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Best of the Year
Best Student Design of 2021
The student design that won a GDUSA award in 2021, each with the firm and the designers credited.
136 award-winning projects
Student work is where the next decade of the profession shows up first, and the firms that hire from it watch this category closely. The student designer has a brief and no client, which means the discipline has to come from the work itself, and the best entries behave as if a budget were riding on them. The winners here are judged on the same standard as the professionals: does it work, and is it beautiful because it works. The University of Central Oklahoma's School of Design has won 198 times and SCAD 179, and SCAD's After bottles let real junk food sell itself through the glass under a minimal label. The best student designers in the country and the schools that taught them are on this page. Open any project to see the work and learn what made it stand out.
Standouts of 2021
- Creating Customized Packaging Using Parametric Design Processesby Pratt Institute · 2021
- Elaia Package Designby Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) · 2021
- NOURISH NATURAL Bath Soap Label Designby Kennesaw State University/School of Art and Design/Graphic Communications · 2021
- BARE ELEMENTS Soap Setby Kennesaw State University/School of Art and Design/Graphic Communications · 2021
- METRO Perfume Packagingby Kennesaw State University/School of Art and Design/Graphic Communications · 2021
- THE TREVOR PROJECT Rebrandby Kennesaw State University/School of Art and Design/Graphic Communications · 2021
Firms named most
- 1Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)Savannah, GA17
- 2UCO School of Design/University of Central OklahomaEdmond, OK15
- 3Syracuse University | Communications DesignSyracuse, NY12
- 4S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY11
- 5The Modern College of DesignKettering, OH9
2021
Creating Customized Packaging Using Parametric Design Processes
Student Design
School
Pratt Institute
View Project→
2021
Elaia Package Design
Student Design
School
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
View Project→
2021
NOURISH NATURAL Bath Soap Label Design
Student Design
School
Kennesaw State University/School of Art and Design/Graphic Communications
View Project→
2021
BARE ELEMENTS Soap Set
Student Design
School
Kennesaw State University/School of Art and Design/Graphic Communications
View Project→
2021
METRO Perfume Packaging
Student Design
School
Kennesaw State University/School of Art and Design/Graphic Communications
View Project→
2021
THE TREVOR PROJECT Rebrand
Student Design
School
Kennesaw State University/School of Art and Design/Graphic Communications
View Project→
2021
Voodoo Venom
Student Design
School
Auburn University
View Project→
2021
Chocotop Collectible Chocolate Product and Package Design
Student Design
School
ArtCenter College of Design
View Project→
2021
Lego Beauty Packaging
Student Design
School
ArtCenter College of Design
View Project→
2021
Casey Jones Craft Whiskey
Student Design
School
Auburn University
View Project→
2021
Denali Voices Branding Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Electrocuda Branding Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Alfi's Branding and Packaging Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Museum Mayhem Branding Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Below The Buckle Branding Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Workbench Branding Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Barrier Branding and Packaging Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Harbouring Rock Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Lonesome George Branding and Packaging Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Akora Packaging Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Whizbits Branding and Packaging Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
Defeathered Exhibit Student Project
Student Design
School
Syracuse University | Communications Design
View Project→
2021
The Notion Album Design
Student Design
School
Auburn University
View Project→
2021
Bea Branding
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
Blissy Website
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
OBX Branding
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
Dia De Los Muertos Website
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
T-R-E-A-T Packaging
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
Refuse the Use Branding
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
Hourglass Coffee Packaging
Student Design
School
Auburn University
View Project→
2021
Palm App
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
Elements of Relief Soothing Dark Chocolate
Student Design
Firm
Kutztown University
View Project→
2021
UC Bearcats Football Social Student
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
Rhinegeist Website
Student Design
School
The Modern College of Design
View Project→
2021
Althea Skin Packaging
Student Design
School
Auburn University
View Project→
2021
THE BOX Theater Branding
Student Design
School
ArtCenter College of Design
View Project→
2021
Family Stories: Research Time Capsule
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Triple Trouble Taste Tester
Student Design
School
Fort Lewis College
View Project→
2021
inii Cosmetics Branding and Package Design
Student Design
School
Pratt Institute
View Project→
2021
Komuri Eco Friendly Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Mad Max Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Dire Consequences Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Loving Vincent Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
SCADFash: Pierre Cardin Invitation
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Ponyo DVD Package
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Friendly Bean Coffee Brand Identity
Student Design
School
Columbia College Chicago
View Project→
2021
Bittersweet Teas Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Bandit Distillery Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
BELLOS Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Divine Chocolate Theater Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Napier Heights Food Co-op Brand Identity Design Manual
Student Design
School
Mercer University, Graphic Design Program
View Project→
2021
Duck Duck Pong Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Lady Business Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Rainforest Alliance Poster Design
Student Design
School
Mercer University, Graphic Design Program
View Project→
2021
Macon Beer Company Ready-to-Drink Package Design
Student Design
School
Mercer University, Graphic Design Program
View Project→
2021
Poirot Vineyard Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Libertie Packaging
Student Design
School
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
View Project→
2021
Disinformed Editorial Layout
Student Design
School
Mercer University, Graphic Design Program
View Project→
2021
Kinetic Typography Video
Student Design
School
Mercer University, Graphic Design Program
View Project→
2021
Taino Batata Sweet Potato Chips
Student Design
School
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design
View Project→
All Student Design
Common questions
- How many student design projects won GDUSA awards in 2021?
- The gallery lists 136 winners from 2021 in this category, out of 1,457 across all years. Each one appears here with its firm and designer credits.
- Which firms won the most GDUSA awards for student design in 2021?
- Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) leads with 17 of the 2021 winners, ahead of UCO School of Design/University of Central Oklahoma (15), Syracuse University | Communications Design (12), S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University (11), The Modern College of Design (9), Drexel University, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Graphic Design Program (8). The ranking for the year lists every firm with its winning work. Best Student Design firms of 2021, by award wins.
- Where are the student design projects from other years?
- Every year has its own page, from 2015 to 2026, and the category hub lists all of them together. All Student Design.
- How do I enter next year's awards?
- Entries go through the GDUSA entry platform. A single entry costs $120 as of October 2026, and packages bring the price per piece down to $400 for ten to twenty entries. Winners who publish get a project page here with full credits, and publication is the paid step. How the awards work.