Grand Island native Rapien wins gold AIGA award

Samuel B. Rapien, a graduate student in the graphic design program of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Art and Art History, won a gold medal, the highest student achievement medal, at the Nebraska American Institute of Graphic Arts Student Design Show.

It marked the fifth consecutive year that students in UNL's graphic design program have garnered top-place medals at the Nebraska AIGA professional and student design show. The AIGA is the largest and oldest professional association for design in the United States.

"This is indeed a significant honor for Sam to have been judged by creative professional peers among all the student entries in the state," said Ron Bartels, associate professor of art. "As his design professor, I'm especially pleased to see recognition for his unique creative work, work which comments not only upon his visual design expertise, but also the sensitivity with which he juggles bold graphic statements juxtaposed to rhythmic motion pace, and enlivened sound sequence. He has taken graphic design commentary to a new level."

Rapien, a native of Grand Island, won for his DVD, "The Work of Sam Rapien," which includes his design work from the last five years in print, multimedia and video. The DVD contains a 20-minute video biography that Rapien narrated and composed music for. It also contains a written biographical statement and multimedia gallery slideshow of his work. All of this is connected through interactive menus that Rapien animated.

"I'm really quite honored and humbled to receive this distinction from AIGA," Rapien said. "What was exhibited and awarded was essentially a portfolio of my undergraduate work, so I really look at this as not just an accolade of my designs, but also a testament to the department here at UNL."

Rapien received his bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art last summer. He is in his first year of graduate work. He does video production and graphic design for the Lincoln Diocese and for his own Steady Revolution Productions. He also has a graphic and Web design firm called Cinemizzle in Lincoln.

The link below is to a color JPEG of the cover art and DVD face design for "The Work of Sam Rapien."

CONTACT: Samuel B. Rapien, Art and Art History, (402) 472-5522