on May 13. We asked some session presenters about their favorite Twin Cities features.

Dennis Cass is our keynote speaker.

Your claim to fame: Someday I will come to you and tell you that you must drop whatever it is you're doing because I have done something truly astounding. Today is not that day.

Favorite local outdoor activity: Walking the Lakes with my wife or playing at the "green park" with my son.

Favorite local indoor activity: Books, television, and video games are all viable options.

Favorite local hangout: Sea Salt in the summer time, CC Club in the winter.

Favorite local band: Not so much a band as a performance group but PowderKeg Live! makes me smile.

Briefly, what will attendees learn at your session? You will learn a variety of metacognitive strategies for overcoming creative block. But try not to worry about it too much.