SAN FRANCISCO – Adapting with both in-person and online learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Academy of Art University once again spotlighted its students' best work from the 2021-22 academic year this time with a hybrid format for its annual Spring Show event. A fascinating and interactive setup at The Cannery combined with the virtual version (a concept that emerged in 2020) to provide a live look at the 40+ areas of art and design which included a showcase of talents and portfolios from more than 35 current and former ART U student-athletes.

One of two "Best In Show" honors earned by Urban Knights from the men's soccer team was bestowed upon Adrian Cekala in the School of Advertising. Following up a senior season in which he became the program's all-time points and goals leader, Cekala had four different pieces highlighted including a colorful Silver Addy San Francisco award-winning campaign for Puma called "Play Beautiful," two Bronze Addy SF award-winning designs for "Jeep" and "ZzzQuil," and an encouraging mental health concept with "Walkers Comfort Crisps."
 
Also in the School of Advertising, volleyball's Catharina Brant Bambirra showed off a Band-Aid integrated campaign called "Because Stuff Happens" with a series of print ads aiming to "strengthen ties with customers and create a loyal clientele."

The other "Best In Show" selection came from the School of Interaction & UI/UX Design and recognized Edvard Edvardsson of men's soccer who innovated a device that tracks fitness statistics while protecting the brain against repeated blows known as "Strike." Additionally, Edvardsson worked in conjunction with other students from the School of Industrial Design on "Sano," "a product with software-generated workout and meditation partners to encourage astronauts to exercise and meditate on a daily basis in preparation for longer space missions."

"The previous four years at the Academy of Art University's School of Interaction & UI/UX Design have been just amazing, and this was a perfect way to say goodbye," Edvardsson said. "I am grateful to all of the inspiring and passionate professors, students, friends, and family who have always encouraged me to keep pushing myself and broaden my knowledge. During my time here, I was able to do internships at advertising and design firms as well as freelancing work in the design industry. I am super excited about what is to come and want to congratulate everyone who participated in the Spring Show this year."

A cross-department collaboration from Logi Saemundsson and Gilli Kristjansson, each Interaction & UI/UX Design majors and teammates of Cekala and Edvardsson this past season, along with Brooklyn Morera, a Communications & Media Technologies major from women's soccer, presented "Clutch," an app focused on improving mental health through responsive technology.

Men's track & field All-American Kaze Poitier, recent recipient of the ARTY for Best Individual GPA by a male student-athlete, was recognized for his stellar work in the form of both "FoodBae", an app "designed to answer the oh-so ominous question of what to eat," and "Neo-Couture," a geometric sans serif inspired by his home country of the Bahamas which was honored as Outstanding Original Typeface Design.

Among those up for honors at 2022 NXTUP Fest, a virtual awards show recognizing the Schools of Entertainment (Acting, Motion Pictures & Television, Writing for Film, TV & Digital Media), and also in Spring Show were men's soccer's Armando Rivera (Best Actor nominee for "Jean & Will") from the School of Communications & Media Technologies and volleyball's Annie Blumenstein (Best Cinematography nominee for "Voicemails") plus both men's cross country/track & field's Elliot Slade (Best Short Film Challenge & Best Directing: Short Film Challenge nominees for "Thief") and Markus Anderson Deakin (Best Cinematography nominee for "Thief") from the School of Motion Pictures & Television.

Representing the School of Fashion, women's soccer student-athlete Dru Keizer exhibited her versatility ranging from concept development and illustration to creating technical flats and packs through product lifecycle management software and designing digital garments with the Clo3D. With collections such as "Gather" and "Juniper," she demonstrated her focus on "designing sustainable and ethical products that are both beautiful and functional."

A sculpture design from Keizer's women's soccer teammate Anna Maggi-Brown could be found in the School of Fine Art. Inspired by the street art seen throughout San Francisco, Maggi-Brown brought some of her own sketchbook doodles and illustrations to life in vibrant ceramic design showing a "spill from another dimension."

Earning the AIA Medal for Academic Excellence (Top Graduating Student) in the School of Architecture, women's golfer Iveta Posledni shined for a stellar portfolio and thesis project that was particularly close to home. She achieved the highest honor in one of the most challenging majors at Academy of Art for her meticulous work integrating healing mineral springs into a cultural center and baths all within the Czech Republic's Marianske Lazne.

After closing his collegiate men's basketball career in 2021, Luka Radovic also had his impressive portfolio and thesis project recognized with a Bachelor of Architecture Excellence Award. Drawing his inspiration from different cultures and designs while traveling for basketball, Radovic focused on connecting the urban and rural areas of Montenegro, neighbor to his home country of Serbia, "to sustain traditional agricultural practices and make available locally produced food."

