Chalsey Falk part of group dominating inaugural Web design awards

2014 Jul 10

University of Wisconsin-Stout students were out front in a new national competition that concluded recently.

UW-Stout dominated the online Student Web Awards, submitting the most accepted entries, 22 of 34, and sweeping first place in all six categories for Web design.

UW-Stout also took three second places and three third places in the first year of the competition, which is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

Chalsey Falk of Moorhead, Minn., took third place in user experience. Falk is majoring in graphic design and interactive media.

UW-Stout teaches Web design as part of the undergraduate program in graphic design and interactive media. For more information, go to www.uwstout.edu/programs/bfagdim.

Other universities with award-winners were North Carolina State University, Sage College, American University, University of Minnesota and University of Oklahoma.

For more information, go to http://studentwebawards.net.

UW-Stout was well-represented in part because Assistant Professor Robert Fraher helped create the competition. Entries were judged by Yana Sakellion, of American University; David Molanphy, creative director for Perspective Lab; and Fraher.

"We hope the awards will become a highly anticipated yearly competition and showcase of the best in student Web design," Fraher said. "The jurors share a passion for design education and a commitment to supporting emerging design talent."

Fraher also said the contest is part of a research project he has conceived to connect his scholarship, teaching and service activities. His goal is to establish a global community of students, designers, instructors and institutions and to promote their communication and collaboration.