One of the most populous departments at Academy of Art in terms of student-athletes, the School of Communications & Media Technologies featured an accomplished assortment of work from several sport programs. Receiving awards from a women's tennis team that won the ARTY for Best Team GPA were Best Undergraduate Producers Julia Ortega and Yun "Nicole" Shiau while Undergrad Legacy Awards were bestowed upon Natalia Novak from women's cross country/track & field and Picabo Reinhold from volleyball. Men's cross country/track & field's Abdelouakil Mustapha picked up a Graduate Legacy Award along with baseball's Ryan Gamboa who had several video packages selected including a story about Merl Eberly of the Clarinda A's and whose talents were also on display as part of a live game show production at Spring Show's opening day.

"To receive any award is an honor and to receive the Legacy Award, courtesy of my instructors, is high on my list," Gamboa said. "Without the instructors, there is no way I would have been able to get this far. A credit to all instructors across all departments, the student achievements are a reflection of time and dedication as educators. I personally couldn't have done it without them."

Alongside his baseball teammate in the live production (which had live audiences both in person and over Zoom) was Best Graduate On-Camera and Urban Knights Radio Award recipient Vincent Lontz whose public service announcement for the Menlo Park Police Department was highlighted. Other work from baseball student-athletes included Andrew Shebloski's collaboration on the Menlo Park Police Department segment, Dallen Turner's feature about his father plus multiple episodes of "Dally and his Stallys" series about horses at his family's ranch, and Cannon Secrist's introspective look at his return from injury.

The Best Graduate Producer award went to women's track & field student-athlete Alice Coisne who made her second consecutive Spring Show appearance with pieces such as a drone-based look at the Palace of Fine Arts called "History From The Air," and an ART U track & field feature entitled "Team Reflection." Coisne's track & field teammate Ombretta Picciolie Minkue Meye also doubled up Spring Show honors with her segment from the video series Binge called "The Fighter" which told the story of Santa Clara University writer and professor Francisco Jiménez.

A Communications & Media Technologies honor also went to Christian Schaffner of men's soccer whose Undergraduate Focus Award was embodied in his video haiku along with episodes from "A One Streetlight Series" looking at small towns across the country. The department also spotlighted a video haiku from men's basketball student-athlete Cheickna Sissoko that reflected on Ramadan.

In addition to having multiple dynamic character art designs in Spring Show, Game Development major and softball All-American Lauryn Henderson also served as the concept art lead for "Hickory," a puzzle platformer game that follows the journey of a little mouse (which can be played here). Henderson, who broke the program's career home runs and walks records this past season, made even more history as the first student-athlete to have her work appear in Spring Show five straight years.

From her expansive "Wind Temple" and "Forest Ruins" to character and item designs, Zoey Kister of volleyball also had a wide array of pieces included in the School of Game Development area.

The School of Photography Gallery caught many an eye and the creativity of multiple student-athletes could be found there. Davis King from men's soccer had two pieces including "Business Casual" and "Nike" while men's track & field's Daniel Cortes Gonzalez spotlighted teammate Darria Matthias in "Darria," which was the first piece to sell mere hours into the opening of the in-person Spring Show.

Also featured in the gallery were pieces from former men's soccer student-athletes Christian Cano (Mercado In Hermosillo & Late Night at the Zaragoza Plaza) and Mykal Mason (Pierre Cardin & Gavin & Organic Space). In his own section, Mason was applauded for his clever three-part collection called "Snack Time!" which was among the department's top series.

Both featured in the School of Graphic Design Sizzle Reel, Jenny Wittor of women's soccer and Kiersten Kerch of volleyball had collections available. Wittor's items included packaging for Fuel and Gold Elephant along with a website design for Fuse Festival while Kerch, who earned the department's Service Award, offered a Panaché type book piece as well as packaging for Endangered Species Chocolate and Barebottle Beer. Throughout Spring Show's first day, these and other students could be found presenting their portfolios to industry professionals and two-sport student-athlete Alyssa Rasmussen from women's soccer and softball was also among them.

"Spring Show was so fun and it was not only a smart way to show off work but also created so many opportunities for everyone," Kerch said. "A lot of people came and it was interesting to have 10+ interviews in one day. Definitely different but effective."

Whether entering their respective design industries as 2022 graduates or continuing to build their portfolios in the coming years, these 35+ student-athlete Spring Show honorees represent some of the best and brightest artists Academy of Art has to offer.